Navigating Dreams: Rupesh Verma's Journey of Becoming a Passionate Geotechnical Engineer

How intriguing it is that inspiration from the right people at the right time around you along with a bit of courage and hard work can transform your life. The storyof Rupesh Kumar Verma is nothing short of a motivational ride. Rupesh is a Geotechnical Engineer who has found his passion in rocks and career in mining, leading to the enriched academic exposure and contribution to mining industry in Australia.

Early Childhood

Rupesh Kumar Verma is a Navy brat who settled in Jaipur with his family after his father’s retirement. His childhood was much like that of any other child, spent immersed in comic books such as Chacha Chaudhary, Nagraj, Super Commando Dhruv and others. However, his time in college proved to be a transformative experience that shaped him. Once a shy individual, Rupesh became more outgoing and confident, thanks to the ups, downs, and eventually support and encouragement from his seniors, peers, and friends. His college experiences not only helped him break out of his shell but also made his college years truly memorable.

Life After Graduation

After graduation, Rupesh began working at Larsen & Toubro as a Civil Structural Engineer. During his time there, one of his friends was pursuing a Master's degree from IIT Bombay and was gaining exposure to many new experiences. It inspired Rupesh to study for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). Motivated by this, Rupesh decided to prepare for the GATE exam while continuing his job. He successfully cleared the exam but did not get into the college of his choice. His goal was to pursue his master's from an IIT, so he decided to give it another try. This time, he resigned from his job three months before the exam, confident that, even if he didn't succeed, his two and a half years of experience would help him secure another job.

Thankfully, this time he was admitted to IIT Kanpur to pursue his Master’s in Geotechnical Engineering. He was excited and thrilled to experience college life once again. His time at IIT Kanpur was fulfilling, both academically and personally. During this period, one of his professors, named Dr. Sarvesh Chandra, encouraged him to explore rock mechanics, as at that time, India had fewer than 10-12 engineers specializing in this field. The country often sourced rock mechanics specialists from abroad. This insight sparked Rupesh’s interest, and he decided to pursue a Ph.D. in Rock Mechanics and Engineering.

Journey to Australia and Ph.D.

Rupesh then moved to Australia to continue his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) at the University of Adelaide. The exposure and experiences he gained there were beyond his imagination, and he developed a deep passion for rocks and associated mechanics in underground excavation including tunneling and mining. While pursuing his Ph.D., he worked as a part time tutor for Engineering and Masters students. Thereafter, he worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Australian Coal Industry’s Research Program (ACARP) at the University of Adelaide. This role further enriched his knowledge and research experience.

Rupesh’s thesis was selected among top two thesis in rock mechanics globally. In 2023, he was awarded the prestigious Rocha Medal 2023 (Proxime Accessit) in the field of Rock Mechanics at the 15th International ISRM (International Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering) Conference in Salzburg, Austria.

After completing his Ph.D. and post-doc research, Rupesh began working as a Geotechnical Engineer/Numerical Modelling Specialist at Mining One Consultants, where he applied his advanced knowledge in rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering.

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Later, he began working for Aurelia Metals to gain more experience in an underground gold mine, located in New South Wales state of Australia. Currently, Rupesh is serving as a Senior Geotechnical Engineering Consultant in Brisbane, Australia.

Lessons from Rupesh's Life

Rupesh emphasizes the importance of finding joy in what you are doing to ensure success. It gives you the correct direction to channel your hard work, develop a positive attitude towards life, appreciate and get inspired by people around you. It's not a secret but a simple recipe to ensure you find the right people at the right time to inspire and significantly alter the trajectory of life. Ultimately, life is not about goals you achieve but the journey that makes your goals meaningful and dreams worthwhile.