Rajive Ganguli, Ph.D., P.E (AK, AL) is the founding principal at
Opti-mine. A registered underground coal mine foreman in the state of
Alabama, he holds the position of Professor of Mining Engineering and Chairman, Department of Mining and Geological Engineering, at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Additionally, he is on the Editorial Board of Mining Engineering, the flagship journal of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc.
He has worked in surface and underground mines in India and the U.S. His work experience includes:
- coal (mine foreman, mine design of multi-seam mines, simulation of continuous miner sections) and hard rock.
- process control (SAG mill optimization)
- patented algorithm (optimize physical segregation of coal using an online ash analyzers)
- operations research for a variety of mining and non-mining situations
- ore reserve estimation
He has been recognized by his peers for his various achievements, including:
- Flame Safety Lamp award (awarded to an underground coal mine foreman), State of Alabama
- Future Leader of the Mining Industry from Soc. Min. Met. Exp., Inc
- Robert Peele Award (2004) for a control algorithm from Soc. Min. Met. Exp., Inc
He has also published in numerous journals. His research has also been profiled by Mining.com (July 2008; on artificial intelligence) and Miners News (December 2008; on coal combustion).