IITB Trust Lab Welcomes First Cohort of Pre-Doctoral Researchers
Four aspiring scholars have joined IITB Trust Lab’s new Pre-doctoral program in Digital Trust research. From Blockchain to Cryptography, these researchers are tackling diverse projects under expert guidance of our associated faculty. We introduce you to the inaugural cohort and their work, offering a glimpse into the program’s role in nurturing early-career researchers in the field of Digital Trust. Vacancies are still available in selected projects. Keep reading to find out more!
IITB Trust Lab has launched a Pre-doctoral program this year, expanding its support for early-career researchers in Digital Trust.
Designed to cater to undergraduates, graduates, and early career professionals, this program offers a unique environment for building a solid research foundation. It aims to equip participants with crucial research skills while preparing them for the challenges of advanced academic pursuits.
The inaugural cohort boasts a diverse group of talented researchers, each bringing their unique perspectives and experiences to the table.
Palak Chopra, a recent Computer Engineering graduate, views her participation as a natural progression from her internship. Her project focuses on developing a FOSS-based Security Operations Center (SOC). “We’re creating a tangible, plug-and-play distribution that requires minimal expertise to configure yet offers extensive customization options for organizations with specific needs or limited resources,” Palak explains. Under the guidance of Prof. G. Sivakumar, she’s also spearheading the IITB Trust Lab FOSSx initiative.
S Dheeraj Kumar brings a wealth of experience in cryptography to the program. Having worked on mathematical aspects of public key cryptography at IMSc Chennai and post-quantum cryptography at IIT Kanpur, Dheeraj aims to deepen his expertise in specific areas of cryptography. He’s conducting his research under the mentorship of Prof. Manoj Prabhakaran.
Dhruv Kumar, an Engineering Physics graduate from IIT Guwahati, chose this program to enhance his research experience before pursuing a master’s degree. Working under Prof. Biswabandhan Panda and Prof. Sayandeep, Dhruv is delving into the tracking and mitigation of row hammer attacks, a critical area in computer security.
The newest addition to the cohort, Kunal Deo, holds a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering from Cornell University. His project, guided by Dr. Kshitij Jadhav, focuses on federated learning. Kunal’s previous work at the Koita Centre for Digital Health (KCDH) at IIT Bombay involved using One Shot GANs to address long tail problems in medical image datasets. “This program aligns perfectly with my goal of applying machine learning in practical scenarios and will bolster my Ph.D. prospects in Bioinformatics or Computational Biology,” Kunal shares.
The Road Ahead
With four talented researchers already on board and more set to join, the IITB Trust Lab’s Pre-Doctoral Program is off to a promising start. The program aims to cultivate a community of scholars poised to make significant contributions to the field of Digital Trust.
For those interested in joining this exciting initiative, applications are accepted on a rolling basis. A wide array of compelling projects awaits potential candidates, ranging from Blockchain to Cryptography.
Join us at IIT Bombay’s (ranked No. 1 in the QS Ranking 2025) CSE Department to work with leading researchers, access state-of-the-art facilities, and receive competitive stipends.
To explore the available projects, visit this link.
