Dr. Varun Dutt

Phone: +91-1905-267150
E-Mail: varun[at]iitmandi[dot]ac[dot]in
Address: School of Computing and Electrical Engineering
IIT Mandi, VPO Kamand
Mandi, India - 175075
Curriculum Vitae: Download Curriculum Vitae (updated on 26 September 2024)

About

Dr. Dutt works as an Associate Professor in the School of Computing and Electrical Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology Mandi. He is also the Chair of the Indian Knowledge System and Mental Health Applications (IKSMHA) Centre at IIT Mandi. Dr. Dutt has applied his knowledge and skills in the fields of psychology, public policy, and computer science to explore how humans make decisions on social, managerial, and environmental issues. Dr. Dutt's Ph.D. thesis focused on answering the question: why do we want to defer actions on climate change and he has investigated the question by applying literature on people’s risk-preferences, time-preferences, social-cultural dilemmas, and linear thinking. Dr. Dutt has used lab-based methods involving experiments with human participants and cognitive models to investigate his research questions.

Dr. Dutt serves as a senior member of IEEE and as the Principal Investigator at Applied Cognitive Science (ACS) Lab. He is currently serving as an Academic Editor of PloS Computational Biology journal, Associate Editor of Frontiers in Cognitive Science journal, a Review Editor of Frontiers in Decision Neuroscience journal, and a member of the editorial boards of the International Journal on Cyber Situational Awareness and the Journal of Dynamic Decision Making. Also, Dr. Dutt serves on the Board of Directors of Intiot Services Pvt. Ltd., India. In the recent past, Dr. Dutt served as a special topics editor in Frontiers in Psychology (Cognitive Science) journal for special issues on “Application of Cognitive Approaches to Cyber Security,” “Human Decision-Making in Combat Situations Involving Traditional and Immersive Visual Technologies,” and “Highlights in Psychology for Clinical Settings: Military Personnel and Veteran Mental Health.” He was also a lead author on IPCC WG III's 5th Assessment Report.

For more information on research, please visit ACS Lab and IKSMHA Centre

You may also visit the following pages: Varun Dutt's IRINS page, Varun Dutt's Research Gate page, and Varun Dutt's Google Scholar page

For technology commercialization, please visit the following page: Intiot Services Pvt. Ltd.

Research interests

  • Artificial intelligence and cognitive modeling (modeling human behavior in dynamic tasks through computer algorithms)
  • Human-Computer Interaction (the study of interaction between people and computers)
  • Environmental decision making (understanding human behavior in environmental problems)
  • Judgment and decision making (understanding human behavior in problems involving risk and uncertainty)
  • Cognitive Science (understanding how human brain represents and manipulates knowledge)

Education

  • Ph.D., Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, USA, 2011 (Title: Why do we want to defer actions on Climate Change? A Psychological Perspective)
  • M.S., Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, USA, 2010
  • M.S., Software Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, USA, 2006
  • B. E., Computer Science and Engineering, Thapar University, India, 2004

Work Experience

Academic Research Experience
  • Associate Professor, School of Computing and Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, April 2019 – Present
  • Assistant Professor, School of Computing and Electrical Engineering and School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, June 2012 – March 2019
  • Post-doctoral Fellow, Dynamic Decision Making Lab, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, August 2011 – May 2012
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Dynamic Decision Making Lab, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, August 2007 – August 2011
  • Research Programmer, Dynamic Decision Making Lab, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, May 2006 – July 2007
Graduate Committees
  • Ms. Neha Sharma, Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Graduated)
  • Ms. Palvi Aggarwal, Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Abhijeet Seth, Advisor in M. Tech. Thesis Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Shivendra Sangar, Co-Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Graduated)
  • Ms. Medha Kumar, Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Pratik Chaturvedi, Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Akash K Rao, Advisor in M.S. Academic Progress Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Zahid Maqbool, Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Abhinav Choudhury, Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Graduated)
  • Ms. Shruti Kaushik, Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Praveen Kumar, Advisor in M.S. Academic Progress Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Ankush Pathania, Advisor in M.S. Academic Progress Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Tushar Saini, Advisor in M.S. Academic Progress Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Harsh Katakwar, Advisor in M.S. Academic Progress Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Shashank Uttrani, Advisor in M.S. Academic Progress Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Keshav Tadia, Advisor in MA Development Studies (Graduated)
  • Ms. Akanksha, Advisor in MA Development Studies (Graduated)
  • Mr. Darshil Shah (FU Berlin), Advisor in MS Academic Progress Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Rakesh Somerwal, Advisor in MSc Physics (Graduated)
  • Mr. Apoorav Singh Deo, Advisor in MSc Physics (Graduated)
  • Ms. Gulshan, Advisor in MSc Physics (Graduated)
  • Mr. Himanshu Soam, Advisor in MSc Applied Mathematics (Graduated)
  • Ms. Simrat, Advisor in MSc Physics (Graduated)
  • Mr. Apurav, Advisor in MSc Physics (Graduated)
  • Ms. Sucheta Panda, Advisor in M. Tech. (CSE) Academic Progress Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Aditya Kumar, Advisor in M. Tech. (CSE) Academic Progress Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Ravi Yadav, Advisor in M. Tech. (CSE) Academic Progress Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Srijan Singh, Advisor in M. Tech. (CSE) Academic Progress Committee (Graduated)
  • Mr. Harsh Gahlot, Advisor in M. Tech. (CSE) Academic Progress Committee (Graduated)
  • Ms. Megha Sharma, Advisor in M.S. Academic Progress Committee (Synopsis Submitted)
  • Mr. Aadhaar Gupta, Advisor in M.S. Academic Progress Committee (Synopsis Submitted)
  • Ms. Priyanka, Advisor in M.S. Academic Progress Committee (Synopsis Submitted)
  • Mr. Gitanshu Choudhary, Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Jan 2020 – Present)
  • Mr. Praveen Kumar, Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Jan 2021 – Present)
  • Mr. Akash K Rao, Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Jan 2022 – Present)
  • Mr. Shashank Kapoor, Advisor in M.S. Academic Progress Committee (Aug 2022 – Present)
  • Mr. Yashwant Kumar, Advisor in M.S. Academic Progress Committee (Aug 2022 – Present)
  • Ms. Ankita Garg, Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Aug 2022 – Present)
  • Mr. Shashank Uttrani, Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Feb 2023 – Present)
  • Mr. Sahil Sankhayan, Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Feb 2023 – Present)
  • Ms. Sakshi Chauhan, Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Feb 2023 – Present)
  • Mr. Ankush Arya, Co-Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Feb 2023 – Present)
  • Mr. Rohit Kumar Roy, Advisor in M.S. Academic Progress Committee (Feb 2023 – Present)
  • Mr. Shubham Kumar, Co-Advisor in M.S. Academic Progress Committee (Feb 2023 – Present)
  • Mr. Sagnik Ghosh, Co-Advisor in M. Tech. (R) Academic Progress Committee (Aug 2023 – Present)
  • Mr. Tushar Vasudev, Advisor in M. Tech. (R) Academic Progress Committee (Aug 2023 – Present)
  • Mr. Mani S., Advisor in M. Tech. (EV) Academic Progress Committee (Aug 2023 – Present)
  • Mr. Sandeep, Advisor in M. Tech. (CSE) Academic Progress Committee (Aug 2022 – Present)
  • Mr. Abbas Hussain, Advisor in M. Tech. (CSE) Academic Progress Committee (Aug 2023 – Present)
  • Mr. Sachin Bahuleyan, Advisor in M. Tech. (CSE) Academic Progress Committee (Aug 2023 – Present)
  • Ms. Arti Devi, Advisor in M. Tech. (R) Academic Progress Committee (Aug 2023 – Present)
  • Mr. Akash Singh, Advisor in M. Tech. (R) Academic Progress Committee (Aug 2023 – Present)
  • Ms. Shivani, Advisor in M. Tech. (R) Academic Progress Committee (Aug 2023 – Present)
  • Ms. Malika Nagpal, Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Aug 2023 – Present)
  • Mr. Ankit Singh, Advisor in Ph.D. Doctoral Committee (Aug 2023 – Present)
  • Ms. Aditi Ghosh, Advisor in MA Development Studies (Aug 2022 – Present)
Academic Administrative Experience
  • Chair, Ranking Cell, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Oct 2023 - Present
  • Chair, Indian Knowledge System and Mental Health Applications Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Dec 2022 – Present
  • Associate Dean, Resource Generation and Alumni Relations, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Apr 2021 – Present
  • Project Director, IIT Mandi iHub and HCI Foundation, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Jan 2021 – Present
  • Advisor, WING (Website), Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Feb 2020 – Nov 2021
  • Lead Coordinator, TIH (HCI foundation), Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, May 2020 – Jan 2021
  • Advisor, Alumni Affairs Cell, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Feb 2020 – Nov 2021
  • Advisor, Training and Placement Cell, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Nov 2018 – Feb 2020
  • Associate Dean, International Relations, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Aug 2015 – Apr 2020
  • SCEE Member, Senate, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Nov 2012 – Apr 2020
  • Chief Warden, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Feb 2015 – Nov 2017
  • Faculty Advisor, B. Tech. Students, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Aug 2012 – Aug 2016
  • Member, SHSS Purchases, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Jan 2013 – Aug 2016
  • Co-Advisor, International Relations, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Aug 2012 – Aug 2015
  • Advisor, Recruitment Cell, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Jan 2013 – Aug 2015
  • Member, SCEE Purchases, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Jan 2013 – Feb 2014
  • Warden, Nako Hostel, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, May 2014 – Feb 2015
  • Asst. Warden, Nako Hostel, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Aug 2012 – Feb 2014
  • Member of Editorial Team, SCRI, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Aug 2012 – Dec 2012
  • Advisor, Programming Club, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Aug 2012 – Dec 2012
  • Coordinator, Design Practicum, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Jan 2013 – Jun 2013
  • Member, Course Proposal Committee, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India, Jan 2013 – Sep 2013
Teaching Experience
   Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India:
  • CS308: Large Applications Practicum, Aug 2023
  • CS662: Mobile Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence, Aug 2023, Feb 2022
  • CS307: Systems Practicum, Feb 2023, Jan 2024
  • IK503: Cognitive Psychology and the Indian Thought System, Feb 2023, Jan 2024
  • IK599I: Independent Study in Indian Knowledge System, Aug 2022
  • IC 252: Data Science 2, Feb 2019, Feb 2020
  • IC 272: Data Science 3, Aug 2019, Aug 2020
  • CS 202: Data Structures and Algorithms, Aug 2020
  • HS523: Decision-making for Social Change, Feb 2019, Feb 2020, Feb 2021
  • IC 201P: Prototype Development, Feb 2019, Feb 2013, Feb 2014, Feb 2020, Feb 2023, Jan 2024
  • HS 528: Information Technology and Development, Aug 2018, Aug 2019, Aug 2020, Aug 2021
  • CS 207: Applied Database Practicum, Aug 2018, Aug 2019, Aug 2021, Aug 2022
  • 5-Week Induction Program, Aug 2017, Aug 2018, Aug 2019
  • IC 250: Programming and Data Structure Practicum, Feb 2018
  • CS 606: Computational Modeling of Social Systems, Feb 2019, Feb 2018, Feb 2017, Aug 2020
  • RM 600 Research Methodology, Feb 2019, Feb 2018, Feb 2017, Aug 2020
  • HS 616: Managerial Thinking and Decision Making, Aug 2014, Aug 2015, Feb 2018
  • CS 660: Data Mining for Decision Making, Aug 2015, Feb 2017, Aug 2018
  • EM 604: Energy: Environment Policy and Law, Feb 2015, Aug 2015, Feb 2016, Aug 2017
  • CS 303: Software Engineering, Aug 2012, Aug 2013, Aug 2014
  • IC 150P: Computation for Engineers Lab, Feb 2013, Aug 2014
  • DP 301P: Interactive Socio-Technical Practicum, Feb 2014, Feb 2016, Feb 2017, Feb 2018, Feb 2019, Feb 2020, Feb 2023, Jan 2024
  • CS 506: Cognitive Modeling, Feb 2013, Feb2014, Feb 2016
  • CS 308: Large-Scale Applications Practicum, Feb 2014, Feb 2015, Feb 2016, Aug 2016, Feb 2021, Aug 2021, Aug 2022, Aug 2023
  • CS 208: Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science, Aug 2013
  • HS 301: Public Policy and Advocacy Skills Engineering, Aug 2013
  • IC 100: Reverse Engineering, Aug 2013
  • CS 603: Managerial Decision Making, Aug 2012
   Graduate Teaching Assistant, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA:
  • 88-431: Dynamic Decision Making, May 2007 - Jul 2007
  • 19-752: EPP Project Management, Jan 2010 - May 2010
  • 05-775: Cognitive Perspective in HCI, Jan 2010 - Feb 2010
Professional Experience
  • Intiot Services Pvt. Ltd., India, Founder and Executive Director, Apr 2019 - Present
  • Board of Governor, RXDataScience Inc., NY, USA, Jan 2018 - Present
  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Germany, Lead Author (Chapter 2), Nov 2012 – Mar 2014
  • Newspaper Financial Chronicle, Inc., India, Knowledge Editor, Dec 2008 - Aug 2018
  • Newspaper Economic Times, Inc., India, Freelance Journalist, Aug 2006 - Aug 2007
  • Messenger Service Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, USA, Software Engineer, Aug 2006 - Sep 2006
  • Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India, Software Engineer, Feb 2005 - Jun 2005
  • MothersonSumi INfotech and Designs Ltd., India, Software Engineer, Aug 2004 - Jan 2005
Projects
  • Visualization of Big Data in Pharma, IITM/CONS/PPLP/VD/05, INR 6 lakhs, Purdue Pharma, L.P., USA, Aug 2015 – June 2016
  • Why do people exhibit a lack of Understanding about Earth’s Climate? Influence of Repeated Feedback, IITM/SG/VD/32, INR 5 lakhs, IIT Mandi, Sep 2014 – Sep 2017
  • Building a Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace: A Behavioral Game-Theoretic Approach, IITM/DST/VD/64, INR 23 lakhs, DST, Dec 2014 – Dec 2017
  • Decisions from experience: AN ERP investigation of decision based on valuation of outcomes and probabilities, IITM/DST/DB/89, INR 18.6 lakhs, DST, Aug 2015 – Oct 2017
  • Machine Learning and Data Mining for Sales and Analytics in Pharma, IITM/CONS/PPLP/VD/03, INR 60 lakhs, Purdue Pharma L.P. USA, Feb 2015 – Feb 2018
  • Design and Development of a Smart Seat-Belt Monitoring System, INR 10.5 lakhs, HE India, Feb 2017 – Feb 2019
  • Development and evaluation of landslide risk communication solutions in Mandi District of H.P., IITM/HPSCSTE/VD/130, INR 5.14 lakhs, Himachal Pradesh State council for Science, Technology & Environment (SCSTE), Nov 2016 – Nov 2018
  • Development and evaluation of low-cost landslide early warning solutions, IITM/DRDO-DTRL/VD/179, INR 10 lakhs, DRDO-DTRL, Oct 2017 – Oct 2020
  • Development and evaluation of low-cost landslide monitoring solutions, IITM/NDMA/VD/184, NDMA, INR 27.8 lakhs, Dec 2017 – Dec 2020
  • Design of Advanced Big Data Analytics in the CygNet Management System for large telecom networks, IITM/MHRD(UAY)/AD/115, MHRD, INR 140 lakhs, Jun 2016 – Jun 2020 (Co-PI)
  • Development of human-performance modeling framework via physiological and signal processing tools for visual cognitive enhancement in IVD, VR and AR paradigms, IITM/DRDO-CARS/VD/110, INR 22 lakhs, DRDO, Jun 2016 – Jun 2019
  • Deployment of sensors for landslide monitoring and early warning, Deputy Commissioner Mandi (H.P.), IITM/DCoM/VD/204, INR 3,00,000, Jun 2018 – Jun 2021
  • Public Perception of Air Pollution and development and testing of a low-cost Air Pollution Sensing and Warning System, IITM/DEST-HP/VD/240, INR 7,00,000, Department of Environment, Science and Technology, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, May 2019 – May 2021
  • A Game Theoretic Approach involving Experimentation and Computational Modeling using Deception in Cyber Security, Department of Science and Technology (ICPS), INR 60 lakhs, Feb 2019 – Feb 2022
  • Evaluation of quantitative systems pharmacology and machine learning models for blood glucose prediction, IITM/CONS/RxDSI/VD/33, RxDataScience Inc., USA, INR 15,26,400, Aug 2019 – Feb 2022
  • Application for mining rare diseases and analyzing and predicting patient journeys, IITM/CONS/RxDSI/VD/16, US $21,667, RxDataScience Inc., USA, Nov 2018 - Aug 2019
  • Efficient query and visualization of Big Data, IITM/CONS/RxDSI/VD/07, INR 6.5 lakhs, Rx Data Science Inc., USA, Sep 2016 – Jun 2017
  • UKIERI – DST international workshop on adversarial cybersecurity, IITM/WS/VD/79, UKIERI – DST, INR 1,56,700, Sep 2020 – Oct 2020
  • UKIERI – DST international workshop on adversarial cybersecurity, IITM/WS/VD/79, UKIERI – DST, INR 1,56,700, Sep 2020 – Oct 2020
  • Human Performance enhancement via tDCS in VR and performance forecasting via machine learning methods, ITM/DRDO-LSRB/VD/301, Life Sciences Research Board, DRDO, INR 49,13,480, Dec 2020 – Dec 2023
  • A low-cost MEMS-based and video-based monitoring and early warning system for rainfall-induced landslides, IITM/DST/VKU/300, INR 40 lakhs, DST, Dec 2020 – Dec 2023 (Co-PI)
  • Low-cost extensometer- based landslide monitoring and early warning device, IITM/DST/KVU/316, DST, INR 44,87,288, Feb 2021 – Feb 2024 (Co-PI)
  • Replicating human cognitive behavior on robots’ models using ACT-R cognitive architecture for search-and-retrieve missions in virtual environments, IITM/DRDO/VD/324, CAIR DRDO, INR 36,08,440, Mar 2021 – Mar 2023
  • Evaluation of risk perception, fear, social distancing, masks and treatments regarding Covid-19 in India, IITM/ICSSR/VD/317, ICSSR, INR 3,25,000, Mar 2021 – Sept 2021
  • Deployment of low-cost landslide monitoring and warning systems, IITM/DDMA-M/VD/325, DDMA, INR 49,20,000, Feb 2021 – Feb 2024
  • Technology Innovation Hub (HCI), DST, NM-ICPS, INR 110,00,000, Dec 2020 – Dec 2025 (Project Director)
  • Development of a remote-sensing satellite-data enabled disaster (landslide) decision response system with local ground-based monitoring, IITM/DDMA-M/VD/358, INR 56 lakhs, March 2022 - March 2025
  • Development and Deployment of Low-Cost Landslide Monitoring Solutions in Kangra District, Himachal Pradesh, IITM/DDMA-Kan/KVU/357, 50 lakhs, Feb 2022 - Feb 2027
  • Development of an operational monitoring system of landslides in Kinnaur district through satellite and low-cost IoT based sensors data, IITM/DDMA-Kinn/VD/345, 23 lakhs, Dec 2021 - Dec 2024
  • Digital nose for healthcare: Diagnosing diabetic ketoacidosis and Myocardial Infarction via a low-cost digital nose, IITM/iHub & HCIF - IIT Mandi/ VD/412, 67.48 lakhs, Mar 2023 - Mar 2025
  • Efficacy of Ayurveda regimen (mild purgation and internal oleation) along with yoga module in the management of unexplained and anovulatory female infertility; A randomized controlled trial, IITM/CCRAS/VD/402, INR 20.48 lakhs, Jan 2023 - Jan 2026
  • Indian Knowledge System and Mental Health Application Centre, IITM/IKS-MoE (AICTE)/VD/401, INR 30.18 lakhs, Jan 2023 - Jan 2025
  • Smart blood vaccine and medicine monitoring system HIMCOSTE, IITM/HIMCOSTE/VD/416, INR 6,30,000, March 2023 - March 2025
  • Team-HacklT: a web-based testbed for multiplayer cyber deception experiments iHub- IIT Kanpur, IITM/C3iHub-IIT Kanpur/VD/427, INR 33,68,133.00, June 2023 - June 2026
  • Site Enrollment Rate Predictions in Clinical Trials via Machine Learning and Deep Learning Models, IITM/CONS/SHILC-USA/VD/111, INR 69 Lakhs, Aug 2023 - Aug 2026
  • Development and Fine-Tuning of Large Language Models for Enhanced Operational Efficiency, IITM/CONS/SHILC-USA/VD/111, INR 86 Lakhs, Feb 2024 - Aug 2026

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+   +   AD-HOC Reviewer of Journals    (Click to expand)    (Click to expand)

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