We are proud to celebrate Dr. Ankita Mitra on the successful completion of her PhD in Quantitative Forest Ecology at Purdue University.
Her dissertation, “Understanding the Spatial Organization of Global Forest Structure Across Scales: A Data-Driven Synthesis Using Harmonized Forest Inventory Data and Machine Learning,” represents a significant advancement in how we understand forest ecosystems and their role in global carbon storage.
Dr. Mitra’s work focuses on applying artificial intelligence and spatial data analysis to map and monitor forest carbon stocks at a global scale. By integrating large-scale forest inventory datasets with machine learning techniques, her research helps improve the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of carbon modeling across diverse ecosystems.
Her work spans regions from the mangroves of the Indian Sundarbans to planted forests across East Asia, bridging cutting-edge computational methods with real-world ecological data. This approach contributes to a deeper understanding of how forests function as carbon sinks and how that knowledge can support climate action and environmental policy.
Beyond research, Dr. Mitra has played a key role in global scientific collaboration, contributing to international initiatives and engaging with interdisciplinary teams working on climate, biodiversity, and sustainable land management.
Her research was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Jingjing Liang, with a distinguished defense committee including Drs. Mo Zhou, Mohammad R. Jahanshahi, and Thomas W. Crowther.
This achievement reflects years of dedication, innovation, and impact. We are excited to see how Dr. Mitra’s work continues to contribute to advancing climate science and nature-based solutions worldwide.
