Darwin Rana is a PhD candidate at Utrecht University, based in the Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, in the Organic Geochemistry group, supervised jointly by Dr. ir. Francien Peterse (Earth Sciences) and Prof. dr. Walter Immerzeel (Physical Geography).

His research focuses on reconstructing Himalayan precipitation change using lipid biomarkers (n-alkanes, δD). By analysing the hydrogen-isotopic composition of n-alkanes in Himalayan lake sediments, he investigates past Indian Summer Monsoon variability and its influence on precipitation over the last ~100–1000 years.

Darwin also has experience in cryosphere and high-mountain hydro-meteorology, including snow-cover dynamics, glacier changes, and permafrost monitoring, and has contributed to field logistics, stakeholder engagement, workshops, reports, and provincial climate atlas development. He has participated in Himalayan field campaigns, including glacier expeditions, lake-sediment core collection, and weather-station installations, and remains open to collaborations in field-based mountain research.

He holds an MSc in Hydrology and Meteorology from Tribhuvan University and completed a Research Exchange Semester at Friedrich Schiller University Jena. Fluent in English, Hindi, and Nepali, and a licensed trekking guide in Nepal, he integrates laboratory research with collaborative, field-based, and interdisciplinary projects.