Dr. Sekhar Bhattacharyya

Biography

Sekhar Bhattacharyya is an Associate Teaching Professor in the John Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at Penn State University. With twenty years of experience in academia and industry, he served as the Mining Engineering program chair from 2019 to 2023, successfully leading the program through ABET accreditation. His industry background includes significant roles in operations, project management, and consulting with organizations like Norwest Corporation, Consol Energy, and Joy Global. Bhattacharyya teaches core courses in Mining Engineering, including MNG 230: Introduction to Mining Engineering and MNG 410: Underground Mining, and regularly supervises undergraduate and graduate students. He organizes field trips to mining operations and safety labs to enhance practical learning experiences. His research focuses on critical areas in mining engineering, such as health and safety, ventilation system optimization, and respirable dust management. Bhattacharyya has led multiple research projects sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the U.S. Department of Labor. He has received several awards for his contributions to mining engineering education, including the Wilson Travel Grant and the Gladys Snyder Grant.

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