I am a Palaeobiologist with the British Antarctic Survey’s Palaeo Environments, Ice Sheets and Climate Change (PICC) research team. I utilize taxonomic identification and geochemical analysis of Eocene and Oligocene fossil deposits to reconstruct ecological responses and adaptations of marine benthic fauna to climatic and environmental changes during this pivotal greenhouse to icehouse transitional period in Antarctica’s past. My current research contributes to the interdisciplinary “Past, Present and Future of Unique Cold-Water Benthic Ecosystems in the Southern Ocean” project. By shedding light on Antarctica’s climatic history and associated biotic changes spanning the Eocene-Oligocene, I aim to advance knowledge of how vulnerable polar marine ecosystems may continue to respond to ongoing anthropogenic climate change.

I was awarded a PhD by IISER Kolkata for my thesis entitled ‘Response of shallow marine bivalve fauna to climatic and tectonic shifts: insights from Oligocene-Early Miocene shellbeds of Kutch, India‘, focusing on geochronology (biostratigraphy and strontium isotope stratigraphy), paleoenvironmental reconstruction, sclerochronology and molluscan paleoecology. Subsequently, I completed postdoctoral research with the Natural and Experimental Geochemistry of the Environment (NEGEV) group at The Interuniversity institute for marine sciences in Eilat and Ben Gurion University of the Negev on human impacts to Red Sea seagrass ecosystems, gaining significant experience in benthic ecology and marine biogeochemistry.

Passionate about making science accessible, I have contributed to science communication efforts including social media engagement, fossil showcases at science festivals, and presenting wildlife conservation research to diverse audiences of government officials, school authorities and kids, and people from agricultural, marine and industrial sectors. I am committed to effective science outreach across disciplines to build public understanding and support sustainable environmental policies.

Furthermore, I am deeply committed to diversity, inclusion, and creating an inclusive work environment.

Research interests

1. Eocene-Oligocene climate and biotic evolution in Antarctica
2. Predator-prey dynamics of the past
3. Oligo-Miocene fauna of western India and its relationship to regional tectonics and climate
4. Stable isotopes and accretionary skeletons to study paleoseasonality, growth and life history
5. Human induced pollution and its impact on benthic community in coastal ecosystems

• Dutta S., Saar, R., Lavie, Z., Vered, G., Bradbury, H. J., Antler, G. 2022: A method for a fast and economical in situ collection of pore water in sandy sediments. Frontiers in Marine Science https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.968063
• Dutta S., Chattopadhyay, D., Chattopadhyay, D., Misra, S., Turchyn, A. V., 2019: Strontium stratigraphy of the Oligocene-Early Miocene shellbeds of Kutch, Western India and its implication. Lethaia https://doi.org/10.1111/let.12364
• Dutta S. and Devapriya Chattopadhyay., 2022: Response of the Oligo-Miocene Bivalve fauna of the Kutch Basin (Western India) to regional tectonic events. Palaios https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2020.040
• Chattopadhyay, D., Sarkar, D., Dutta, S., Prasanjit, S.R., 2014: What controls cannibalism in drilling gastropods: a case study on Natica tigrina. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2014.05.037
• Das, S., Dutta, S., Sen, S., Jijumon A. S., Babu, S., Kumara, H.N., Singh, M., 2014. Identifying regions for conservation of sloth bears through occupancy modelling in north-eastern Karnataka, India. Ursus http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.2192/URSUS-D-14-00008.1
• Chattopadhyay, D., Dutta, S., 2013: Prey selection by drilling predators: a case study from Miocene of Kutch, India. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.01.016
• Das, S., Dutta, S., Mangalam, M., Rath, S., Kumara, H.N., Singh, M., 2011. Prioritizing remnant forests for the conservation of Mysore Slender Lorises in Karnataka, India through estimation of population density. International Journal of Primatology DOI 10.1007/s10764-011-9531-x

Publications from NERC Open Research Archive

1. The evolution and ecology of Antarctic sea floor communities

   Antarctic seafloor ecosystems are both unique and fragile. Studying their past and present gives us valuable insights into how climate change may reshape them.

   Read more of: The evolution and ecology of Antarctic sea floor communities