Dr. Lakhankar has led and coordinated various research projects contributing to the NOAA and NASA’s satellite remote sensing missions in water prediction and ecosystem services research. Dr. Tarendra Lakhankar has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills by designing and leading several major field campaign sites. These include the Snow-SAFE site in Caribou, ME, the Soil Moisture Field Campaign at CUNY-SMART in Millbrook, NY, and the NYC-Urban HydroMet Testbed project. The NYC-Urban HydroMet Testbed involved installing 21 weather stations in key research and educational outreach locations across New York City, including public schools, botanical gardens, and community colleges. These projects have provided valuable data for research, improved the accuracy of weather and water predictions, and increased public awareness of environmental issues. These projects have resulted in successful outcomes and publications in top-tier journals. Dr. Lakhankar has also served as a mentor and supervisor to numerous undergraduate and graduate research students. He has successfully organized research meetings and conferences, led grants and professional development seminars, and provided mentoring, advising, and outreach activities. His dedication and service to the City College of New York were recognized with the S.T.A.R. Award in 2022.
Dr. Tarendra Lakhankar boasts a rich teaching career at The City College of New York, where he has imparted knowledge across several courses, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Water Resources, Geographical Information Systems, Introduction to Satellite Remote Sensing and Imaging, Environmental Systems Science, and Environmental Water Resources. His teaching philosophy centers around inquiry-based learning, fostering scientific inquiry, honing data analysis skills, and cultivating effective communication abilities in both written and oral forms. This approach significantly bolsters students' capacities in problem-solving and research. For over a decade, Dr. Lakhankar has dedicated his summers to teaching high school and undergraduate students, extending his educational impact beyond the regular academic year.