Dr. Vimal Mishra is one of the leadinghydrologists at the intersection of hydrology, water resources and land surface processes from the current generation in India. Following his Ph.D. in 2010, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Washington for 2 years. He could have secured an academic position in North America or Europe. However, after this tenure, he was determined to return to India and contribute to building the capacity of hydrology and water resources modeling, which India continues to need desperately. He started as an assistant professor at one of India’s young and vibrant institutions, the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, in 2012, where he is now an associate professor. 

His research focuses on three broad areas: understanding hydrologic processes through advanced land surface modeling; understanding the signatures of climate variability and change in the hydrology and climatology of the Indian subcontinent, especially floods and droughts; and developing tools for translating hydrologic research to operational monitoring and forecasts for flood and drought mitigation. Dr. Mishra continues to make significant contributions to advancing our understanding, modeling and prediction of hydrologic processes in general and monsoonal hydrology over the Indian subcontinent in particular, using cutting-edge land surface models for efficient management of water resources and engineering. He developed one of the first real-time drought monitors for South Asia and India. His pioneering efforts have significantly enhanced hydrologic modeling and forecast capabilities in the country. These focus areas are crucial for skillful management of water resources and mitigating the impacts of natural hazards, especially with limited and uncertain hydrologic observations. 

Not only is Vimal a top-notch researcher, but he is also a passionate teacher and mentor. He has mentored and published with several graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. They are well placed in academia and industry, which is a testament to his continued commitment to building India’s capacity in this area of critical need. 

The Devendra Lal Memorial Medal is to recognize significant contributions by a midcareer scientist belonging to and working in a developing country. Dr. Vimal Mishra embodies the spirit of this award perfectly through his impactful contributions aimed at socially important problems and mentoring of young scientists. His selection will motivate others in developing countries to have a similar impact on the scholarship of the field. It is a time of global transition in wealth and research, and this will be a fitting award to reinforce that trend in our field. 

I wish him continued success!

— Balaji Rajagopalan

University of Colorado Boulder 

Boulder, Colorado

Thank you, Balaji Rajagopalan, for leading the efforts for my nomination. I am grateful to all those who wrote letters in support of my nomination. My sincere thanks to the selection committee and AGU for considering my nomination for the prestigious Devendra Lal Memorial Medal.  My interest in hydrology and water resources started during my masters when I visited Germany under the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship. I primarily worked to understand the occurrence of the 2002 flood in the Elbe River in the eastern part of Germany. I was fortunate to receive the fellowship for my Ph.D. at Purdue University. Working with my doctoral supervisor, Keith Cherkauer, was a fantastic learning experience. At Purdue, discussions with Matt Huber on the role of climate change on the water cycle and critical insights from Laura Bowling motivated me to continue working in this area. I was lucky to work with Dennis Lettenmaier as a postdoc researcher. Dennis has been a constant source of inspiration, my role model and the person who shaped me as an independent researcher. I continue to receive blessings and guidance from Dennis.  I was committed to returning to India and contributing to the growth of hydrology and water resources. River basins in the Indian subcontinent are complex due to the interplay between anthropogenic and climatic factors. The last 10 years' journey has been to examine the role of anthropogenic and climatic factors on the hydrologic changes in the Indian subcontinental river basins. There is a lot to be done, especially on understanding how climate and anthropogenic activities will influence the water cycle in one of the world's most populated regions. In addition, near-real-time monitoring and forecast systems are needed to provide an early warning of floods and droughts. Being able to contribute to the science that is directly linked with society has been very satisfying. I am grateful to my institute, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar, and several funding agencies for their support. I am lucky to work with highly motivated and talented students who contributed enormously. My association with Mike Wallace, Upmanu Lall, R. N. Singh, P. C. Pandey, V. M. Tiwari and many others has always been motivational.  I have just started learning about the remarkable contributions made by Professor Devendra Lal. I feel honored to receive the medal in his name. I owe a lot to my students, collaborators and family. I am always grateful for the support from my parents. Thanks to my wife, Neelam; daughters, Muskan and Gungun; and son, Atharv, for their lovely company and endless support. Finally, thanks again, Balaji Rajagopalan, for nominating me and AGU for this great honor. — Vimal Mishra  Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar Gandhinagar, India