CRP News and Updates

Ehsan Vahidi, Ph.D., received tenure and promotion to Associate Professor and the John N. Butler Endowed Professor in Extractive Metallurgy in the Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he also serves as Department Chair.

The support provided by SME has played a meaningful role in advancing his research, teaching, student mentoring, and professional development activities. During this period, he was able to expand his research program in sustainable mining, critical minerals, lithium extraction, and circular economy technologies, while also developing new educational initiatives and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students. His research has been published in leading journals including Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Environmental Science & Technology, Journal of Environmental Management, RSC Green Chemistry, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, and Science of the Total Environment. His work integrates mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, environmental assessment, and economic analysis to support more sustainable and resilient critical-mineral supply chains.

Dr. Rudrajit Mitra was awarded tenure and promoted to Full Professor in the Department of Mining Engineering and Management at South Dakota Mines. He was the recipient of the 2024 SME Foundation Freeport-McMoRan Career Development Grant and currently serves as Director of the Mining Hub at South Dakota Mines, Past President of OneMine, Program Chair for the Industrial Minerals and Aggregates Division for the 2027 SME Conference, current Technical Chair of the Industrial Minerals and Aggregates Division, and Chair of the Syd S. and Felicia F. Peng Ground Control in Mining Award Committee. Effective June 22, 2026, Dr. Mitra will also serve as Interim Department Head for the Department of Mining Engineering and Management.

Dr. Mitra’s research focuses on rock mechanics, ground control, mine safety, digitalization, intelligent sensing, and artificial intelligence applications in mining. His work seeks to improve the safety, productivity, and sustainability of mining operations through the integration of advanced monitoring technologies, automation, robotics, digital twins, and data-driven decision-making systems.

His research portfolio includes underground mine deformation monitoring, geotechnical instrumentation, fiber optic sensing, microseismic monitoring, autonomous inspection technologies, corrosion monitoring of ground support systems, and the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence for geotechnical risk assessment and mine safety. He served as Principal Investigator of a $1.25 million CDC/NIOSH-funded research project focused on integrating geotechnical analysis, ground support design, and mine planning to improve underground mine safety and operational performance. Although the project demonstrated strong collaborative potential across multiple institutions, it was terminated by the federal government in April 2025 as part of broader funding reductions.

Dr. Mitra has developed research collaborations with industry, government agencies, and academic institutions across the United States and internationally to advance intelligent mining systems and next-generation geomechanics. His recent work includes digital twin frameworks for underground mining operations, autonomous robotic systems for mine inspection in hazardous environments, and innovative methods for integrating real-time geotechnical data into operational decision-making.

In addition to his research activities, Dr. Mitra is actively engaged in student mentorship, workforce development, and professional service. He has advised numerous graduate and undergraduate students, contributed to curriculum innovation, and supported outreach initiatives aimed at increasing awareness of mining and attracting future professionals to the industry. Through his research, teaching, leadership, and service, Dr. Mitra continues to advance technologies and educational programs that support safer, more sustainable, and more productive mining operations.

Dr. Angelina Anani was awarded tenure at The University of Arizona School of Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources. She was a 2022 recipient of the SME Freeport-McMoRan Career Development Grant and received the 2023 SME Mining & Exploration Division Outstanding Young Professional Award. Her research focuses on the application of artificial intelligence, machine learning, simulation, optimization, and digital twin technologies to improve mine safety, operational efficiency, sustainability, and decision-making in mining systems.

Dr. Anani has led and contributed to research in AI-enabled geotechnical monitoring, intelligent hazard detection, mine planning optimization, autonomous and low-carbon mining systems, and sensor-driven decision support tools. Her work integrates operations research, discrete event simulation, computer vision, data analytics, and advanced monitoring technologies to address challenges related to operational uncertainty, energy efficiency, geohazard prediction, and sustainable resource extraction.

She served as Principal Investigator on a $1.25 million CDC/NIOSH-funded project focused on integrating robust data into system-wide mine automation and safety processes. Her recent and ongoing work includes AI-enabled digital twins for real-time understanding of rock mass behavior through sensor–expert data fusion, machine learning approaches for blast vibration prediction and geometallurgical modeling, and intelligent systems for underground hazard identification and geotechnical risk management. Dr. Anani is also actively engaged in research on sustainable and autonomous mining operations, including low-carbon haulage systems, ESG risk analysis, and smart tailings management.

Dr. Anani serves on the APCOM International Council, the Society of Mining Professors Capacity Building Committee, the MMEX Editorial Board, and the Tennessee State University Mining Academia/Industry Advisory Board. Her research and professional service continue to contribute to the advancement of intelligent, sustainable, and technology-driven mining systems.