Image courtesy of Michigan Tech.  From left, Pengfei Xue and Miraj B. Kayastha have received the Bhakta Rath Award for their research on how climate change will affect the Great Lakes.

HOUGHTON –The Michigan Technological University research duo of Pengfei Xue and Miraj B. Kayastha have been awarded the University’s 2025 Bhakta Rath Research Award for their work in modelling regional climate change systems.

The Bhatka Rath Research Award is given annually to a Michigan Tech Ph.D. student and their faculty advisor, to recognize “exceptional scientific and technological research in anticipation of the future needs of the nation.”

Kayastha, advised by Xue, have dedicated their time to researching how the Great Lakes will be affected by climate change, including changes in water levels and lake-effect snow. The information obtained from these models can offer more predictable and reliable information for those working in water infrastructure, natural resources, energy production, and other related fields.

“We study how water, air, ice, land and life interact across large regional Earth systems,” Xue explained in a recent Michigan Tech News release. “Our work centers on developing advanced computer models to understand and predict how these interconnected systems respond to both natural variability and human-driven disturbances.”

“Our research aims to understand how the Great Lakes and their regional climate might evolve in the future, with a particular focus on changes in water levels and devastating lake-effect snowstorms.” Kayastha added. “This work supports Great Lakes coastal communities by providing critical insights into future climate impacts and helps policymakers and stakeholders develop strategies to build climate resilience.”

Xue, a professor at Michigan Tech and associate director of the Great Lakes Research Center, and Kayastha have been working together for over five years. Kayastha says it was Xue’s expansive knowledge in Earth system modeling that attracted him to Michigan Tech.

“I was particularly inspired by the opportunity to work with Xue on modeling and projecting the future of the Great Lakes and its regional climate — work aimed at generating actionable insights for the public and decision-makers.” Kayastha said in the release.

“Given my strong interest in water and climate systems, Michigan Tech was a natural choice,” he added. “Its leadership in Great Lakes research, supported by the exceptional facilities at the Great Lakes Research Center, created an ideal environment for pursuing meaningful, real-world research.”

Research like Xue and Kyastha’s is becoming increasingly important, as the Great Lakes continue to show signs of climate change effects. According to the Alliance for the Great Lakes, the waters have had record warm temperatures in recent years, along with rapid changes in water levels and increased runoff pollution and flooding.

These changes, if not handled appropriately, can harm wildlife, affect drinking water supplies, and have consequences for local and regional economies. Increased temperatures can cause a rise in harmful algal blooms, and make it hard for native species to survive. Heavy rainfall and severe storms can lead to sewer overflows and dangerous floods.