Faculty

Nithin Nagaraj is Professor and Head of the Complex Systems Programme at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru. He joined the NIAS Consciousness Studies Programme in October 2015. 

Nithin has a Bachelors degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK, Surathkal, 1999), Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Troy, New York, USA (2001) and PhD from National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru (NIAS, 2010). He has previously held positions at GE Global Research, IISER-Pune and Amrita University.  He has co-authored over 35+ international peer-reviewed journal publications, and 75+ national & international conference paper presentations with over 1600+ citations (Google Scholar). He has delivered over 150+ invited talks at various national and international forums. He is the co-inventor of 8 US patent applications (2 patents granted) and 2 Indian patent applications. He was conferred 'Distinguished Alumnus' Award for outstanding service and contribution towards Research and Education by NITK Surathkal Alumni Association in September 2024. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE, and an invited member of the Advisory Council of METI: Messaging Extra Terrestrial Intelligence International, USA. 

His teaching career has spanned a wide range of courses such as: Introduction to Mathematical Methods, Topics in Artificial Intelligence: Reading the Classics, Scientific Theories of Consciousness, Topics in Information Theory, Chaos & Causal Learning, Signals & Systems, Digital Signal Processing, Cryptography, Wavelet-based Signal Processing, Information Theory & Coding Techniques, Probability Theory & Linear Algebra. 

He has co-authored publications in leading peer-reviewed international journals such as Neural Networks, Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Physical Review E, Chaos Theory and Applications, IEEE Transactions in Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, Chaos: An  Interdisciplinary  Journal  of  Non-linear  Science, Frontiers in Neurology, Journal of Biomedical Informatics, European Physics Journal Special Topics, PeerJ, PeerJ Computer Science,  Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology,  Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation, International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos, Heliyon.  He has also co-authored a paper in NeurIPS: Neural Information Processing Systems (the #1 international conference on Artificial Intelligence).  He has an Erdos number of 3. 

Nithin's research interests include Learning in Complex systems, Brain-Inspired Artificial Intelligence, Nonlinear Dynamics & Chaos, Information theory, Complexity theories of Causality and Consciousness.

For more details, please visit: https://sites.google.com/site/nithinnagaraj2/

Prof Malavika Kapur has a long-standing association with NIAS. Her pioneering work on research in developmental psychology has been her main contribution.  Exploratory research into childcare in indigenous health care systems has been her abiding interest. At NIAS, she has brought out the Proceedings in 2012 of a seminar on Developmental Psychology Education sponsored by the ICSSR (India), NWO (Netherlands) and ESRC (UK) held in Cambridge University earlier on .   She also organised a workshop for young scholars on Cross Cultural Research Collaboration in the spring of 2010.  In 2016 was the member of the committee appointed by the UGC to work on the syllabus in Psychology incorporating contemporary Western and Indian psychology and it is on public domain with the UGC.

She organised a multidisciplinary brainstorming seminar at NIAS in 2013 on Public Risk Perception and brought out the proceedings of the same in 2014.  She is on the Advisory Committee of WHO 11th revision on Child Psychiatric Disorders from 2011 onwards. 

Currently appointed a member of Focus group on Early Child Care and Education (ECCE) for one year to prepare a position paper by the NCERT to translate the New Education Policy into action at the grassroots level.

Currently appointed a member of the Academic Council Children’s university, Gandhi Nagar Gujarat, from 29-6-2022 for a term of three years.

She has authored 9 books and has edited 7 books, has 40 book chapters and over 80 journal articles to her credit. 

Areas of Research: 

Western Psychology (Clinical), Developmental Psychology, Developmental Child Psychopathology, Clinical Child Psychology, School Psychology, Community Psychology for Schools. Psychological Testing, Psychological Interventions, Indian Psychology and Indigenous Health Care Systems - Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Tibetan Medicine, Comparative Studies on Western and Indian Psychology form her  Academic Publications along with  Fiction for children and adults

Urban Outreach

Prof Malavika Kapur has been running a free Child Guidance Centre (video documentary by Anuradha Rana of Prasanna Counselling Child Guidance Centre, Bull Temple Road, Bengaluru) in Bengaluru with the help of trained volunteers since 2003.

Rural Outreach

She has longstanding commitment to counselling children and promotion of psychosocial development of rural and tribal children for over two decades.  She also conducts workshops and delivers keynote addresses and lectures to lay public, parents, school teachers, counsellors and the academic community. She is committed to promotion of child mental health and overall psychological development of children.

Action research on outcome evaluation of child centred, play based strategies in the promotion of psycho social development of tribal primary schools children and Science workshops SC/ST 10th graders in HD Kote , Mysore district  four Ashram schools  and one high school.

A.V. Krishnan is a mechanical engineer from Bangalore University and joined BHEL, Tiruchi as an Engineer Trainee in January 1976. He worked in Product Development (Boilers), Field Engineering Services and R&D for six years after which he moved to Quality Assurance and Business Excellence group after undergoing ‘One year training in Statistical Quality Control & Operations Research’ at Indian Statistical Institute, Chennai. He then worked for 21 years in various disciplines of Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Laboratories. Subsequently, he headed the “Welding Research Institute” at BHEL, Tiruchi. After serving as a General Manager in the BHEL Corporate Office and as the CEO of the BHEL Boiler Auxiliaries Plant at Ranipet, he was promoted as Executive Director in 2008. In June 2009, he was appointed as Executive Director of BHEL’s flagship manufacturing complex at Tiruchi where he served till his superannuation from BHEL in July 2015. In the EEC Program, Prof Krishna works on clean coal technologies, the role and economic viability of nuclear power in India, power flow analysis, and optimal electricity supply options for India.

Research Interests: Clean coal technologies, economic viability of nuclear power in India, optimal power supply options for India, power flow analysis.

R. Srikanth is the Dean of the School of Natural Sciences & Engineering, and also heads the Energy, Environment, and Climate Change Program.  He graduated from the Indian School of Mines in 1984 and was awarded the ISM Gold Medal.  He worked in coal mines for six years before commencing his research at the Pennsylvania State University where he completed a dual Ph.D. in Mining Engineering & Operations Research. He joined NIAS in 2016 after a 20-year long career in industry, primarily in Tata Steel. He is currently involved in several Government-appointed committees related to energy security alongside his other duties as faculty and Dean at NIAS.

Research Interests: Air pollution and public health, energy security, coal and mineral policies, environmental policy and governance, sustainable development, and climate change.

Dr Rudrodip Majumdar is currently an Associate Professor in the Energy, Environment, and Climate Change Programme at NIAS w.e.f. 01 July 2025. Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor at the institute from August 2019 to June 2025. He has a doctorate in Nuclear Engineering from North Carolina State University in the USA and an M.Tech. in Nuclear Engineering from IIT Kanpur. Before joining NIAS, Rudrodip worked as an Institute Postdoctoral Fellow at IIT Bombay and as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at North Carolina State University. Rudrodip's professional research interests centre around Sustainability, encompassing Renewable and Clean Energy, Nuclear and Plasma Fusion Energy, Industrial Applications of Plasma, and Analyses of Energy-efficient Sustainable Systems. To date, Rudrodip has published 36 research articles in reputed International Journals, 14 Chapters in Edited Volumes (Monographs) of Repute, and 23 papers in International Conference Proceedings.  His recent work on the evaluation of energy transition-readiness in low-to-medium-income households in Bengaluru has been highly appreciated by the Office of the PSA to the GOI.  By nomination, Rudrodip has been selected as a Review Editor of the Energy Storage section in Frontiers in Energy Research Journal. Apart from academics, Rudrodip takes a great interest in Wildlife Conservation, Nature Photography, Creative Writing and Indian Classical Music.

Sangeetha Menon joined National Institute of Advanced Studies, in January 1996, in the Indian Institute of Science campus, Bangalore (India). Her interview and appointment was led by an illustrious group of scientists like Dr Raja Ramanna (Founding Director of NIAS), Prof CV Sundaram, Prof BV Sreekantan and Prof RL Kapur. Subsequently she conceptualised and commenced the NIAS Consciousness Studies Programme along with BV Sreekantan (former Director, TIFR and Honorary Professor, NIAS). This was the first academic group that started in India to study consciousness with an interdisciplinary and a multidisciplinary mandate. Sangeetha is a philosopher with a keen interest in consciousness. Her major area of research is in philosophy of psychology. Her expertise is in Indian philosophy, consciousness studies, philosophy of psychology, philosophy and psychology of self. She works with her colleagues at NIAS and collaborators worldwide to create and encourage a first-person centered approach to understanding consciousness and cognitive capabilities that favours experiential well-being for all. Dr Menon's professional qualifications include degrees in biology and philosophy. She is a first rank holder and gold medalist from Maharaja's College for Women, Trivandrum for post-graduate degree in philosophy. The thesis for her doctoral degree, from University of Kerala, is on the concept of consciousness in the Bhagavad Gita which was completed with junior and senior research fellowship from University Grants Commission, India.

Research Interest: 

Prof Menon's major area of research is in philosophy of psychology. Her expertise is in Indian philosophy, consciousness studies, philosophy of psychology, philosophy and psychology of self. She works with her colleagues at NIAS and collaborators worldwide to create and encourage a first-person centered approach to understanding consciousness and cognitive capabilities that favours experiential well-being for all. Sangeetha Menon started her research with a comparative study of consciousness, from the East and the West, focusing on the theories of agency, emotion, freedom, self, and human well-being in the Bhagavad Gita. Subsequently, she focused on Indian philosophical concepts criss-crossing the works of philosophers: Sankaracharya, Abhinavagupta, Narayana Guru et al. and bringing in Indian aesthetics and dramaturgy to understand cognitive dimensions of creative expressions and personal agency. Her initial papers argue for an epistemological shift that considers the ontological primacy of self, and the importance of the experiencer that would present the 'harder problem' of consciousness. While some of her initial studies were deeply metaphysical and philosophical in approach, she moved on to engaging philosophy with biology and psychology to understand the primary issue in consciousness, which is the 'self'. She is one of the originators of the field of Indian psychology, guiding research in well-being studies, life-sustaining values, self-transformation, and artistic experience. One of her primary contributions in consciousness studies is presenting and engaging with the concept and experience of self from the neurobiological and philosophical point of view, and theorising a 'self-challenged brain and brain-challenged self'.

Prof. Sharada Srinivasan is Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru. She was elected International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2021 in Archaeology. She received the Padmashri, the fourth highest civilian award from Government of India in Archaeology in 2019.  Sharada has made pioneering contributions to the study of archaeology and history of art from the perspective of exploring engineering applications.  

Prof. Sharada Srinivasan’s landmark contributions include archaeometric characterisation of bronzes of South India using lead isotope analysis and archaeometallurgical studies on ancient mining and metallurgy in southern India. These span studies on the production mechanisms of high carbon wootz steel and documentation of artisanal technologies such as Aranmula high tin bronze metal mirror making, bronze casting at Swamimalai and ancient and continuing traditions of high-tin bronze working, while she has worked on artefacts in the Government Museum, Chennai, British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, ASI amongst others. Prof. Sharada Srinivasan is a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and World Academy of Art and Science.

Her awards include the INAE Indian National Academy of Engineering Woman Engineer in Academia 2021 Award, Distinguished IITB Alumnus Award, Dr. Kalpana Chawla Young Women Scientist Award for 2011, the Indian Institute of Metals, Certificate of Excellence 2007, Materials Research Society of India Medal 2006, Malti B. Nagar Ethnoarchaeology Award (2005), DST-SERC Young Scientist Fellowship, Flinders Petrie Medal 1989 from University of London, Materials Research Society Graduate Student Award 1996, DST Nurture Scheme and Young Scientist Awards and the British Chevening Scholarship for her Phd work. She was Forbes Research Associate at the Department of Scientific Research and Conservation, Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, USA in 1999 and Homi Bhabha Fellow at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore from 1996-98.  She has been a co-recipient of international awards from UKIERI, UK, (on pioneering iron and steel metallurgy), AHRC, UK, (on interfaces between archaeology and drama), SSHRC Canada, Royal Society, UK, and National Science Foundation, USA.  

She is first author of the book ‘India’s Legendary Wootz Steel’,  contributing author to ‘Ecstasy of Classical Art’, the bronze catalogue of National Museum, Delhi and co-editor of ‘Digital Hampi’ and ‘Performing on the Periphery’.  She is on the Standing Committee of the international Beginning of the Use of Metals and Alloys Conference.  She has been an accomplished exponent of the classical dance form of Bharata Natyam and has given lecture-demonstrations such as on the artistic and scientific perspectives on the Chola Nataraja bronzes at Royal Academy of Arts, London (2007) and with a photo-exhibition at Space City, Toulouse (2009) apart from national venues.  She earned her PhD from the Institute of Archaeology, University College London (1996) on Archaeometallurgy of South Indian bronzes; MA from School of Oriental & African Studies, London (1989) and BTech in Engineering Physics from IIT Bombay (1987).

Professor Anitha Kurup is the Head of the Education Programme and the Head of the NIAS Education for the Gifted and Talented (NIAS-EGT) at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) Bengaluru, India. She was the Academic Head and Chair of the PhD Program, NIAS (2018-2020). She is the Dean of the School of Social Sciences.

She is currently leading the National Gifted and Talented Education Program in India anchored at NIAS. The programme was initiated by the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India in 2011. She and her team have developed Indian-based identification protocols and mentoring mechanisms for gifted children in India in the age group 0-18 years for different populations. They have developed a multi-stage multi-level model of mentoring for gifted children in India that are age and context-specific.

Prof Kurup was part of the National Core Committee that prepared the four-year integrated pre-service teacher training course submitted to the National Council of Teacher education. Her research and policy and advocacy work resulted in the inclusion of Education for the gifted and talented in the National Education Policy 2020.

Her research interests span the broad disciplines of education and gender. Her key publications “Trained Scientific Women Power: How much are we Losing and Why?” and “Trends Report: Creation and Analysis of Database of PhDs in India (1998-2007)” have been widely appreciated. These reports have been used to advocate for a paradigm shift in relation to policies on women in STEM as well as the creation of AISHE database in India. Prof Kurup’s research expertise is sociology of education, gender and science, institutional and policy studies, and pedagogic practices. In the area of gender her expertise covers a wide spectrum, from examining conceptual and methodological strands of gender relations to women in leadership roles, and women and work. Her research career spanning over three decades is marked by her passion and motivation to undertake research in critical areas, hitherto unexplored within the Indian subcontinent. The hallmark of her research career has been the innovation methodologies adopted for large-scale inter-institutional research studies questioning existing theoretical frameworks to find solutions to real world problems. Thus, she has made critical contributions to the field of education in India. She has several publications to her credit.

Prof Kurup has provided consultancies to large international organisations like the World Bank, NOVIB, and has been an educational consultant to the government of India and the Government of Karnataka over the last two decades. She is among the few often noted expert in the field of education and gender at the national level. She is a Subject Expert in Education for the Karnataka Evaluation Authority, Government of Karnataka(2019- till date). She served as an Expert and Member RFD in school and continuing education; and higher education, Government of Karnataka for the period 2011- 2016.

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Joined NIAS on 15th November 1996. Dean, Academic Affairs; 18th February 2013-Current. Most significant research contribution: Was responsible for the discovery of a new species of primate, the Arunachal macaque, in Northeastern India, although principal contributions have been in understanding the structure and evolution of the primate mind. 

Dr. Anindya Sinha's wide-ranging research interests in  behavioural ecology and cognitive psychology of primates, animal molecular genetics, evolutionary biology, conservation biology and the philosophy of biology. He has a master's degree in botany, a doctorate in molecular biology, and has earlier worked on the biochemical genetics of yeast, the social biology of wasps, and the classical genetics of human disease. He is also interested in biology education and the popularisation of science, and has lectured extensively in a variety of educational and research institutions

An Outstanding Scientist and former Director of the RMG, IGCAR, Kalpakkam. He was a Senior Professor at HBNI, Dean of Student Affairs, and coordinating Dean of HBNI at IGCAR. Held the "TV Raman Pai Chair Professor" position at the NIAS, where he is currently a visiting professor. During his tenure at Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (RUAS), he held the position of Registrar, Director of the Centre for Professional Development and Training, and was also Professor at the School of Social Sciences.  

Prof Sai Baba is an accomplished researcher, scientific administrator, and institutional builder. He has significantly contributed to implementing several high-impact activities relevant to the IGCAR and the DAE. He has contributed to diverse domains: Human Resource Development, Access to Scientific Information Resources, Financial Management, Workflow automation, Technology Transfer, and IPR. One of his significant contributions has been establishing the BARC Training School at IGCAR and steering the activities until his superannuation. Held several key positions at HBNI and played an important role in streamlining the processes.  

While he was at RUAS, he played his administrator role effectively and streamlined several processes. Contributed to the implementation of NEP at the University. Played an important role in getting approvals for starting new academic programs and bringing medical, nursing and physiotherapy under the ambit of the university. Played a lead role in strategising for enhanced admissions. As Director of the Centre for Professional Development & Training, initiated the implementation of various training and professional development programs for faculty members. Taught the course "Science, Technology and Innovation Policy" for MA Public Policy students and guided students for their project. 
As part of the activities of NIAS, Prof Sai Baba is working in the domains of Science and Risk Communication, Human Reliability Program (a collaborative program with Texas A&M University) and Understanding Ancient Indian Knowledge Systems for applying them to the holistic development of youth. Carrying out a collaborative project with Oak Ridge National Laboratory on Capacity Building to enhance the preparedness to handle nuclear and other radioactive materials.   
 
Five students obtained their PhD under his guidance. Currently co-guiding one PhD student. Co-authored 65 Journal publications, 179 papers in symposiums/conferences and four confidential reports. Authored 11 chapters in Books/Proceedings. Edited nine Books/Periodicals. Delivered several invited talks (more than 260) on diverse topics. Chaired several sessions and panel discussions.  
   
Google Scholar has an H-index of 22, an i10 index of 40, and more than 1250 citations. On the Research Gate, his articles have more than 1.5 lakh reads and 980 citations and Research Interest Score of 1000 (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sai-Baba-Magapu). Won several awards, including the Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) conferred by Dr MGR University, Education and Research Institute and the DAE Group Achievement Award. Several of his papers have won best paper awards. 

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