PRADEEP J.THARAKAN
Professional Interests: Simulation modeling and production physiology of biomass plantations, biomass energy, environmental conservation, global climate change, and linkages between energy, environment and economic development.
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EDUCATION Doctor of Philosophy; College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry. The State University of New York (SUNY-ESF), Syracuse, NY. Expected May 2003.
Concentration: Ecophysiology and simulation modeling of short rotation willow. GPA: 4.0
Master of Public Administration; Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY. Expected May 2003.
Concentration: Environmental Policy and Administration. GPA: 4.0
Master of Professional Studies; Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, India, May 1994.
Concentration: Forest Business Management.
Bachelor of Science; St Joseph's College. Bangalore, India, May 1989.
Concentration: Microbiology, Chemistry and Zoology.
AWARDS 1. Eugene Farnsworth Memorial Fellowship (Ph.D. level) – Awarded for excellence in graduate studies and professional promise. (2001, Faculty of Forestry, SUNY-ESF)
2. Eugene Farnsworth Memorial Fellowship (MS level). – Awarded for excellence in graduate studies and professional promise. (1998, Faculty of Forestry, SUNY-ESF)
3. Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges -listed (1999)
4. Graduate Research Assistantship and Tuition Scholarship. (January 1997 to Present). Willow Biomass Program at SUNY-ESF.
5. Government of India Fellowship. (June 1992 - March 1994), Indian Institute of Forest Management. Bhopal, India.
POSITIONS HELD
Graduate Research Assistant. Willow Biomass Project, State University of New York Research Foundation, Syracuse, New York. January 1997- Present.
Research Executive. Quantum Market Research (P) Ltd. Bangalore, India. December 1995-August 1996.
Research Associate. The University of Edinburgh project on Joint Forest Management in India. New Delhi, India. April 1995-November 1995.
Assistant Project Manager. Paarel Industries Ltd. Cochin, India. May 1994 -March 1995.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Plant Biology/Physiological Ecology: Experience in clonal performance evaluation and plant-environment interactions such as foliar development, light interception and biomass partitioning aspects of willow and poplar clones. Currently developing a PhD research proposal that will study environmental influences on the photosynthesis and resource use efficiency of willow plantations. Information gathered will be used to develop and test a computer simulation model.
Social Research: Conducted research on social and institutional dimensions of forest and natural resources management in India. Research tools employed included participant observation, focus groups, interviews, literature review and content analysis.
Consumer Research: Experience in qualitative market research. Tested product concepts, advertising concepts and conducted brand equity studies and psycho-graphic analyses. Employed techniques like in-depth interviews, role-play exercises and focus groups.
PUBLICATIONS
Thesis:
Tharakan, P. J. 1999. Clonal performance evaluation and production physiology of willow and poplar bioenergy clones. MS Thesis, SUNY-ESF, 196 p.
Articles in preparation:
1. Tharakan, P. J., Volk, T. A., Lindsey, C. L., Edick, S. 2001. A technical and economic analysis of willow energy plantations on conservation reserve program land in New York State. (for Biomass Conference of the Americas 2001 and Journal of Sustainable Energy).
2. Tharakan, P. J., Volk, T. A., Nowak, C.A., Robison, D.J. and Abrahamson, L. P. 2001. Willow species and their hybrids grown in short rotation coppice system: patterns of growth and phenology over a 4-yr rotation. (for Forest Ecology and Management)
3. Tharakan, P.J. 2001. Willow species and their hybrids grown in short rotation coppice system: prospects for early selection over a 4-yr rotation (for Aspects of Applied Biology).
4. Kiernan, B.D., Tharakan, P. J. and Volk, T.A. 2001. Stem form and wood quality attributes of willow clones grown for biomass feedstock production (data analysis in progress).
Peer reviewed articles:
1. Tharakan, P.J., Kroeger, T, and Hall, C.A.S. 2001. Lessons to be learnt from 25 Years of industrial development: a study of resource use rates and macro-efficiency indicators for five Asian countries. Environmental Science and Policy (in review).
2. Jeffrey, R., Sundar, N., Mishra, A., Peter, N and Tharakan, P. J. 2000. A Move from minor to major: Competing discourses of non-timber forest products in India. In A. Tsing and P. Greenough (eds). Imagination and Distress in Southern Environmental Projects, Duke University Press (in press).
3. Tharakan, P.J., Abrahamson, L. P., Robison, D. J. and Nowak, C.A. 2000. Multivariate approach for integrated evaluation of clonal biomass production potential. Biomass and Bioenergy. (in review).
4. Tharakan, P.J., Kroeger, T, and Hall, C.A.S. 2000. Has industrial development increased resource use efficiency in Asia? The Indian Journal of Applied Economics and Econometrics. (in press).
Conference proceedings:
1. Tharakan, P. J., Nowak, C.A and Abrahamson, L. P. 2000. Modeling growth and biomass production in willow plantations in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States. In. Proceedings of BIOENERGY 2000, North East Regional Biomass Program, U.S.A. 10 pp.
2. Tharakan, P.J., Abrahamson, L. P., Robison, D.J, Isebrands., J.G, Nowak, C.A., Volk, T.A. and White, E. H. 2000. Coppice effects on willow and hybrid poplar stem attributes and biomass production. In. Proceedings of the 21st session of the International Poplar Commission meeting (IPC 2000), Poplar and willow culture: Meeting the needs of society and the environment, USDA Forest Service, North Central Research Station, General Technical Report NC 215, pp. 175.
3. Kroeger, T, Tharakan, P.J., Ko, J-K., Hall, C.A.S. 2000. The relation between energy intensity and sectoral composition of the economy- evidence from around the world. In. proceedings of the 2nd conference on "Advances in Energy Studies- Exploring supplies, constraints and strategies", Porto Venere, Italy, May 23-27, 2000. (in press)
4. Tharakan, P.J., Abrahamson, L. P., Isebrands, J.G. and Robison, D. J. 1998. First year growth and development of Willow and Poplar bioenergy crops as related to foliar characteristics. In. Proceedings of BIOENERGY ’98, Madison, Wisconsin, October 4 - 8, 1998. pp. 1170-1181.
Technical reports
1. Tharakan, P. J, Nowak, C.A., Volk, T.A., Phillipon, S. P., Abrahamson, L. P, and White, E. H. 2001. Clone-site testing and selections for scale-up plantings. Interim report to the Department of Energy. Submitted by the Research Foundation of State University of New York, Albany, 47 p.
Newsletters and popular literature:
1. Tharakan, P.J and Kiernan, B. 2000 Willow Biomass for Power: An overview of conversion technologies. Willow Biomass News (The extension newsletter of the Willow Biomass Project, SUNY-ESF), October.
Presentations:
1. Tharakan, P. J, Nowak, C.A and Abrahamson, L. P. Modeling Biomass Production in Willow Energy Plantations in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. Poster presented at BIOENERGY ’2000, Buffalo, New York, U.S.A. Oct 15-19, 2000.
2. Tharakan, P.J., Abrahamson, L. P., Robison, D.J, Isebrands., J.G, Nowak, C.A., Volk, T.A. and White, E. H. Coppice effects on willow and hybrid poplar clones. Poster presented at the International Poplar Commission Meeting 2000, Seattle, Washington State, U.S.A. Sept 24-30, 2000.
3. Kroeger, T, Tharakan, P. J, Ko, J-Y and Hall, C.A.S. The relation between energy intensity and sectoral composition of the economy- evidence from around the world. Poster presented at the 2nd conference on "Advances in Energy Studies- Exploring supplies, constraints and strategies", Porto Venere, Italy, May 23-27, 2000.
4. Tharakan, P. J., Nowak, C.A, Abrahamson, L.P, Robison, D.J. and Volk, T.A. Characteristics of willow bioenergy clones: A step towards improving yield. Poster presented at the Fourth Biomass Conference of the Americas, August 29th-September 2, 1999 Oakland, California, U.S.A.
5. Tharakan, P. J., Abrahamson, L. P, Robison, D. J. Performance evaluation of willow and poplar bioenergy clones in central New York. Poster presented in the Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium at SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, New York. 20th April 1998.
SHORT TERM RESEARCH ASSIGNMENTS
Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). Orissa, India. October 1993-December 1993.
Developed a management plan for the social forestry plantations that the state government had established in several villages with funding from SIDA. Emphasis was on local participation in the long-term management of the resource ensuring equitable distribution of benefits and a resource extraction regimen that would foster environmental restoration.
Girijan Cooperative Cooperation. Andhra Pradesh, India. April 1993-June 1993.
Helped draft a watershed development plan for a 50 sq mile watershed in the northern hilly tracts of the state. Prescriptions made were aimed at restoring the soils and vegetation in the region, providing alternative methods of income generation and improving quality of life through education, alternative energy sources (PV Panels, Biogas plants) etc.
OTHER INTERESTS
SUNY-ESF Graduate Student Association: (1996 to 1998) Coordinator, International Graduate Students.
Asha: (1997 to current) Treasurer, ASHA, Syracuse Chapter. ASHA is a student run non-profit organization, which supports development groups working with underprivileged sections of society in South Asia.
Rotoract Club: (The youth wing of Rotary International): (1992-96) Member, Participated in blood donation camps, disaster relief work, fund raising campaigns etc.
LANGUAGES AND TECHNICAL SKILLS
Computer skills:
Programming languages: FORTRAN, Visual Basic.
Modeling packages: STELLA, MODELMAKER.
Statistical Packages: SAS, SPSS, Statistica, and MS Excel spreadsheet software.
Database applications software: MS Access.
Word processing/Presentation: MS Word, MS Power Point and Pagemaker.
Language skills:
Fluent in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada and Tamil. Currently learning Spanish.