Sonal joins CEEW's Technology Futures team as a Research Analyst. She will be working on critical minerals, focusing on exploration, beneficiation, and resource security to support India's clean energy transition.

Prior to joining The Council, she worked as a Research Intern at Tata Steel Limited, where she contributed to coal beneficiation studies and process optimization for sustainable steelmaking. She also worked as a GIS Engineer under the SWAMITVA Project with the Survey of India, applying geospatial tools for cadastral mapping and rural land documentation.

Sonal holds an M.Tech in Mineral Engineering from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, where her dissertation focused on the beneficiation of Banded Hematite Jasper for iron ore upgradation. She also holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Geology from DBS P.G. College, Dehradun. Her interests lie in critical minerals, ore processing, sustainable mining, and resource efficiency.

Outside work, she enjoys singing and playing badminton. She has represented at the national level through the KVS Sports Meet and actively participated in student leadership and event coordination during her time at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.