DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

A: Environmental and Microbial Biotechnology

B: Parasitology and Vector Biology

C: Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

D: Plant Biotechnology

E: Human Diseases and Immunology

F: Biochemistry

G: Molecular Biology and r-DNA technology

H: Animal Biotechnology

Course content of each area is given below.

A: Environmental and Microbial Biotechnology

Content:

Microbial evolution; Chemical and molecular methods for microbial identification; microbial

systematics and molecular taxonomy; Plant growth promoting microorganisms and mechanisms of

colonization; Biocontrol; Microbial metabolism, Genetics of microorganisms; Factors determining

microbial ecology, culture-dependent & independent analysis of microbial communities, molecular

typing & DNA finger-printing, metagenomics& functional metagenomics, secretomics, stable

isotope probing; Sociobiology of microorganisms: quorum-sensing, biofilm; Techniques used for

study of host-microbe interaction (IVET, STM, DFI); Synthetic microorganism. Molecular biology

and biotechnological application of Achaea.

Basic concept of environment and its component; Definitions and facts related to Environmental

B: Parasitology and Vector Biology:

Content:

Life cycle of parasite (Plasmodium, Trypanosoma, Leishmania,Toxoplasma, Entamoeba,

Giardia), and their vectors(Mosquitoes, Sandfly, Tsetse fly); Mosquito borne viruses(Dengue,

chikungunya). Taxonomy and identification of parasites and vectors; Molecular biology of

parasite and vector (with special emphasis to Plasmodium-Anopheles, Dengue-Aedes);Cellular

and humoral mechanisms involved inimmunityto parasites;Immunomodulation in vectors;Vector

parasite interactions and control strategies - Disease symptoms, Molecular approaches to

diagnosis, Epidemiology, drug targets, vaccine strategies and proteomic approaches, prophylaxis,

treatments to parasitic diseases and vector control measures, mechanisms of drug resistance in

parasites or vectors.

Drosophila life cycle & molecular aspects may also be included as a comparative to what is

known about the Anophelines & Culicines.

C: Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Content:

Introduction to genomic & Proteomics, Structural genomics and proteomics, Human Genome

project and other sequencing projects, Biological databases and data mining, sequence similarity

search and sequence alignment, Protein structure predication and structure analysis, use of

software package in Bioinformatics. Biomolecular Conformations, protein folding, Forcefield,

Simulation, Conformational analysis, ab initio structure prediction, comparative modeling, lattice

models, usage of modeling packages,

D: Plant Biotechnology

Content:

Plant tissue culture history; Requirements to grow in vitro plants; Micro propagation, its

applications and limitations; Haploid production; Meristem culture; Somaclonal variations;

Somatic hybridization: Protoplast isolation and culture; somatic hybrids production; Storing

plant genetic resources; Secondary metabolites.

Genetic transformation of plants; Agrobacterium mediated transfer; Ti plasmid technology;

Direct gene transfer methods; Vectors for plant transformation; Molecular markers (RFLP,

RAPD, AFLP, SNPs, VNTR); Designing of promoters; Stress Biology; Regulation of expression

of wheat and rice seed storage protein genes, regulation and evolution of the patatin genes of

potato; expression of genes controlling fatty acid biosynthesis; manipulation of cereal protein

and oilseed quality, genetic manipulation of pest resistance, plant disease resistance, strategies

for engineering stress tolerance, strategies for improvement of crop yield and quality; Starch,

polyfructans, bioplastics, the oleosin system, custom made antibodies, edible vaccines; Public

concerns over GM crops and government regulations.

E: Human Diseases and Immunology

Content:

Overview of Cardiovascular Diseases (Cardiomyopathies, Hypertension, Atherosclerosis and

Stroke) Including Basic Understanding of Molecular and Physiological Aspects, Molecular Basis

of Diabetes Type II; Neurological disorders: Basic Molecular Understanding of Parkinson's and

Alzheimer's Disease -- Cause, Physiological Aspects and Novel Therapies.

Cancer Classification Based on Origin, Markers and Histology; Mechanisms of Viral

Oncogenesis; Proto-oncogenes (src, myc, ras and abl) & Tumor Suppressor Genes (Rb, P53);

Growth Factors and Receptors: EGFR, PDGFR, IGFR, Integrin, Receptor Hyper-activation;

Signal Transduction: PI3K-Ras-Akt, Jak/Stat, Wnt, NFkB, TGFβ; Immuno-evasion Strategies;

Molecular Mechanism of EMT and Metastasis; Apoptosis (Extrinsic and Intrinsic), Telomerase

and Cancer; Anti-cancer Drug Targets.

Cell Mediated and Humoral Immunity, Antigens, Antibodies, MHC, Molecular basis of T and B

cell antigen recognition and activation, Hypersensitivity, Immunity to Microbes, Immunological

Tolerance, Major Cytokines, Complement system, Autoimmunity (including Type I Diabetes),

Immunodeficiency, Transplantation, Basic Concepts in Vaccination.

F: Biochemistry

Content: Organization of cells; Biomolecules (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids);

Enzymes: structure, isolation/purification, kinetics and mechanism of action; Biochemical

energetics; Metabolic pathways: Carbohydrate metabolism, Biological oxidations, Lipid

metabolism, Photosynthesis, Metabolism of nitrogen.

Physical principles in the biological and biomimetic molecular systems; Conformational and

energetical properties of biomolecules like amino acids, proteins, nucleotides, nucleic acids as

well as biomimetic systems like monolayers and bilayers; Related physical phenomena in these

systems like structural transitions, protein folding, membrane equilibria; Principles of major

experimental techniques applied to understand these physical problems.

G: Molecular Biology and r-DNA technology

Content: Eukaryotic chromosome and its Organization(Chromosome and chromatin structure

the Content of Genome, Clusters and repeats); DNA replication (Prokaryote and eukaryote),

Transcription, its control and post-transcriptional modifications; Translation, its control and post-

translational modifications; Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes

(Epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation Histone methylation ,acetylation and

phosphorylation, DNA binding domains, Zinc fingers, steroid receptors, leucine zipper, Yeast

GAL genes) Eukaryotic cell cycle control and regulation( basic regulation of cell cycle, Signal

transduction pathways: MAP-Kinase Jak-Stat, PI3Kinase, Notch, Wnt and Integrin/E-Cadherin);

Phage Strategies (Control of lytic cascades in T4, T7 and lambda phage, Maintenance of

lysogeny, Repressor synthesis and binding, Balance between lysogeny and lytic cycle);

Regulatory RNA Biology ( Riboswitch, Regulate gene expression by noncoding RNA,

Attenuation and regulation by small RNA molecules, Gene silencing and RNA interference,

antisense RNA)

Plasmids as cloning vehicles; plasmid copy number control mechanism, Cosmids; Restriction

enzymes, Ligation, Linkers, Adaptors Homo -polymer tailing; Different cloning strategies in gram

negative and gram positive bacteria; Screening of Recombinant molecules; Expression vectors and

protein purification; PCR, Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR); Site directed mutagenesis;

Nucleotide sequencing; Basic Techniques in Recombinant DNA Technology with emphasis on

Electrophoresis, Blotting Techniques (Western, Southern, Northern Blotting), DNA and protein

microarrays, DNA mediated transformation, viral transduction and electroporation.

H: Animal Biotechnology

Content:

Cell and Tissue Culture: Uses, Advantages and Disadvantages; Primary Cell Culture;

Characteristics of Cells in Culture; Sterilization & Media Preparation; Development and

Maintenance of Cell Lines; Transformation & Immortalization; Cryopreservation; 3D Culture

Method; Tissue Engineering; Cell Based Assays (Principle and procedure: Viability, Cyto-

toxicity, Staining and Visualization, Flow Cytometry); Scaling Up; Therapeutic & Bio-

technological Aspects of Cell Culture.

Basic Characteristics and Isolation of Embryonic Stem Cells, Adult Stem Cells; IPSCs;

Molecular and Transcriptional Control of Stem Cells (cytokines, growth factors and transcription

factors); Therapeutic and Reproductive Cloning; Stem Cell Plasticity, Stem Cell Niche, Cancer

Stem Cells, Stem Cell Culture, Current Aspects of Stem Cell Therapy.

Life Cycle and Development of Mouse and Zebra Fish; Classical Transgenic Production

(pronuclear microinjection and blastocyst injection); Mouse Knock-out, Knock-in, Gene Trap,

Hypomorphic and Conditional Knockout Strategies. Identification and Utility of Major Mouse

Strains (congenic, syngenic and allogenic), Genetic Backgrounds in Mice; Zebrafish

Transgenesis-Development and Methods.

Sub-area - Inorganic chemistry

The areas of Ph.D qualifying in inorganic chemistry should cover the topics of inorganic

chemistry such as, coordination chemistry, reactions, kinetics and mechanism; advanced

organometallic chemistry, bonding models in inorganic chemistry, inorganic chains, rings, cages

and clusters; group theory and its applications to crystal field theory, molecular orbital theory

and spectroscopy (electronic and vibrational); inorganic chemistry in biological systems. It may

contain the basics of solid state chemistry, comprehensive survey of different synthesis

techniques, properties and their structural-property relationship of solid materials; introduction to

special nanomaterials, ceramics, polymers, biopolymers and nanocomposites; thermal and

mechanical properties of nanomaterials; nanocomposites in hydrophobic applications; recent

advances in material science and technology. A comprehensive survey of the catalytic processes

along with the fundamental aspects of the catalyst design and evaluation; several classes of

heterogeneous industrial catalysts; their preparation, characterization and applications, recent

developments in catalysis, application of nanomaterials in catalysis could be covered.

Bioinorganic chemistry, fundamentals of toxicity and detoxification, chelating agents and metal

chelates as medicines. Advanced spectroscopic techniques used in chemistry. Some topics in

environmental chemistry, like green chemistry, ozone chemistry, effect of SOx and NOx as

pollutants, water pollution and treatment, organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides, eco-

system effects, toxic chemicals – Effect of dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and

species of metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium etc.

Sub-area - Analytical chemistry

The areas of Ph.D qualifying in analytical chemistry should cover principle, techniques and

applications of conventional methods of gas chromatography, ion chromatography, high

performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry (ionization techniques, various

mass-spectrometer, tandem mass-spectrometry, ion cyclotron resonance), electroanalytical

chemistry, thermo analytical techniques (TGA and DSC), atomic absorption techniques, sample

preparation and injection techniques (including flow injection analysis) for analysis of chemical

and biological contaminants (environmental analytical chemistry); bio-analytical techniques such

as fluorescence and chemiluminescence, electrophoresis, miniaturized (micro/nano) analytical

devices, lab on chip techniques and their applications. It will also include data analysis, classical

analysis and separation techniques. Various spectroscopic techniques included will be rotational

spectroscopy (rotational energy levels for various systems, determination of structural

parameters from rotational spectroscopy, distortion constants), nuclear magnetic resonance

spectroscopy (Fourier transform NMR, NOE, Multipulse methods, 2D-NMR), vibrational

spectroscopy (normal mode description, symmetry of normal modes, transition moment

integrals, functional group determination, overtones, anharmonicity), electron absorption

spectroscopy of organic and inorganic compounds (application of group theory, selection rules,

Franck-Condon factor), electronic paramagnetic spectroscopy/nuclear quadrupole resonance

spectroscopy/Mossbauer spectroscopy (theory and important applications), determination of

magnetic properties, photoelectron spectroscopy, microscopic techniques (TEM-STM-AFM), X-

Ray crystallography. Environmental analytical chemistry - wastewater treatment and evaluation

of analytical parameters such as COD, BOD, etc, speciation. Radioanalytical techniques such as

liquid scintillation counting, isotope dilution analysis and neutron activation analysis.

Sub-area - Physical chemistry

The laws of thermodynamics, applications to phase equilibrium, reaction equilibrium, and

electrochemistry; review of ensembles, fluctuations, Boltzmann statistics, quantum statistics,

ideal gases and chemical equilibrium, imperfect gases, distribution function theories and

perturbation theories of classical liquids, electrolyte solutions, kinetic theory of gases, continuum

mechanics, Boltzmann equation, transport processes in gases and Brownian motion, introduction

to time-correlation function formalism.

Principles and techniques of quantum mechanics, applications to atomic and molecular structure

and spectroscopy, molecular interactions, macromolecules, solid state; groups, subgroups and

classes: definitions and theorems, molecular symmetry, character tables, wave functions as bases

for irreducible representations, direct product, symmetry adapted linear combinations, symmetry

in molecular orbital theory, hybrid orbitals.

Molecular motion in gases and liquids, reaction rate laws, mechanisms and rate theories of

complex reactions, molecular reaction dynamics, surface processes, electron transfer dynamics.

Solid state chemistry, different synthesis techniques, introduction to special nanomaterials,

ceramics, polymers, biopolymers and nanocomposites, thermal and mechanical properties of

nanomaterials, nanocomposites in hydrophobic applications, recent advances in material science

and technology.

Electronic absorption spectroscopy, optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism,

vibrational rotational spectroscopy, magnetic resonance techniques, multipulse methods,

Mossbauer spectroscopy, magnetism, ionization methods: mass spectrometry, ion cyclotron

resonance, photoelectron spectroscopy; electron microscopy technique, X-ray fluorescence and

near edge structure, X-ray crystallography; fluorescence and phosphorescence, physical

properties of molecules after photoexcitation, photochemical tools and techniques, fluorescence

decay time measurement and analysis, flash photolysis, fundamental properties of laser light,

principles of laser operation and applications.

Nuclear chemistry and its applications.

Sub-area - Organic chemistry

Covers all major topics of organic chemistry at advanced level and current research fields. This

includes total synthesis, reagents for organic synthesis, synthetic method development, catalysis,

organometallic chemistry, heterocyclic chemistry, green chemistry, natural product chemistry,

medicinal chemistry, organic photochemistry, bio-organic chemistry, stereochemistry,

spectroscopy-basic principle and applications, separation techniques, supramolecular chemistry,

organic smart materials, dyes and pigments, organic polymers, drug discovery and developments

and, organic chemistry in industry. However, “organic chemistry” is not limited to above

mentioned topics only but includes other newly developed areas of organic chemistry.

Sub-area – Theoretical and computational chemistry

The areas of Ph.D qualifying in theoretical and computational chemistry should cover three

broad area’s Electronic Structure Theory, Chemical Applications of Group Theory and computational

material science. Topics to be included in these three area’s will be

Electronic Structure Theory : Operators and Matrix elements, Matrix eigenvalue problem, linear and

non-linear simultaneous equations, Hartree-Fock theory, Spin-adaptation, spin-contamination in

unrestricted Hartree-Fock theory, Configuration interaction theory, projection versus linear variation

method, size-consistency and size-extensivity in truncated CI, Davidson's correction, pair-coupled-pair

theories, many-body perturbation theory, diagrammatic tecnhique for deriving equations, coupled-cluster

theory, perturbative analysis of CC iterations, comparison with CI, Density functional theory, N-

representability and V-representability, Thomas-Fermi and related models, Hohenberg-Kohn theorem,

Levy constrained search formulation, Kohn-Sham Orbitals and Kohn-Sham equations.

Chemical Applications of Group Theory: Basic concepts of groups, Molecular symmetry, point-groups

and character tables, Applications in quantum chemistry – symmetry adapted linear combination of

orbitals, vanishing integrals, spectroscopic selection rules for rotational, vibrational and electronic

transitions, applications in physical properties – dipole moments, optical activity, etc.

Computational Material Science: Modern materials modeling including quantum chemical

methods, density functional theory, semi-empirical and classical approaches, statistical

mechanics, atomic-scale simulations. Application of density functional methods to hybrid,

multifunctional and nanomaterials. Methods for analyzing electronic (optical), structural and

transport properties of these materials.

This topic will also include computational photochemistry and reaction dynamics of organic and

inorganic systems, molecular simulation, thermodynamic and transport properties of liquid

mixtures, computational statistical mechanics and numerical methodologies.

Qualifying areas for Mathematics : Approved by all campuses

Algebra :Commutative Rings, Non-commutative Rings, Groups and their Representations, Field

Theory, Module Theory, Homological Algebra, Number Theory and Algebraic Geometry.

Analysis : Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Functional Analysis, Nonlinear analysis,

Differential Geometry.

Differential Equations and Applications : Ordinary & Partial Differential Equations,

Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Modeling, Fluid Dynamics, Applied Functional Analysis,

Image Processing, Dynamical Systems, Control Theory.

Discrete Mathematics : Boolean and Fuzzy Logic, Graph Theory, Combinatorial Mathematics,

Cryptography, Discrete Mathematical Structures, Design and Analysis of Algorithms, Lattice

Theory, Coding Theory.

Applied Statistics : Statistical Inference, Regression Analysis, Statistical Quality Control,

Demography, Design of experiments & analysis of variance, Financial Mathematics, Stochastic

Processes.

Operations Research : Queuing Theory, Inventory Systems, Reliability Theory, Data

Envelopment Analysis, Linear and Nonlinear Programming.

Numerical Methods and Applications :Numerical methods for Ordinary, Partial and integro-

differential equations and applications to fluid dynamics and Fracture Mechanics.

Cosmology and Relativity : General Theory of Relativity, Alternative Theory of Relativity,

Tensor Calculus.

Research sub-area course description (Physics)

1. Condensed Matter Physics

Crystal structure: Direct and reciprocal lattice, Brillouin zone, X-ray diffraction and

crystal structure; Crystal Vibration, Phonon heat capacity, Thermal Conductivity. Free

electron theory of metals: Free electron gas in three dimension, Heat capacity of

electron gas, Electrical and thermal conductivity. Magnetism: Paramagnetism and

diamagnetism, spontaneous magnetism, magnetic ordering. Superconductivity: Basic

properties, the London equation, elements of BCS theory. Plasmonics, Defects and

dislocations, Amorphous Materials, Glass transition, Liquid crystals, Phase transitions,

Mean field theories.

Band Theory of Solids- Kronig and Penney Model, Direct and Indirect band gaps, Fermi

energy, Density of states, Fermi-Dirac Statistics Electron Transport – P and N type

doping, Drift velocity of electrons and holes in an electric field, Drift current, Drift-

diffusion equations, Transport equations, Thermal excitation of carriers, PN Junction

Diode and Transistors, I-V characteristics, Models for the PN junction and bipolar

transistor (Quasi-static, large-signal Small-signal, low-frequency, high-frequency model,

Solar cell, P-i-N diodes. Metal-semiconductor contacts and MOSFET, Low dimensional

Semiconductors: Electron transport in Quantum well, 1D electron transport, III-V

heterostructure, Graphene and carbon nanotube based field effect transistors,

Spin Physics: Spin Hall Effect, giant and colossal magnetoresistance based memory

devices.

Crystal Defects and Non-crystalline structure: Point defect, line defect, substitutional

impurity, interstitial impurity, vacancy, self interstitial, ionic defect, Hope Diamond,

Schottky defect, Frenkel defect, F-center, charge neutrality, edge dislocation, screw

dislocation, dislocation motion, Physical Properties of Materials: Mechanical Behaviour,

Thermal Behaviour, Failure Analysis and Prevention, Phase Diagrams, Heat Treatment,

Phase Transformations, Structural Materials – Metals, Ceramics and Glasses, Polymers

and Composites, Nanomaterials

Thermometry, various types of temperature sensors, Cryogenic and cryogen free low

temperature generation techniques. Vacuum science: Vacuum Basics, Vacuum

measurement methods. Vacuum generation techniques: Mechanical and

nonmechanical pumps, considerations in system design, system component and

valves. Crystal growth, Sample preparation techniques, SEM, STM, AFM, low

temperature techniques, magnetic measurements, neutron diffraction.

2. Nuclear and High Energy Physics:

Nuclear Physics: Rutherford Scattering, definition of the scattering cross section;

nuclear size and mass, liquid drop model; Angular momentum and parity, magnetic and

quadrupole momenta; Two-nucleon problem, the deuteron, tensor force; Neutron-proton

scattering, phase-shift analysis, scattering length, spin-dependence; Isospin-formalism,

exchange forces, NN potentials; nuclear shell model, spin-orbit coupling; Nuclear decay,

alpha and beta-decay; quark model.

Particle Physics, QFT, String Theory: Klein-Gordon eqn. Maxwell’s equation and Dirac

eqn., symmetries and conservation laws,, Relativistic kinematics of collision and decay,

electron-photon interaction(QED), Scalar field theory, Dirac field theory, Yang Mills

field, Interactions, Quantum Electrodynamics, Spontaneous symmetry breaking,

Abelian-Higgs model, QCD, Renormalization group, Anomalies, non-perturbative

configurations, instantons, Lattice gauge theories. Lie groups (U(1),SU(2),SU(3)) and

algebra, Electro-weak interaction, phenomenology of QCD, Higgs mechanism,

Supersymmetry and Supersymmetric field theory, Perturbative & non-perturbative

aspects of string theory, Conformal field theory, Aspects of differential geometry,

Topological field theory, Elements of group theory and representations. Differential

geometry, calculus of variations

Numerical methods for solving ODE's, PDE's; Monte-carlo methods; Molecular

dynamics simulations; Numerical methods for finding eigenvalues and eigenvectors;

Numerical methods for solving linear and nonlinear equations; Numerical interpolation

and integration; Fourier transforms.

3. Optics and Spectroscopy

Maxwell’s equations, wave equation for electromagnetic radiation, light waves in matter,

paraxial optics, matrix methods, two and multiple beam interference, Fresnel &

Fraunhoffer diffraction, temporal & spatial coherence, image formation, polarization,

crystal optics, lasers, holography, fiber optics, Nonlinear Optics, Quantum Optics

Interaction of matter with radiation, transition rates, dipole approximation, Einstein

coefficients, angular momentum and selection rules, line intensities and line shapes,

Doppler effect, Alkali spectra, fine structure, LS coupling, jj-coupling, Zeeman effect,

Paschen-Back effect, Stark effect, hyperfine structure, rotational and vibrational spectra

of diatomic and polyatomic molecules, Raman Spectroscopy, electronic spectroscopy of

molecules, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy, Electron Spin Resonance

spectroscopy.

4. Theoretical Physics

Vectors and tensors, linear operators- eigenvalues and eigenstates. Discrete and

continuous spectra. Delta function (and other distributions). Inverse operator and Green

functions.

Group theory: Cayley’s theorem, Langrange’s theorem, invariant subgroups,

construction of group representations, character of group representation,Schur’s

lemmas, orthogonality relations, irreducible representation, adjoint representations,

reduction of Kronecker products(C-G series), point symmetry groups, Continuous

groups, infinitesimal transformations, structure constants, Lie algebras, Linear

representation of Lie groups, irreducible representations of Lie groups and Lie

algebras, Multivalued representation, Universal covering group, representations of

rotation group(2-d&3-d), Irreducible representations of SU(n), U(n),Sp(n). Partial

differential equations: Laplace equation, wave equation, And heat flow, Special

functions: Gamma functions, Bessel functions and its variants, Legendre functions,

Hermite functions, Hypergeometric functions, Confluent hypergeometric functions,

Laguerre functions, Integral transforms: Fourier and Laplace transform.

Constraints and generalized coordinates, Lagrange’s equation of motion, calculus of

variation and principle of least action, central force motion, kinematics of rigid body

motion, rigid body equations of motion, heavy symmetrical top, Hamilton’s equations of

motion, canonical transformations.

Fundamental concepts (Stern-Gerlach experiments, bra-ket vectors), Quantum

Dynamics(Schrodinger and Heisenberg picture, Simple Harmonic Oscillator) Angular

momentum(spin ½ system, angular momentum addition), Symmetry in Quantum

Mechanics(conservation laws, continuous and discrete symmetries), Time-Independent

perturbation theory: nondegenerate and degenerate cases, Zeeman effect and Stark

effect, Time-dependent potential, the interaction picture, Identical particles, Scattering

Macro and Micro-states , Phase space, Liouville’s theorem, Microcanonical ensemble,

Equipartition & Virial theorems, Canonical ensemble, a system of harmonic oscillators,

Paramagnetism, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics, Black-Body radiation,

Specific heat, Bose-Einstein condensation.

Electric potential of charge distribution, potential of dipole, Dielectric, Electric

displacement, Magneto statics, Vector potential, magnetization, bound currents,

Ampere’s law in magnetic material, Faraday’s law, induced electric field, Energy in

magnetic field, Maxwell's equations in free space and media. Poynting theorem,

Conservation of momentum and angular momentum, plane waves, propagation in linear

media, absorption and dispersion, Potential formulation of electrodynamics, Gauge

transformations, Retarded potentials, Lienard-Wiechert potential, field of moving point

charge, Electric dipole radiation, magnetic dipole radiation, power radiated by point

charge, radiation reaction.

5. Quantum Physics

Wave-particle duality, notion of state vector and its probability interpretation, Dirac’s bra-

ket notation, operators and observables, generalized uncertainty principle, Time-

independent / dependent Schrödinger equation, Schrödinger and Heisenberg pictures,

Particle in a square well potential, transmission through a potential barrier, simple

harmonic oscillator by wave equation and operator methods, Separation of variables in

spherical polar coordinates, orbital angular momentum, spherical harmonics, hydrogen

atom, Rotation operators, angular momentum algebra, spinors and Pauli matrices,

addition of angular momenta. Time-independent Non-degenerate/ degenerate

perturbation theory, variational methods, WKB method, Time-dependent perturbation

theory, Fermi’s golden rule, Differential cross-section, partial wave analysis, The Born

approximation.

Atomic and Molecular Physics: Interaction of matter with radiation, transition rates,

dipole approximation, Einstein coefficients, angular momentum and selection rules, line

intensities and line shapes, Doppler effect, Alkali spectra, fine structure, LS coupling, jj-

coupling, Zeeman effect, Paschen-Back effect, Stark effect, hyperfine structure,

rotational and vibrational spectra of diatomic and polyatomic molecules, Raman

Spectroscopy, electronic spectroscopy of molecules, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

spectroscopy, Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy.

Quantum Optics: Quantization of the EM field, Flock space representation, thermal

fields, coherent states and squeezed states, quantum coherence functions and

interferometry, single photon experiments, emission and absorption of radiation by

atoms

Quantum Information and computation: quantum bits (qubits), quantum parallelism,

teleportation etc. Basic ideas of quantum systems, two-state systems, evolution of

states, superposition, entanglement, quantum measurement, decoherence. Basic ideas

of computation theories and models, computational resources, complexity. Quantum

Gates: single qubit, multiple qubit gates, controlled gates, universal gates,

measurement. Quantum algorithms, Deutsch', Shor's and Grover's Algorithms, quantum

circuits. Quantum Fourier Transform and applications, Quantum Search Algorithm.

Physical Implementation of quantum computation. Characteristics of quantum

information, Compression and transmission of quantum information, quantum noise,

error-correction, coding and cryptography, complexity, fault-tolerant computation.

Numerical methods for solving ODE's, PDE's; Monte-Carlo methods; Molecular

dynamics simulations; Numerical methods for finding eigenvalues and eigenvectors;

Numerical methods for solving linear and nonlinear equations; Numerical interpolation

and integration; Fourier transforms.

6. Astrophysics and Cosmology

Observational Astronomy: Celestial Sphere, Astronomical Coordinate Systems,

Geographical Coordinates, Horizon System, Equatorial System, Diurnal Motion of the

Stars, and Measurement of Time

Cosmology: Tensors, Affine connection, covariant derivative, geodesics, Ricci scalar,

Riemann tensor and Einstein equation, Friedman-Robertson-Walker metric, Standard

Model of Cosmology, Cosmological Microwave Background (CMB) spectrum, Role of

Dark Matter and Dark Energy.

Astrophysics of Stars & Galaxies & Early Universe: Gravity in Astrophysics: Virial

Theorem, System in Thermodynamic Equilibrium, Radiative Transfer, And Local

Equilibrium. The Sun & the Solar System: Solar Atmosphere, Solar Activity,

Magnetohydrodynamics, The Solar Family, Hydrostatic Equilibrium in stars, HR

Diagram. Stars: Star formation (Molecular cloud, Jeans criterion), birth and death of

stars, supernova, compact stars.

Review of special theory of relativity, Gravity as geometry, descriptions of curved space-

time, tensor analysis, geodesic equations, affine connections, parallel transport,

Riemann and Ricci tensors, Einstein’s equations, Schwarzschild solution, classic tests

of general theory of relativity, mapping the universe, Friedmann-Robertson-Walker

(FRW) cosmological model, Friedmann equation and the evolution of the universe,

thermal history of the early universe, shortcomings of standard model of cosmology,

theory of inflation, cosmic microwave background radiations (CMBR), baryogenesis,

dark matter & dark energy.

Numerical methods for solving ODE's, PDE's; Monte-Carlo methods; Molecular

dynamics simulations; Numerical methods for finding eigenvalues and eigenvectors;

Numerical methods for solving linear and nonlinear equations; Numerical interpolation

and integration; Fourier transforms.

7. Semiconductor Physics

Crystal structure and growth of semiconductor, Elementary quantum physics, Energy

bands in solids, Charge carriers in semiconductors, Carrier Transport Phenomena, Non-

equilibrium excess carriers in semiconductors, Continuity equation (includes setting up

and solving for various boundary conditions), Fabrication of p-n junctions, equilibrium

conditions, forward and reverse biased junctions, metal-semiconductor junctions,

Bipolar junction transistors, Field effect transistors (JFET,MOSFET), Optoelectronic

Devices (varactor diode, solar cell, LEDs, Tunnel diode, etc). IC Fabrication:

Fabrication technology, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

8. Nonlinear science and Complex systems

Phase plane analysis, Local Bifurcations in maps & differential equations, Global

Bifurcations, Chaotic Dynamics, Fractals, Strange Attractors, Relaxation oscillations;

Application of Bifurcation analysis to various systems; Time series analysis; Hamiltonian

systems; Quantum chaos

Synchronization of periodic oscillators by periodic forces, synchronization of interacting

systems with and without noise, synchronization of chaotic systems. Nonlinear

dynamics in various systems - biological, social, economic, etc.

Statistical physics of complex networks: Phase transitions and disorder in complex

systems; Non-linear modeling techniques – Neural networks, Genetic Algorithms, Fuzzy

logic; Complex adaptive systems, self-organized Criticality.

Content for PhD Qualifying Examination Sub-Areas

Research Area_1: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Data Mining

Data Mining

Need for data mining, Preprocessing: Dimensionality reduction, Missing values, Normalization

& standardization, Noise and outlier detection, Data smoothening Classification: Decision tree,

K-nearest neighbors, Naive Bayesian classifiers, Rule based classifiers, Support vector

machine, Underfitting/overfitting, Ensemble classifiers, Classification evaluation and model

selection. Association rule mining, Frequent item set mining, Apriori and its optimizations, FP-

growth , Efficient Rule generation, Other measures (lift, interest etc), correlation, Hierarchy

based Frequent item set mining, Clustering Type of clustering Partitioning clustering k-means,

k-mediod (PAM) algorithms, Hierarchical clustering algorithms, Agglomerative algorithms--

s-link, complete link, average link etc, Divisive algorithms, Density based clustering,

DBSCAN, OPTICS algorithms, Grid based Clustering, Cluster evaluation.

Machine Learning

Introduction Polynomial Curve Fitting, Overfitting/underfitting & Regularization, Curse of

Dimensionality. Some Useful Concepts MAP Hypothesis, Minimum Description Length

(MDL) principle, Expectation Maximization (EM) Algorithm, Bias-variance decomposition,

Lagrange Multipliers Mixture of Gaussians, PCA & SVD. Linear Models for Regression,

Linear Basis Function Models. Linear Models for Classification, Discriminant Functions

(binary & multiple classes), least square, Fisher's Linear Discriminant, Perceptron Algorithm,

Probabilistic Generative Classifiers, Naive Bayes Classifier, robabilistic Discriminative

Classifiers, Logistic Regression, Probit Regression. Non-linear Models, Decision Tress,

Ensemble Classifiers, ANN, Instance-based Learning, K-NN, Case-based Reasoning. Support

Vector Machines, Graphical Models, Bayesian Belief Networks, Hidden Markov Models

.Unsuprevised Learning K-means, Mixture Models Reinforcement Learning, Q Learning,

Non-deterministic rewards & actions, Temporal difference learning, Generalization

Artificial Intelligence

Problem Solving by Searching

Uninformed and informed search techniques including breadth first search, depth first search,

depth limited search, iterative deepening search, Avoiding repeated states. Heuristics based

searches including Greedy best first search, A* search, memory bounded heuristic search.

Local search algorithms and problem solving including Hill climbing, Simulated annealing,

local beam search, genetic algorithms etc. Adversarial search, alpha beta pruning, games

problems.

Knowledge and Reasoning

Knowledge based agents, Propositional logic, syntax and semantics, equivalence, validity and

satisfiability, forward and backward chaining, resolution. First order logic (FOL), syntax and

semantics of FOL, Representation of real world domain using propositional and first order

logic, Unification and lifting, quantifiers, Inference rules, conjunctive normal form for FOL,

resolution for FOL. Reasoning systems for categories, semantic networks, description logic.

Uncertain knowledge and Reasoning

Uncertainty representation, basic probability notation, Inference using joint probability

distribution table, Bayes' rule and its applications. Bayesian Networks: representation and

semantics, inference in Bayesian Networks, Alternatives for Uncertain Reasoning: Rule Based

Methods, Dempster-Shafer Theory, Fuzzy sets, Fuzzy Logic.

Learning

Inductive Learning, Decision trees, Ensemble learning, knowledge in learning, explanation

based learning, statistical learning, learning with complete data, Maximum-likelihood

parameter learning, Naive Bayes models, Gaussian Mixture Models, hidden Markov models,

Instance based learning, Nearest neighbour models, kernel models, Kernel machines, Neural

Networks models for learning, reinforcement learning.

Problem Solving by Searching

Uninformed and informed search techniques including breadth first search, depth first search,

depth limited search, iterative deepening search, Avoiding repeated states. Heuristics based

searches including Greedy best first search, A* search, memory bounded heuristic search.

Local search algorithms and problem solving including Hill climbing, Simulated annealing,

local beam search, genetic algorithms etc. Adversarial search, alpha beta pruning, games

problems.

Research Area_2: Computer Architecture, Embedded Systems & Robotics

Computer Architecture

Computer Organization vs. Computer Architecture, Structure and Functions of various

components of a computer system, Top level view of computer function, Instruction fetch

and execution, Interrupts and I/O functions, Computer Memory System Overview,

Memory hierarchy, Cache Memory Organization and Design, Performance measurement

of two level memory system, I/O Modules and Organization, I/O Techniques, Arithmetic

and Logic Unit, Data Representation- Integer & Floating Point Representation (IEEE-754)

and Arithmetic Operations, Instruction Set characteristics and functions, Intel’s x86 ISA,

Instruction Addressing Modes, Intel’s x86 Addressing Modes and Instruction Formats,

Processor Organization, RISC and CISC Architectures, Instruction-level parallelism and

Superscalar Processors and Design Issues, P-4 Super Scalar Pipeline, Micro Operations,

Design Concepts, Hardwired and Micro-Programmed Control Design Issues, Micro

Instruction Sequencing Methods.

Embedded Systems & Robotics- Introduction to Embedded Systems, Real Time

Embedded Systems, Embedded system components, embedded processors and memory

structures, Programming and Software for Embedded Processors, Peripheral Interface

Controller (PIC) family of processors, ARM Processor, Embedded Systems I/O, and

Networking, Sensing and Sensors, Robotic Vision, Mobility, Statics and Dynamics, Robot

Kinematics, Human Robot Interaction.

Research Area_3: Data Warehousing Databases Advanced Databases

Data Warehousing

Introduction to Data Warehousing

Present Business Scenario, Operational and Informational Systems, What is a Data

Warehouse? Applications of Data Warehouse, Problems with Data Warehousing

Data Warehouse Components, Processes & Architecture

Source Systems, Data Staging Area, Presentation Server, Data Marts, Operational Data Store

(ODS), Metadata, Information Delivery, Basic Processes of a Data Warehouse

Data Warehouse DesignDimensional Modeling Basics, Facts, Dimensions, & Star Schemas,

Snowflake & Starflake Schemas, Design Steps, ER modeling vs. Dimensional modeling,

Surrogate Keys, Changing Dimensions, Conformed Dimensions, Factless Fact Tables,

Minidimensions & Outriggers, Role-playing Dimensions, Multi-valued Dimensions

Extraction, Transformation, & Loading (ETL)Data Extraction, Data Transformation, Data

Loading, ETL Data Structures, ETL Tools: Build or Buy?

Online Analytical Processing (OLAP)Need for OLAP, Features & Functions, ROLAP,

MOLAP, HOLAP, & DOLAP,OLAP Implementation, OLAP Tools

Performance Enhancing Techniques

Partitioning, Aggregation, Materialization of Views, Bitmap Indexes

SQL Features for DW

CUBE Operator, Roll-up Operator Top-N Queries, Window Queries, Real-Time Data

Warehousing

Advanced Databases

Multidimensional Indexing: kD tree, Quad Tree, Partitioned Hash Indexes, R-tree

Query Opitmization: Heuristic optimization, Cost Based Optimization, Hybrid Approach,

System-R Approach, View Materialization, Role of Metadata in Query Optimization

Distributed Database :Motivation & complexities, Homogeneous & Heterogeneous

Distributed Databases, Distributed Data Storage, Data Fragmentation, Data Replication,

Fragmentation & Replication, Data Transparency, Distributed Query Processing

Advanced Topics: NoSQL, Big Table, Big Data Management

Database Systems

Introduction to Database Systems

Objectives/Motivation, Evolution of Database Systems, Overview of a DBMS, Advantages of

a DBMS, Database System Architecture

Data Modeling: Overview of Data Modeling, Entity-Relationship (ER) Modeling, Enhanced

ER (EER) Modeling

Understanding Relational Model: Relational Model Concepts, Relation as a Mathematical

Model, ER, EER to Relational model

Database Design through Functional Dependencies & Normalization: Functional

Dependencies, Normal Forms: 1NF, 2NF, 3NF, BCNF, Criterion for Good Database Design,

Multi-valued dependencies: 4NF

Query Language: Relational Algebra, SQL

Indexing: Indexing Structures, Primary & Secondary Indexes, Tree-structured Indexes, Hash-

based Indexes, Bitmap Indexes

Query Processing: Introduction to Operator Evaluation, Algorithms for Relational Operators,

Materialized and Pipelined Evaluation

Transaction management: Concurrency Control & Crash Recovery: Transaction

Management Overview, Serial Schedule & Serializability, Conflict Serializability, View

Serializability, Testing for Serializability, Recoverability & Cascadeless Schedules,

Concurrency Control, Locking, Time-stamping, Crash Recovery, Log-Based, Shadow Paging

Software Engineering

Software Engineering Concepts and Methodologies; Software Requirements Analysis and

Specification, Software Architecture, Detailed Design; Techniques of Design; Object Oriented

Design, UML, Estimation; Software Project Planning, Integration & Validation; Software

Quality Assurance; Software Maintenance; Automated Tools in Software Engineering.

Research Area_4: High Performance Computing and Distributed Systems

Parallel & High Performance Computing

General understanding

Shared Memory & Distributed Memory Systems, Concurrency & Multi-threaded

systems and Multi-processor systems

Multicore-systems

Multi-core computing - homogeneous and heterogeneous, NUMA, and GPGPU

computing;

Concurrency

Shared Data and Shared Memory Data Structures; Mutual Exclusion and solutions

(for multi-processor systems)

High Performance Systems and Solutions; Scaling Models and Techniques;

Development Models; High Performance Environments

Interconnects, Mapping, Scheduling, and Load Balancing.

Distributed Systems

Processes Threads; Virtualization; Client-server structure; code migration;

Communication RPC, Message & Stream Oriented Communication; Multicast communication;

Naming Flat, structured and attribute based naming; DHT; DNS; LDAP;

Synchronization Logical clocks; Mutual exclusion algorithms; Election Algorithms;

Caching, Consistency and Replication Distributed Caches, Data centric consistency models; client-centric consistency

models; replica management; consistency protocols;

Fault Tolerance Failure models; Process resilience: agreement in faulty systems; failure detection;

reliable client-server communication; reliable multicasting;

Distributed File Systems Architecture; communication; naming; synchronization; consistency & replication;

fault tolerance;

Research Area_5: Image Processing & Multimedia

Introduction, Multimedia Authoring and Multimedia Data Representations

Introduction to Multimedia What is Multimedia / Components of Multimedia / Multimedia and

Hypermedia / World Wide Web (HTTP, HTML, XML, SMIL) / Overview of Multimedia

Software Tools (for Music Sequencing and Notation, Digital Audio, Graphics and Image

Editing, Video Editing, Animation, Multimedia Authoring

Multimedia Authoring and Tools Multimedia Authoring (Metaphors, Production, Presentation,

Automatic Authoring) / Some Useful Editing and Authoring Tools / Virtual Reality

Manipulation Language

Graphics and Image Data Representations Graphics/Image Data Types (1-Bit Images, 8-Bit

Gray-Level Images, Image Data Types, 24-Bit Color Images, 8-Bit Color Images, Color

Lookup Tables) / Popular File Formats (GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, EXIF, Graphics Animation

Files, PS, PDF, Windows WMF & BMP, PAINT, PICT, PPM)

Color in Image and Video Color Science (Light and Spectra, Human Vision, Spectral

Sensitivity of the Eye, Image Formation, Camera Systems, Gamma Correction, Color-

Matching Functions, CIE Chromaticity Diagram, Color Monitor Specifications, Out-of-Gamut

Colors, White-Point Correction, XYZ to RGB Transform, Transform with Gamma Correction,

L*a*b* (CIELAB) Color Model, More Color-Coordinate Schemes, Munsell Color Naming

System) / Color Models in Images (RGB, CMY, CMYK, Transformation from one model

other, Printer Gamuts) / Color Models in Video (Video Color Transforms, YUV Color Model,

YIQ Color Model, YCbCr Color Model)

Fundamental Concepts in Video Types of Video Signals, Analog Video (NTSC, PAL,

SECAM) / Digital Video (Chroma Subsampling, CCIR Standards for Digital Video, High

Definition TV)

Basics of Digital Audio Overview of Physics of sound / Digitization of Sound / Musical

Instrument Digital Interface / Quantization and Transmission of Audio

Multimedia Data Compression

Lossless Compression Algorithms Introduction, Basics of Information Theory, Run-Length

Coding, Variable-Length Coding, Shannon–Fano Algorithm, Huffman Coding / Adaptive

Huffman Coding / Dictionary-Based Coding / Arithmetic Coding / Lossless Image

Compression / Differential Coding of Images / Lossless JPEG

Lossy Compression Algorithms Distortion Measures / The Rate-Distortion Theory /

Quantization / Uniform Scalar Quantization / Non-uniform Scalar Quantization / Vector

Quantization / Transform Coding / Discrete Cosine Transform / Karhunen–Loeve Transform /

Wavelet-Based Coding / Continuous Wavelet Transform / Discrete Wavelet Transform /

Wavelet Packets / Embedded Zero-tree of Wavelet Coefficients / The Zerotree Data Structure

/ Successive Approximation Quantization / EZW Example / Set Partitioning in Hierarchical

Trees

Image Compression Standards The JPEG Standard / main steps of JPEG / JPEG Modes / JPEG

Bitstream / The JPEG2000 Standard / Main Steps of JPEG2000 Image Compression / Region-

of-Interest Coding / Comparison of JPEG and JPEG2000 Performance / The JPEG-LS

Standard / Prediction / Context Determination / Residual Coding / Near-Lossless Mode /

Bilevel Image Compression Standards JBIG and JBIG2

Basic Video Compression Techniques and Video Coding Video Compression Based on Motion

Compensation / Search for Motion Vectors ( Sequential, 2D Logarithmic, and Hierarchical

search) / Standards H.261 and H.263 / Overview of MPEG-1, 2, 4, 7, and 21

Audio Compression Techniques Basic Compression Techniques / G.726 ADPCM / MPEG

Audio Compression / Psychoacoustics / MPEG Audio Coding

Multimedia System Architecture

Media and Streams, Multimedia System Architecture Media Types / Media Classification /

Continuous Media / Discrete Media / Time-dependent Media / Time-independent media /

Transmission Modes / Notion of Logical Data Unit

Storage Media for Multimedia Overview of magnetic storage / Optical Storage (CD-ROM,

CD-WORM, CD-RW, DVD)

Multimedia Operating Systems Real-time requirements / Resource Management / Process

Management / File System & Disk Scheduling Algorithms / Architecture

Multimedia communication systems Transport subsystems / QoS / Resource Management &

the trends

Multimedia Database Management Systems Characteristics / Data Analysis / Data Structure /

Operations

Multimedia Application Architecture

Overview of Multimedia Document, Hypertext & MHEG Document Architecture / Hypertext

/ Relations expressed by links / MHEG

Overview of Multimedia User Interface Characteristics / User friendliness / User Interface

through Video and Sound

Multimedia Application Architecture Multimedia Food Chain / Media Preparation / Media

Composition / Media Integration / Media Communication / Media Consumption / Overview of

Virtual Reality Systems

Advanced Topics

Synchronization Notion of synchronization / Presentation Requirements / Reference Model &

Specification

Content-Based Retrieval in Digital Libraries How Should We Retrieve Images? / Current

Image Search Systems / Relevance Feedback / Quantifying Results / Querying on Videos /

Querying on Other Formats / Outlook for Content-Based Retrieval

Multimedia Network Communications and Applications Quality of Multimedia Data

Transmission / Multimedia over IP / Multimedia over ATM Networks / Transport of MPEG-4

/ Media- on-Demand (MOD)

Image Processing & Computer Vision

Introduction, Mathematical and Physical Background

Introduction Motivation / why is Computer Vision Difficult? / Image Representation and Image

Analysis Tasks

The Image, its Representations and Properties Image Representations, a Few Concepts / Image

Digitization / Sampling / Quantization / Digital Image Properties / Metric and Topological

Properties of Digital Images / Histograms / Entropy / Visual Perception of the Image / Image

Quality / Noise in Images / Color Images / Physics of Color / Color Perceived by Humans /

Color Spaces / Palette Images / Color Constancy / Cameras: An Overview / Photosensitive

Sensors / A Monochromatic Camera / A Color Camera

The Image, its Mathematical and Physical Background Overview / Linearity / The Dirac

Distribution and Convolution / Linear Integral Transforms / Images as Linear Systems /

Introduction to Linear Integral Transforms / 1D Fourier Transform / 2D Fourier Transform /

Sampling and the Shannon Constraint / Discrete Cosine Transform / Wavelet Transform /

Eigen-Analysis / Singular Value Decomposition / Principle Component Analysis / Other

Orthogonal Image Transforms / Images as Stochastic Processes / Image Formation Physics /

Images as Radiometric Measurements / Image Capture and Geometric Optics / Lens

Aberrations and Radial Distortion / Image Capture from a Radiometric Point of View / Surface

Reflectance

Data Structures for Image Analysis Levels of Image Data Representation / Traditional Image

Data Structures / Matrices / Chains / Topological Data Structures / Relational Structures /

Hierarchical Data Structures / Pyramids / Quadtrees / Other Pyramidal Structures

Image Pre-processing, Segmentation and Mathematical Morphology)

Image Pre-Processing Pixel Brightness Transformations / Position-Dependent Brightness

Correction / Gray-Scale Transformation / Geometric Transformations / Pixel Co-ordinate

Transformations / Brightness Interpolation / Local Pre-Processing / Image Smoothing / Edge

Detectors / Zero-Crossings of the Second Derivative / Scale in Image Processing / Canny Edge

Detection / Parametric Edge Models / Edges in Multi-Spectral Images / Local Detection by

Local Pre-Processing Operators / Detection of Corners (Interest Points) / Detection of

Maximally Stable Extremal Regions / Image Restoration / Degradations That are Easy to

Restore / Inverse Filtration / Wiener Filtration

Segmentation Thresholding / Threshold Detection Methods / Optimal Thresholding / Multi-

Spectral Thresholding / Edge Based Segmentation / Edge Image Thresholding / Edge

Relaxation / Border Tracing / Border Detection as graph Searching / Border Detection as

Dynamic Programming / Hough Transforms / Border Detection Using Border Location

Information / Region Construction from Borders / Region Based Segmentation / Region

Merging / Region Splitting / Splitting and Merging / Watershed Segmentation / Region

Growing Post-Processing / Matching / Matching Criteria / Control Strategies of Matching /

Evaluation Issues in Segmentation / Supervised Evaluation / Unsupervised Evaluation

Mathematical Morphology Basic Morphological Concepts / Four Morphological Principles /

Binary Dilation and Erosion / Hit or Miss Transformation / Opening and Closing / Gray-Scale

Dilation and Erosion / Top Surface, Umbra, and Gray-Scale Dilation and Erosion / Umbra

Homeomorphism Theorem, Properties of Erosion and Dilation, Opening and Closing / Top Hat

Transformation / Skeletons and Object Marking / Homotopic Transformations / Skeleton,

Maximal Ball / Thinning, Thickening, and Homotopic Skeleton / Quench Function, Ultimate

Erosion / Ultimate Erosion and Distance Functions / Geodesic Transformations /

Morphological Reconstruction / Granulometry / Morphological Segmentation and Watersheds

/ Particles Segmentation, Marking, and Watersheds / Binary Morphological Segmentation /

Gray-Scale Segmentation, Watersheds

Shape Description, Object Recognition and Image Understanding

Shape Representation and Description Region Identification / Contour-Based Shape

Representation and Description / Chain Codes / Simple Geometric Border Representation /

Fourier Transforms of Boundaries / Boundary Description using Segment Sequences / B-

Spline Representation/Other Contour-Based Shape Description Approaches / Shape Invariants

/ Region-Based Shape Representation and Description / Simple Scalar Region Descriptors /

Moments / Convex Hull / Graph Representation Based on Region Skeleton / Region

Decomposition / Region Neighborhood Graphs / Shape Classes

Object Recognition Knowledge Representation / Statistical Pattern Recognition / Classification

Principles / Classifier Setting / Classifier Learning / Support Vector Machines / Cluster

Analysis / Neural Nets / Feed-Forward Networks / Unsupervised Learning / Hopefield Neural

Nets / Syntactic Pattern Recognition / Grammars and Languages / Syntactic Analysis, Syntactic

Classifier / Syntactic Classifier Learning, Grammar Inference / Recognition as Graph Matching

/ Isomorphism of Graphs and Sub-Graphs / Similarity of Graphs / Optimization Techniques in

Recognition / Genetic Algorithms / Simulated Annealing / Fuzzy Systems / Fuzzy Sets and

Fuzzy Membership Functions / Fuzzy Set Operators / Fuzzy reasoning / Fuzzy System Design

and Training / Boosting in Pattern Recognition

Image Understanding Image Understanding Control Strategies / Parallel and Serial Processing

Control / Hierarchical Control / Bottom-Up Control / Model- Based Control / Combined

Control / Non-Hierarchical Control / RANSAC: Fitting via Random Sample Consensus / Point

Distribution Models / Active Appearance Models / Pattern Recognition Methods in Image

Understanding / Classification-Based Segmentation / Contextual Image Classification /

Boosted Cascade of Classifiers for Rapid Object Detection / Scene Labeling and Constraint

Propagation / Discrete Relaxation / Probabilistic Relaxation / Searching Interpretation Trees /

Semantic Image Segmentation and Understanding / Semantic Region Growing / Genetic Image

Interpretation / Hidden Markov Models / Coupled HMMs / Bayesian Belief Networks /

Gaussian Mixture Models and Expectation-Maximization

3D-Vision and its uses

3D Vision, Geometry 3D Vision Tasks / Marr's Theory / Other Vision Paradigms: Active and

Purposive Vision / Basics of Projective Geometry / Points and Hyperplanes in Projective Space

/ Homography / Estimating Homography from Point Correspondences / A Single Perspective

Camera / Camera Model / Projection and Back-Projection in Homogeneous Coordinates /

Camera Calibration from a Known Scene / Scene Reconstruction from Multiple Views /

Triangulation / Projective Reconstruction / Matching Constraints. Bundle Adjustment /

Upgrading the Projective Reconstruction, Self-Calibration / Two Cameras, Stereopsis /

Epipolar Geometry Fundamental Matrix / Relative Motion of the Camera Essential Matrix /

Decomposing the Fundamental Matrix from Point Correspondences / Rectified Configuration

of Two Cameras / Computing Rectification / Three Cameras and Trifocal Tensor / Stereo

Correspondence Algorithms / Active Acquisition of Range Images / 3D Information from

Radiometric Measurements / Shape from Shading / Photometric Stereo

Use of 3D Vision Shape from X / Shape from Motion / Shape from Texture / Other Shape from

X Techniques / Full 3D Objects / 3D Objects, Models, and Related Issues / Line Labeling /

Volumetric Representation, Direct Measurements / Volumetric Modeling Strategies / Surface

Modeling Strategies / Registering Surface Patches and their Fusion to get a Full 3D Model /

3D Model-Based Vision / General Considerations / Goad's Algorithm / Model-Based

Recognition of Curved Objects from Intensity Images / Model-Based Recognition Based on

Range Images / 2D View-Based Representations of a 3D Scene / Viewing Space / Multi-View

Representations and Aspect Graphs / Geons as a 2D View-based Structural Representation /

Visualizing 3D Real-World Scenes Using Stored Collections of 2D Views / 3D Reconstruction

from an Unorganized Set of 2D Views

Advanced Topics

Advanced Techniques for Segmentation Mean Shift Segmentation / Active Contour Models -

Snakes / Traditional Snakes and Balloons / Extensions / Gradient Vector Flow Snakes /

Geometric Deformable Models - Level Sets and Geodesic Active Contours / Fuzzy

Connectivity / Towards 3D Graph-Based Image Segmentation / Simultaneous Detection of

Border Pairs / Sub-optimal Surface Detection / Graph Cut Segmentation / Optimal Single and

Multiple Surface Segmentation

Texture Statistical Texture Description / Methods Based on Spatial Frequencies / Co-

occurrence Matrices / Edge Frequency / Primitive Length (Run Length) / Laws' Texture Energy

Measures / Fractal Texture Description / Multiscale Texture Description - Wavelet Domain

Approaches / other Statistical Methods of Texture Description / Syntactic Texture Description

Methods / Shape Chain Grammars / Graph Grammars / Primitive Grouping in Hierarchical

Textures / Hybrid Texture Description methods / Texture Recognition Method Applications

Computer Graphics

Introduction and Basic Concepts

Introduction Image Processing as Picture Analysis / The Advantages of Interactive Graphics /

Representative Uses of Computer Graphics / Classification of Applications / Development of

Hardware and Software for Computer Graphics / Conceptual Framework for Interactive

Graphics.

Basic Raster Graphics Algorithms for Drawing 2d Primitives Overview / Scan Converting

Lines / Scan Converting Circles / Scan Convertiing Ellipses / Filling Rectangles / Fillign

Polygons / Filling Ellipse Arcs / Pattern Filling / Thick Primiives / Line Style and Pen Style /

Clipping in a Raster World / Clipping Lines / Clipping Circles and Ellipses / Clipping Polygons

/ Generating Characters / SRGP_copyPixel / Antialiasing.

Graphics Hardware Hardcopy Technologies / Display Technologies / Raster-Scan Display

Systems / The Video Controller / Random-Scan Display Processor / Input Devices for Operator

Interaction / Image Scanners.

Transformations and Viewing in 3D

Geometrical Transformations 2D Transformations / Homogeneous Coordinates and Matrix

Representation of 2D Transformations / Composition of 2D Transformations / The Window-

to-Viewport Transformation / Efficiency / Matrix Representation of 3D Transformations /

Composition of 3D Transformations / Transformations as a Change in Coordinate System.

Viewing in 3D Projections / Specifying an Arbitrary 3D View / Examples of 3D Viewing /

The Mathematics of Planar Geometric Projections / Implementing Planar Geometric

Projections / Coordinate Systems.

3D Representation and Modeling

Representing Curves and Surfaces Polygon Meshes / Parametric Cubic Curves / Parametric

Bicubic Surfaces / Quadric Surfaces.

Solid Modeling Representing Solids / Regularized Boolean Set Operations / Primitive

Instancing / Sweep Representations / Boundary Representations / Spatial-Partitioning

Representations / Constructive Solid Geometry / Comparison of Representations / User

Interfaces for Solid Modeling.

Adding Realism and Color

Achromatic and Colored Light Achromatic Light / Chromatic Color / Color Models for Raster

Graphics / Reproducing Color / Using Color in Computer Graphics.

The Quest for Visual Realism Why Realism? / Fundamental Difficulties / Rendering

Techniques for Line Drawings / Rendering Techniques for Shaded Images / Improved Object

Models / Dynamics / Stereopsis / Improved Displays / Interacting with Our Other Senses /

Aliasing and Antialiasing.

Visible-Surface Determination Functions of Two Variables / Techniques for Efficient Visible-

Surface Determination / Algorithms for Visible-Line Determination / The z-Buffer Algorithm

/ List-Priority Algorithms / Scan-Line Algorithms / Area-Subdivision Algorithms / Algorithms

for Octrees / Algorithms for Curved Surfaces / Visible-Surface Ray Tracing.

Illumination And Shading Illumination Modeling / Shading Models for Polygons / Surface

Detail / Shadows / Transparency / Interobject Reflections / Physically Based Illumination

Models / Extended Light Sources / Spectral Sampling / Improving the Camera Model / Global

Illumination Algorithms / Recursive Ray Tracing / Radiosity Methods / The Rendering

Pipeline.

Advanced Topics

Advanced Raster Graphic Architecture Simple Raster-Display System / Display-Processor

Systems / Standard Graphics Pipeline / Introduction to Multiprocessing / Pipeline Front-End

Architecture / Parallel Front-End Architectures / Multiprocessor Rasterization Architectures /

Image-Parallel Rasterization / Object-Parallel Rasterization / Hybrid-Parallel Rasterization /

Enhanced Display Capabilities.

Advanced Geometric and Raster Algorithms Clipping / Scan-Converting Primitives /

Antialiasing / The Special Problems of Text / Filling Algorithms / Making copyPixel Fast /

The Shape Data Structure and Shape Algebra / Managing Windows with bitBlt / Page

Description Languages /

Advanced Modeling Techniques Extensions of Previous Techniques / Procedural Models /

Fractal Models / Grammar-Based Models / Particle Systems / Volume Rendering / Physically

Based Modeling / Special Models for Natural and Synthetic Objects / Automating Object

Placement.

Research Area_6: Networking and Mobile Computing

Computer Networks:

This course introduces concepts, terminologies and techniques used in computer networking.

The objective of this course is to introduce students to functions of different layers, protocols

and different components of a modern day computer network. Example network covered in

this course is the Internet.

Introduction: Uses of Computer Networks, Network Hardware: The Network Edge, Network

Core, Access Networks; ISPs and Internet Backbones, Delay and Loss in Packet Switched

Networks, Network Software: Protocol Hierarchies, and their Service Models, Reference

Models (OSI, TCP/IP)

Application Layer: Hypertext Transfer Protocol, HTTP Message Format, Cookies,

Conditional GET. File Transfer Protocol: FTP, TFTP. Mail Transfer Protocols (SMTP, POP3,

MIME), Domain Name Systems (DNS), P2P File Sharing

Transport Layer: Multiplexing, Demultiplexing, UDP, Principles of Reliable Data Transfer

(Go-Back-N, and Selective Repeat). Introduction to Socket Programming; TCP, UDP, Simple

Client Server Application;

TCP: RTT Estimation and Timeout, TCP Flow Control; TCP Error Control and Congestion

Control, SCTP protocol.

Network Layer: Virtual Circuits and Datagram Networks, Inside a Router, Forwarding and

Addressing in the Internet. IPv4 Addressing, IPv6 Addressing, Routing Algorithms: Shortest

Path, Flooding, Link State, Distance Vector, and Hierarchical Routing, Routing in the Internet:

RIP, OSPF, Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), and Multicast Routing Protocols: DVMRP,

MOSPF, PIM-SM, PIM-DM.

Data Link Layer: Services, Error Detection and Correction Techniques (Parity Checks,

Checksums, CRC); Multiple Access Protocol: TDM, FDM, Slotted ALOHA, Pure ALOHA,

CSMA, CSMA/CD, Local Area Networks, Ethernet, Point to Point Protocol. Link

Virtualization: Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Multi Protocol Label Switching

(MPLS), Link Layer Addressing: MAC Addresses, ARP, RARP , DHCP, Interconnections:

Hubs, Bridges, and Switches.

Physical layer: Bandwidth limited signals, Fourier analysis, Guided and Unguided media,

Signal encoding, Maximum data rate, etc.

Mobile Computing

Introduction to Mobile Communications and Computing, Introduction to the concepts of

mobility and roaming, Types of mobility, Types of Mobile Networking environments:

Personal, Local, Metropolitan Area and Wide Area, Cellular forms of Mobility: 2 G, 2.5 G, 3

G, 4 G and evolving directions towards so-called 5 G, Medium Access Control for Wireless

Protocols, Mobile Network Layer, Mobile Transport Layer, Data Dissemination, Mobile Ad

hoc Networks (MANETs), Protocols and Tools. Mobile IPv4 and Mobile IPv6 environments:

basics, challenges and emerging trends, Hand-off issues involving mobility, Security issues,

Energy-efficiency issues, Body-safety aspects: Myths versus Reality, VoIP over Mobile

Networks, Video streaming over mobile networks, Ad-hoc and Infrastucture-based mobility:

benefits and issues involved, Mobile Routing Algorithms and Protocols, Mobile Access

Routers, Mobile VPN, Mobile Clouds.

Network Security

Overview of Network Security, Introduction to Cryptography, Secret Key Cryptography,

Confidentiality using Symmetric Encryption, Public Key Cryptography, Integrity,

Authentication and Non-Repudiation, Public Key Infrastructure, Security Protocols-: Needham

Schroeder Protocol, Kerberos, IPSec: AH and ESP, Web security using SSl, Security

Protocols-: E-cash and secure electronic transaction (SET), Pretty Good Privacy, and S/MIME,

Common attacks: Passive & Active forms, DES, 3-DES, AES, RSA, DSA, ECC. Firewalls,

VPNs, IDS, Anti-Malware strategies and Mechanisms.

Advance Topics in Computer Networks

Introduction: Internet Architecture and design principles, Challenges & Solutions Resource

Management: Congestion control principles, Hop-by-hop vs. End-to-end congestion control,

Explicit vs. Implicit Feedback, Fair Queuing, Flow control, TCP variants (Tahoe, Reno, Vegas,

New-Ren o, SACK, Westwood),

Internetworking: Design Principles, IP Design, Inter-domain Routing vs. Inter-domain

Routing, Challenges in Internet Routing, Security challenges/Issues and solutions for Inter-

domain Routing, Adaptive Routing, Multipath and QoS Routing, Scalable & Reliable

Application layer Multicast Routing, Multi Protocol label Switching (MPLS) and

Generalized-MPLS

Wireless Networks: Multihop Wireless Networks and Adhoc routing, Wireless WAN, TCP

performance Issues and improvement in Wireless Networks. Network Applications &

Services: Overlay Networks: Resilient Overlay Networks (RON), lookup Problem in P2P

Networks, Scalable P2P lookup Service for, Internet Applications, Chord Protocol, Content

Distribution Networks, Cloud and Data Center Networks, DNS and Naming System, DNS and

CDN, HTTP and CDN, Coral CDN, DNS caching and performance

Research Area_7: Algorithms & Theoretical Computer Science

Data Structures and Algorithms

Algorithm analysis and asymptotic notation. Sorting and searching algorithms and

applications. Design, implementation and applications of data structures including stacks,

queues, priority queues, linked lists, hash table, heap, binary search tree, balanced binary search

tree. Algorithm design techniques like Divide and Conquer, Greedy Approach, Dynamic

Programming, Backtracking, Branch & Bound for designing algorithms. P, NP, NP

Completeness. Theory of Computations- Finite automata and regular languages-equivalences,

closure properties; Context free languages and push down automata-equivalences, closure

properties; concepts in parsing; Turing machines; Computability and decidability-universal

Turing Machine; recursive functions; church-Turing hypothesis; complexity classes - P, NP,

reducibility and NP completeness.

Discrete Structures for Computer Science

Sets & operation on sets; relations & equivalence relations; number theory; weak & strong

form of mathematical induction; principle of inclusion & exclusion, pigeonhole principle;

recurrence relations & generating functions; digraphs & graphs, graph isomorphism & sub-

graphs, spanning trees, Euler & Hamiltonian graphs, planar graphs, chromatic numbers &

graph coloring; groups.

Design & Analysis of Algorithms-

Basic Design Techniques –Divide-and-Conquer, Greedy, Dynamic Programming (Examples,

Analysis, General Structure of Solutions, Limitations and Applicability). Specialized Design

Techniques: Network Flow, Randomization (Examples, Analysis, Limitations). Complexity

Classes and Hardness of Problems – P, NP, Reductions, NP hardness and NP- Completeness,

Reduction Techniques, Basic NP-complete problems. Design Techniques for Hard Problems –

Backtracking, Branch-and-Bound, and Approximation (General approaches and structure of

solution, Analysis, and Limitations). Linear Programming – LP Problem and Simplex

Algorithm, Approach for using LP for modeling and solving problems. Introduction to Design

and Analysis of Parallel and Multithreaded Algorithms.

BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCES, PILANI

Department of Electrical and Electronics/Instrumentation Engineering

Thrust/ Research Areas for Ph.D

INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROL:

Sensor and transducers design, Virtual Instrumentation, Artificial

Intelligence Techniques in Measurements, Signal Processing, Robotics, and Process Modeling &

Control. Intelligent control systems based on neural networks and fuzzy logics, genetic

algorithmModeling and analysis of dynamical systems, Linear control, Digital control, adaptive

control, nonlinear control, robust control, optimal control, Control of under-actuated systems,

Estimation techniques for dynamical systems. Sensors and signal conditioning, Industrial

measurements, process modelling control, Biomedical instrumentation, analysis instrumentation,

Advanced control, Electrical & electronics measurements, Robotics & Industrial automation,

Intelligent control techniques, Emerging technologies. Mechatronics, communication protocols,

including smart sensors and MEMS, PLCs/SCADA/DCS/automation, Remote engineering, data

acquisition systems, telemetry, Industrial automation. Biomedical Imaging and Instruments;

Electromagnetic Compatibility and Safety for Medical Equipment Design, Controls of Hybrid

Vehicles

COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING, NETWORKS

Advanced Digital communication , Wireless & Mobile Communication Networks, Aircraft,

Satellite, Deep space Communication,Coding Theory and Practice, Cognitive radio (CRs),

Digital and Analog communication, Information theory, Photonics, computer networks, network

security, mixed signal system design, electronic system design, optoelectronics, applied signal

processing, fibre optical communication, antenna engineering, radar systems & applications,

microwave engineering, FPGA& ASIC Implementations Of Communication Systems, Advanced

Digital Communication And Data Networks, Telecommunication Switching And Networks,

Virtual Private Networks, Optical Communication & Networks, Wireless & Mobile

Communication Networks, Coding Theory And Practice, MIMO Systems And Wireless Sensor

Network. Satellite Communication, Satellite Positioning, Multimedia / Video Communication,

Image Processing, Computer Networks, Network Security, Mobile communication and

networks, Applied Signal Processing, Random Signal Analysis, Remote

Sensing,PhotonicsSpectrum Sharing, Underwater acoustic communication, Underwater wireless

sensor networks, Emerging technologies.

RF, MICROWAVE, ANTENNA DESIGN& WIRELESS SYSTEMS:

Electromagnetic theory, Computational Techniques For Electromagnetics, Wave Scattering And

Propagation, Development Of Novel Materials For Antennas, Antenna Analysis And Design,

Microwave sources, Microwave measurements, Metamaterials Structures, Scattering Cross

Section And Antenna Measurements, Computer Visualization, RF And Microwave Systems,

MMIC, EMI, And EMC. Microwave Engineering, Radar, Transmission Lines, Waveguides ,

Radiation, Radio And Microwave Communications, Wireless Communications, systems and

networks,Mobile communication and network, Advanced Gigahertz And Terahertz Microwave

Technologies, Fibre Optics &Optoelectronics, Satellite Communication , Remote Sensing, RFID,

Communication Satellite design , spectrum sharing , Emerging technologies etc.

POWER SYSTEMS & ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, RENEWABLE ENERGY, SMART

GRIDS:

Power System analysis, Distributed Generation, Deregulation, Advanced Power Systems,

Renewable Energy sources, Hybrid Renewable Electric System, Design Development,

Optimization, Simulation, Testing and Standardization, Smart Grid Technologies, Power System

Operation & control and applications of Artificial Intelligence techniques to these

areas.Dynamics and transient analysis of power systems, Vehicular Electronics, Emerging

technologies.Power Quality, Flexible AC transmission Systems, Power System stability,

Economic load dispatch, HVDC., Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

POWER ELECTRONICS AND DRIVES:

Electrical Machines And Their Health Monitoring, Soft Switching Converter Technologies,

Transformer And Motor Design, DSP Based Control Of Electric Drives, , Hybrid Electric

Vehicles, Adjustable speed drives, Control strategies for high performance drives, Utility Applications

Of Power Electronics (FACTS), Control &Instrumentation For PE System, Power Quality,

HVDC And Applications Of AI Techniques To These Areas. Power Devices Microelectronics

And Selection, Distribution Apparatus And Configuration, Multilevel inverters, PWM

techniques for converters and inverters,Emerging technologies.

EMBEDDED SYSTEMS:

Embedded Intelligence: Smart Devices And Environments, Safety Critical Embedded Systems

Resource Management And Optimization Techniques In Embedded Systems, Real time Systems,

Smart Body Ware Sensors, Embedded Systems In Biomedical Field, automobile engineering,

Simulation And Modeling For Embedded Systems, Computer/ processor Architecture,

Networked Embedded Applications, FPGA And ASIC Implementation of systems, Hardware

Software Co-Design, Computer Networks, Pervasive, Reconfigurable And Embedded

Computing , Real Time Systems, Fault Tolerant System Design, Underwater wireless sensor

networks, Robotics , Software defined Radio, Emerging technologies

MICRO/ NANO ELECTRONICS

Microsystems and Nanosystems, Circuit Simulation and Modeling and characterization of

Micro/ Nano electronic Devices, RF Microelectronics, FPGA and ASIC design, VLSI Design,

Analog & Digital IC design, Memory Design, Electrostatic discharge protection,

AdvancedAnalog and Mixed Signal Design, Verification, System On Chip Design, System in

Package, VLSI Test and Testability, Low power VLSIdesign, VLSI Architecture, Advanced

VLSI design, Advanced VLSI Architecture, CAD for IC design. MEMS and NEMS design,

Fault Tolerant System Design, Applications of VLSI DESIGN, Packaging Technology, PCB

design, Emerging technologies

ELECTRONIC MATERIALS, DEVICES, AND TECHNOLOGY:

Materials And Devices For Electronic, Photonic, Bio-Electronic And MEMS Applications:

Amorphous And Crystalline Silicon, Compound Semiconductors, Thin Films, Ferroelectric And

Piezo-Electric; Smart Materials, Development Of Novel Device Structures And Manufacturing

Methods, Physics And Modeling Of Devices, Device And Material Characterization, Physics

And Modeling Of semiconductor Devices, Optoelectronics and Optical Communication,

Detectors, Semiconductor Lasers, IC Fabrication Technology issues, BJT, MOSFET process

flow, CMOS and NMOS technologies, 3-dimensional integrated circuits, Submicron fabrication

issues, Emerging Nanoelectronics, Spintronics technology, MEMS fabrication, Semiconductor

and dielectric material research for IC technology, Mixed Signal and RF technology, Silicon on

Insulator technology, Recent trends and Advanced technologies.

DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING:

Advanced Digital Signal Processing, DSP & Image Processing Algorithms and architectures,

Data compression, Statistical Signal Processing, Speech Processing, Acoustic signal processing,

Music signal processing, Hardware and Software systems for signal processing, Image

processing, Applied signal processing, Multimedia applications, Processor Architecture,

Biomedical signal processing, Remote Sensing, Robotics, Software defined Radio, Emerging

technologies, Digital Image Processing for Computer-Aided Medical Diagnosis, Biometric

signal analysis.

Chemical

Engineering

1. Transport Phenomena & Separation Processes

Fluid mechanics, Computational fluid dynamics, Fluid-Structure interactions,

Computational transport phenomena, Multiphase flow, Heat, Mass and Momentum

transfer phenomena, Process and mechanical design of heat and mass transfer

equipments, Size reduction, Classical and Advanced Separation processes,

Cryogenics, Fluidization Engineering, Reactive transport in porous media, Colloidal

and interfacial science.

2. Chemical Reaction Engineering & Thermodynamics

Kinetics of single and multiple reactions, Ideal and non-ideal reactor operations and its

design, Microreactors, Heterogeneous reactions, Phase equilibria, Thermodynamic

properties estimation for ideal and nonideal fluids, Applied Thermodynamics,

Statistical thermodynamics, Supercritical fluids.

3. Material Science and Engineering

Material structures (amorphous&crystalline), Phase diagrams, Material Characterization,

Failure analysis and Non-destructive testing, Metals and super alloys, Ceramics,

Polymers and Composites, Semi and Super conductors, Biomaterials, Pulp and Paper,

Materials for renewable energy, Development of foams, Corrosion and degradation of

materials, Nanotechnology, Biomedical engineering.

4. Environmental Engineering

Water analysis, Classical and advanced water treatment, Air pollution control and

modelling, Solid waste management and treatment, Health-Safety-Environment

(OSHA, HAZOP, Risk analysis), Process Plant Safety, Environmental management

systems, Life cycle assessment (LCA), Bioremediation, Nanotoxicology.

5. Energy and Process System Engineering

Renewable Energy Technologies, Carbon Capture and Sequestration, Energy integration

analysis, Chemical Process Technologies, Process Design and Intensification, Process

Modelling and Simulation, Process Control and Instrumentation, Process

Optimization, Computational Process Engineering, High Performance Computing,

Product Design and Development.

6. Petroleum and Petrochemical Engineering

Refinery operation & design, Crude & Product characterization, Petrochemicals, Energy

from fossil fuel, Reservoir engineering and Oil recovery, Modelling and Simulation in

petroleum refining, Petroleum economics.

7. Biochemical Engineering Cell culture technology, Industrial biotechnology, Environmental biotechnology,

Pharmaceutical & Food Biotechnology, Biogeochemical interactions, Biofuels,

Fermentation, Bioprocess engineering, Tissue Engineering, Biomaterials,

Biometallurgy, Biokinetics and bioreactors.

Ph.D. Qualifying Examination Syllabus

Broad Research areas have been classified in EIGHT subgroups. The subareas

identified and the corresponding courses are enlisted below:

1. DESIGN ENGINEERING

· Dynamics and Vibrations

· Theory of Elasticity and Plasticity

· Fatigue, Creep and Fracture

· Product Design

· Tribology

· MEMS

- Biomechanics

2. Computer Aided Engineering

· Finite Element methods

· CAD

· Robotics

· Mechatronics

· Design Optimization

3. THERMAL ENGINEERING

· Conductive and Radiative heat Transfer

· Convective Heat Transfer

· Refrigeration and Air-conditioning

· Renewable energy

· Internal Combustions engines

· Advanced Thermodynamics and Combustion

4. FLUID ENGINEERING

· Compressible Flows

· Viscous Flows (Advanced Incompressible Flows)

· Fluid Power Engineering

· Turbulence

· Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

· Turbo machines

- Microfluidics

- Bio-Medical flows specific to cardiovascular disease

- Fluidization engineering and circulating fluidized bed (CFB)

5. MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

· Machining processes (Techniques)

· Advanced Metal Forming

· Design of Machine Tools

· Casting and Welding

· Unconventional (Advanced) Machining Processes

· Tool design

6. INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONAL RESEARCH

· Operations Research

· Modeling and Simulation

· Supply Chain Management

· Organizational Management

7. MANUFACTURING MANAGAMENT

· Quality Control, Assurance and Reliability

· Total Quality Management (TQM)

· Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM)

· Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS)

· Lean Manufacturing

8. MATERIALS

· Material Science and Engineering

· Composite Materials

· Nano sciences and Nano materials

· Polymeric Materials

· Physical Metallurgy

· Material testing

- Biomaterials

The student can opt for one area consisting of three courses out of number of

courses specified under that sub-area according to his research topic or Master’s

Degree Specialization

One allied area consisting of three courses out of number of courses

specified under that sub-area that may be useful for him during his research or

other three courses can be from any of the subareas depending upon its

significance in candidate’s research.

In case of Interdisciplinary Research, if the candidate needs to take the

courses of the other departments, he can select maximum of three courses

from the sub areas of the concerned departments.

The proposal will facilitate intra and interdisciplinary research.

The course content can be referred from Institute Bulletin wherever available while

remaining can be decided by the mentor in consultation with the candidate and DRC.

Macroeconomics

Content A

Systems of national accounts; input-output systems; flow of fund systems; monetary circulation

and exchange; basic model of income determination; classical macroeconomic models; obstacles

of full employment; Keynes model, derivation of IS-LM functions; three sector model; four

sector model; inflation and Phillips curve; real business cycles and new Keynesian economics;

monetary policy, fiscal stabilization policy; consumption hypothesis; absolute income

hypothesis, permanent income hypothesis, life-cycle income hypothesis, relative income

hypothesis, investment models; money supply and money demand.

Content B

Overview of the financial system, interest rate and their role in valuation, fluctuation in interest

rate, risk and term structure of interest rate, rational expectation and efficient market hypothesis,

central banking and the conduct of monetary policy, money supply and credit creation, monetary

transmission mechanisms, fundamentals of financial institutions, banking and management of

financial institutions, commercial banking industry, risk management in financial institutions,

credit risk, analysis of various financial and economic crisis.

Microeconomics and Industrial Economics

Content A

Consumer behavior; production function and linear programming applications, derivation of cost

and supply functions, markets and market structures. Commodity pricing under imperfect market

structures, factor pricing, multimarket equilibrium, optimization over time, welfare optimization,

game theory applications, industrial organization.

Content B

Methodological and theoretical introduction into the tools, methods and approaches used in

industrial economics; the firm and the agency relations within business organizations;

concentration, mergers and entry barriers; review of game theoretic concepts; nature of markets;

imperfect competition in static and dynamic settings; theoretical and empirical studies of

collusion and cartels, monopolistic behaviour, vertical integration and determinants of market

structure.; industrial policy and efficiency analysis, including government regulation and natural

monopolies reforms with examples and applications. Market structure and strategic interaction;

oligopolistic behaviour models; entry costs, market structure and welfare; pricing tactics:

discriminatory pricing; non-price competition, product-differentiation and advertising ;

marketing tactics: bundling, upgrading and dealership; vertical restraints; research and

development; empirical studies on structure-conduct-performance relationship; empirical studies

on market performance; competition policy and regulation.

Public Finance and Policy.

Content A

Role of Government in modern economy, Theory of Public good and public choice; public goods

and externalities, equity in distribution, Public Expenditure and Macro-economy: Determining

optimal size of government, financing of public expenditure, debt versus tax financing, impact of

public expenditure on the level and composition of output and employment, Government budget

and cost benefit analysis, Taxation; Direct and Indirect taxes, efficiency and equity, tax

incidence, models of taxation incidence, theory of optimal taxation, recent developments in

theory of taxation, evolution of tax structures, tax evasion and avoidance, designing of modern

tax system, reforms in direct and indirect taxes, value added tax, fiscal federalism, designing

optimal government expenditure policy; Fiscal Policy Issues: Budget deficit and public debt,

interdependence of fiscal and monetary policies, theory of inter-governmental transfers, theory

and policy of subsidies, theory of fiscal federalism, issues of equity and efficiency, role of

planning and finance commission, goods and services tax in India, new direct tax code, role of

central and state FRBMs.

Content B

Introduction to of economic analysis; economic tools in valuing outcomes; measuring outcomes

in policies and programme; policy making; the market and the public policy, policy framework

and regulation, market and government issues, distribution and policy analysis; applications in

tax policies, welfare policies, government policies relating to contracting, health, education,

labour and employment, energy policy, competition policy, gender, rural-urban development,

food security, climate change, infrastructure policy, financial and trade policy, Theoretical and

empirical aspects of poverty, inequality and unemployment analysis; Public Policy for

Development, Micro finance: Theoretical Aspects and Impact Evaluation, Growth theory models

and their empirical applications, Theory of Human Capital and Educational Economics: Their

relationship with economic growth.

International Economics

Content A

The international economy; early trade theories; comparative advantage model; neo-classical

trade theories; gains from trade; offer curves, terms of trade; Edge-worth box, factor

endowments and the Heckscher-Ohlin model; alternative models of trade and intra-industry

trade; the imitation-lag hypothesis; product cycle theory; international trade and economic

growth; international trade policy; tariff, non-tariff trade barriers, economic integration,

international trade and economic development, Basic gravity modeling, New-new trade theories

(Firm level trade).

Content B

International factor movements; foreign direct investment and multinational corporations;

protection; GATT & WTO; the balance of payments accounts; balance of payments equilibrium;

economic policy in the open economy, balance of payment accounting, foreign exchange

markets and exchange rates, exchange rate determination, open economy macroeconomics;

income and price adjustment mechanisms, adjustment policies.

Applied Econometrics and Quantitative Techniques in Economics and Finance.

Content A

Specification of simple linear regression model, least square method of estimation, classical

assumptions, general and confidence approach to hypothesis testing. Specification of Models;

estimation of single equation economic models and related problems; Auto -correlation,

multicollinearity and hetroscadasticity, forecasting and verification; estimation methods and

problems in simultaneous equation systems.

Content B

Multiple regression analysis; analysis of generalized linear and nonlinear models; instrumental

variables; maximum likelihood, generalized method of moments (GMM), and two step

estimation methods; simultaneous equation models; time series processes; identification and

estimation of time series models; techniques for assessing model fit; forecasting; time series

analysis and models of expectations; univariate time series analysis, stationary vs. non-stationary

series; ARIMA, GARCH, VAR, cointegration, granger causality, error correction and limited

dependent variable models; auto regressive distributed lagged variable models multivariate time

series analysis; dynamic models; analysis of panel data, balanced and unbalanced panel data,

mixed, fixed and random effect models.

Corporate Finance

Content A

Concepts and techniques of financial management decision; valuation of a firm's stock;

investment in assets and required returns; financing and dividend policies, working capital

management, management of cash, management of accounts receivable; inventory management,

short and intermediate term financing, financial analysis, financial ratio analysis, funds analysis

and financial forecasting, operating and financial leverages. Market for corporate control,

Incentives and compensation, Corporate governance.

Content B

concepts in valuation - time value of money; NPV, IRR, project feasibility, budgeting, long term

investment decisions, long term financing decisions (LT & ST), capital structure, risk analysis;

principles of corporate taxation, income tax, capital gains tax, tax laws and provisions.

Investment Analysis and Management

Content A

Introduction to investment and securities; profile of financial assets; new issue market or primary

market, initial public offerings (IPO); secondary market; trading and settlement procedures;

listing requirements; framework of risk & return; fundamental analysis-economy, industry;

company analysis; stock evaluation models; multiple holding period and multiple growth rate;

bond analysis and bond management strategies; mutual funds; technical analysis; efficient

market theory; portfolio management; Markowitz model; Sharpe’s Single Index model; capital

asset pricing model; financial derivatives options & futures. Arbitrage pricing models, Stochastic

discount factor methodology, Behavioral finance.

Content B

Value maximization, stakeholder theory, and corporate objective function: value creation – ways

and means, business analysis: The techniques of strategy and competitive analysis, value chain

analysis for competitive advantages, business valuation – approaches and methods, the dark side

of valuation: strategic investment decisions; SEBI Regulations w r t corporate governance;

insider trading; fraudulent and unfair trade practices, and substantial acquisitions & takeovers,

Management of banks, Financial Services, Insurance companies; Asset Liability management in

banks, Capital Adequacy Norms, Basle regulations on risk capital, Actuarial Science.

Financial Economics and Financial Engineering.

Content A

Functions and operations of capital market, analysis of consumption-investment decisions of

investors, diversification and portfolio selection, valuation theory and equilibrium pricing of

risky assets, theory of efficient markets and investment and financing decisions of the firm.

Expected utility theory; stochastic dominance; portfolio frontiers; mutual fund separation; asset

pricing model; arbitrage pricing theory; Arrow-Debreu theory; dynamic spanning; options;

rational expectations; financial signaling.

Content B

Introduction; Review of Markets, Players, and Conventions; Cash Flow Engineering with

Forward Contracts; Engineering Simple Interest Rate Derivatives; Swap Engineering; Report

Market Strategies; Dynamic Replication Methods and Synthetics; Mechanics of Options;

Options Engineering with Applications; Pricing Tools; Applications of Fundamental Theorem of

Finance; Fixed Income Engineering; Tools for Volatility Engineering: Volatility Swaps and

Volatility Trading; Engineering of Equity Instruments: Pricing and Replication, computational

methods such as Monte Carlo Simulation.

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences – Research Areas Cultural Studies Sub area 1 Media and Communication Areas of Research: Advertising Discourse, Political Discourse in Media, Contemporary practice of Journalism, Social Media Network V/S Traditional Media, Tourism communication, Media Literacy, Print V/S Digital, Media Ethics, Computer-Mediated Communication, Technology Enabled Education and Communication, Technology Integration and Analysis, Communication Theories, Organizational Communication, Language and Communication, New Media Study; Reading List

The Dynamics of Mass Communication, Joseph R. Dominik ,Tata Mc Graw Hill ,2010

Media Ethics, Philips Patterson and Lee Wilkins, Tata Mc Graw Hill, 6th Ed, 2010

Practicing Video Journalism, Viven Morgan, Routledge 1st Ed ,2010

The Discourse of Advertising, Guy Cook, 2nd Ed, Routledge

Language and Media, Allan Durant and Marina Lambrou, 1st ed ,2010

Educational Technology for Teaching and Learning. Tim Newby, Don Stepich, Jim Lehman and Jim Russel. (2006). Ohio, Pearson.

Handbook of Research for Educational Communications and Technology. (1996). Edited by David H. Jonassen. NewYork, Simon & Schuster Macmillan

Sub Area 2 Film: Areas of Research: Essentials of Cinema, Understanding of film as a text and context, Basics of film language, Understanding of the evolution of film as a language and understanding of different film schools, Similarities and dissimilarities with other art forms, World cinema, renowned trendsetting films, Major Auteurs, Film Theories. Reading List

Bordwell, David and Kristin Thompson. Film Art: An Introduction• Ninth Edition. New York: McGraw Hill. 2012.

Elsaesser, Thomas and Malte Hagener. Film Theory: An Introduction Through the Senses. Routledge. 2009.

Monaco, James How to Read a Film, New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Mitry, Jean. The Aesthetics and Psychology of the Cinema. Indiana University Press, 1997

Robinson, David, The History of World Cinema, New York: Stein and Day Publishers, 1973.

Stam, Robert. Film Theory: An Introduction.

Thompson, Kristin. Film History: An Introduction. Third edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009

The Oxford Guide to Film Studies. W. John Hill and Pamela Church Gibson, Oxford University Press, 1998

Sub area 3 Theatre Areas of Research: Indian classical theatre with special reference to Natyashstra, Development and tradition of Indian traditional/folk theatre with special focus on musical narratives of north-india, Post-independence Indian modern theatre and the role of National School of Drama, Post-independence stage design in Indian contemporary theatre, Site-specific, site-generic, site-based performance arts. Theatre and its allied arts; lighting and scenography. Reading List

Kapila Vatsyayan (2006). Bharata The Natyasastra. Sahitya Akademi.

N.C. Jain Indian Theatre , Vikash Publishing House, New Delhi,1992

Rangdarshan (In Hindi); Nemichandra Jain; Jain Books, 20084.

Kapila Vatsyayan (1995). Paramparik Bharatiya Rangmanch National Book Trust.

Nemichandra Jain : Asides, Themes in Contemporary Indian Theatre, National School of Drama, 2003

National School of Drama, Rang Yatra: Twenty-five years of the National School of Drama Repertory Company,. Published by National School of Drama, 1992

Francis Reid The Stage Lighting Handbook;, Fifth Edition, A & C Black. London Theatre Arts Books/ Routedge: New York

Pamela Howard, What is Scenography;, Second Edition Routledge London and New York

G.N.Dasgupta, Guide to Stage Lighting, Annapurna 124/1986 English Language Linguistics and Literature

Sub area 1 ESP and ELT

Evans D.T. and John, St Jo Maggie, Developments in English for Specific Purposes: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach , Cambridge University Press(Paperback)

Freeman Diane Larsen and Marti Anderson, Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching 3rd edition. OUP, USA 2011.

Algeo John, The Origins and Development of the Englsih Language.Sixth edition. Wadsworth, USA. 2010

Crystal David, Language and the Internet. Second Edition. Cambridge University Press. 2006 Sub area 2 Lingusitics

Verma, S.K. and N. Krishnaswamy, Modern Linguistics- An Introduction. Delhi: OUP, 1989.

Akmajian A, et al. Linguistics: An Introduction to Language and Communication. New Delhi:

Prentice-Hall 2004 (5th Radford Andrew et al. Linguistics - An Introduction U.K. Cambridge , 1999

J.B. Pride and J Holmes , Sociolinguistics. MiddleXex. Penguin: 1982.

Syal, Pushpinder and D.V.Jindal, An Introduction to Linguistics – Language, Grammar and

Semantics Delhi: PH Learning, 2012 (2nd Edition) Sub area 3 Indian Literatures

Sisir Kumar Das, ed. A History of Indian Literature. 2 vols. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi.

K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar, Indian Writing in English. New Delhi: Sterling.

M.K Naik, A History of Indian Literature in English. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi.

Arvind Krishna Mehrotra, ed. An Illustrated History of Indian Literature in English. Ranikhet: Permanent Black.

Meenakshi Mukherjee, ed. Early Novels in India. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi.

R.K. Narayan, Indian Epics Retold. New Delhi: Penguin.

Eunice De Souza and Melanie Silgardo, eds. These My Words: The Penguin Book of Indian Poetry. New Delhi: Penguin.

Sub area 4 American Literature

Nina Baym, The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Shorter 7th edition. Ed. W.W. Norton & Company, 2007.

Malcolm Bradbury & Richard Ruland, From Puritanism to Postmodernism: A History of American Literature. Penguin Books, 1992.

Sub area 5 Post Colonial Literature

Bill Ashcroft and Gareth Griffith, et al. The Empire Writes Back Theory and Practice in PostColonial Literatures. 2nd Edition; New York: Routledge, 2002

Couze Venn, The Post Colonial Challenge: Towards Alternative Worlds. London: Sage, 2006.

John McLeod, Beginning Post Colonialism. Manchester University Press, 2000

Leela Gandhi, Post Colonial Theory: A Critical Introduction. Columbia University Press, 1998

Homi Bhabha, The Location of Culture. London: Routledge, 1994

John Thieme, ed. The Arnold Anthology of Post-colonial Literatures in English New York: St.Martins’s ,1996.

C.D. Narasimiah, An Anthology of Commonwealth Literature New Delhi: Macmillan, 2000

Helen Gilbert, Post Colonial Plays: An Anthology London: Routledge, 2001

Robert L Ross, Colonial and Post colonial Fiction in English: An Anthology. New York: Garland publishers, 1999

Sub area 6 Literary Criticism and Ecocriticism

Rivkin Julie and Michael Ryan, Literary Theory: An Anthology

Julian Wolfreys, Ruth Robbins and Kenneth Womack, Key Concepts in Literary Theory

The Cambridge History of Literary Criticism (All Volumes)

Donelle Nicole Dreese, Creating Self and Place in Environmental and American Indian Literatures

Greg Garrard, The Oxford Handbook of Ecocriticism

Peter Barry, Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory

Ken Hiltner, Ecocriticism: The Essential Reader

Richard Kerridge and Neil Sammells, Writing The Environment: Ecocriticism and Literature

Axel Goodbody, Ecocritical Theory: New European Approaches

Patrick D. Murphy, Ecocritical Explorations in Literary and Cultural Studies: Fences, Boundaries and Fields

Sub area 7 Gender Studies

Edited by Althea Prince, Susan SilvaVayne and Christian Vernon, Feminisms and Womanisms: A Women’s Studies Reader

Patrick Keilty and Rebecca Dean, Feminist and Queer Information Studies Reader

The Polity Reader in Gender Studies Sub area 8 Religion and spirituality

Hammer, Olav and Rothstein Mikael, The Cambridge Companion to New Religion. Cambridge Publication.

Sam Horris, Waking Up: A GT on Spirituality without Religion. Paperback Pub.

Swami Vivekananda and Christopher Isherwood, What Religion Is: In the Words of Swami Vivekananda, Paperback Pub.

Zohar and Marshall, Spiritual Intelligence, The ultimate Intelligence, Bloomsbury Publications 2001

Zohar and Marshall, Spiritual Capital: Wealth we can live by, Berrett Koehler, USA

Brian Draper, Spiritual Intelligence: A new way of being Sub area 9 Applied Linguistics

A. Davies, An Introduction to Applied Linguistics: From practice to theory (2nd Ed.) Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2007

P. Duff, Case Study Research in Applied Linguistics, Newyork Routledge, 2007

R.B. Kaplan, The Oxford Handbook of Applied linguistics (2nd Ed) Oxford : OUP, 2010

Petal Seedhouse, (Eds) Conceptualizing ‘Learning’ in applied Linguistics. Palgrave: Macmillan, 2010

S. Mc Donough, Applied Linguistics in Language Education. London: Arnold, 2002

Miriam Meyerhoff, Introducing Sociolinguistics . London: Taylor & Franscis, 2006

J.C. Mukalel, Psychology of Language Learning . Discovery Publishing House, 2011

Robert L Ross, Colonial and Post colonial Fiction in English: An Anthology. New York: Garland publishers, 1999

Sub area 10 British Literature

Emile Legouis, History of English Literature, OUP

Edward Albert and J.A. Stone, History of English Literature -George G.Harrap and Co.

A.S Collins, English Literature of the 20th Century

David Daichies, A Critical history of English Literature, Supernova Publishers

Aristotle, Poetics, Kalyan Publishers Sub area 11

Dalit studies

Kancha Iliah, Why I am not a Hindu – A Sudra Critique of Hindutva Philosophy, Samya, Culture and Political Economy Calcutta, 2005.

Eleanor Zelliot, From Untouchable to Dalit: Essays on the Ambedkar Movement, New Delhi: Manohar Publishers and Distributors, 1996.

Louis Dumont, Homo Hierarchicus: The Caste System and its Implications. Delhi: OUP, 1988

Chris Fuller, Ed.“ Caste Today New Delhi: OUP, 1996.

MN Srinivas, Ed. Caste: It’s Twentieth Century Avatar. New Delhi: Penguin, 1996

Morton Klass, Caste: The Emergence of the South Asian Social System, Philadelphia: ISHI, 1980

Susan Bayle, The New Cambridge History of India. IV.3 Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999.

Anupama Rao, Ed. Gender and Caste Kali for women: New Delhi, 2003

Uma Chakravarthy, Gendering Caste: Through a Feminist Lens. Calcutta: Stree, 2003

Nicholas B. Dirks, “Castes of Mind: Colonialism and the Making of Modern India” New Delhi: Permanent Black, 2002

Sharmilla Rege, Writing Caste / Writing Gender Reading Dalit Women’s Testimonies. New Delhi: Zubaan, 2006

G. Alosyius, Dalit Subaltern Emergence in Religio-Cultural Subjectivity

Iyothee Thassar, Emancipatory Buddhism, New Delhi: Critical Quest, 2004

Baba Saheb Ambedkar, “Castes in India.” Dr.Baba Saheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches Vol.1. Compiled by Vasant Moon. Bombay: Education Department, Government of Maharashtra, 1989. 5-22

Dr.Baba Saheb Ambedkar, “Annihilation of Caste.” Writings and Speeches-Vol.1.Compiled by Vasant Moon. Bombay: Education Department- Government of Maharashtra, 1989. 25-96

Sub area 12 Creative writing

David Morley, The Cambridge Introduction to Creative Writing. New Delhi: CUP. Paul Mills, The Routledge Creative Writing Coursebook. New York: Routledge. Wendy Bishop and David Starkey, Keywords in Creative Writing. Logan: Utah State UP, 2006. Sub area 13 Rhetorics

Translation by George A Kennedy, Aristotle: On Rhetoric A Theory Civic Discourse OUP. 2007

James A McCrosckey, An introduction to The Rhetorical Communication, A Western Rhetorical Perspective 9th ed. Pearson Pub. 2006

Carl. R. Burgchadt, A Rhetorical Approach to Communication. Paperback 1995

Dam L. Pierce, Rhetorical Criticism and Theory for Communication Professional, Paperback. 2003 Sub area 14 Feminism Patricia Waugh, An Oxford Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism, OUP

Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex

Zoya Hasan, Forging Identities: Gender, Communities, and the State

Carol Chapnick Mukhopadhyay and Susan Seymour, Women, Education, and Family Structure in India

Mandakranta Bose, Faces of the Feminine in Ancient, Medieval, and Modern India

Judith Evans, Feminist Theory Today: An Introduction to Second-Wave Feminism

Philosophy, Indian Philosophy and Ethics Areas of Research: Ethics History and Content of Philosophical Perspectives – Ethical, Logical, Epistemological and Metaphysical; Continental Rationalism; British Empiricism; Normative Ethics and Meta Ethics; Aristotle on Virtues and Moral Wellbeing; John Stuart Mill on Utilitarianism; David Hume on Sympathy; Immanuel Kant on Categorical Imperative; Ethical Self in Existentialism; Ethical Issues in Professions: Whistle Blowing, Women and Family Issues, Corporate Social Responsibility, Marketing Ethics and Advertising Ethics, Engineers and Public Interest, Internet and Society, Privacy on the Internet. Areas of Research : Indian Philosophy Introduction to various Indian philosophical systems, Vedas and upanisads, Atman and brahman, Vedanta system: non-dualism of Sankara, Sankara on the absolute, self, and world, Ramanuja: qualified non-dualism and self, Atomism of Vaisesika, Nyaya: sources of knowledge, causation, Samkhya: purusa and prakrti, Yoga: chitta and its vritties, astanga yoga, Buddhism: four noble truths, doctrine of dependent of origination, nirvana, Jainism: anekantavada, syadavada, kaivalya Reading List

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Translated by J.A.K. Thomson, London, UK: Penguin Books, 1976

Boatright, John R. & Patra, Bibhu Prasan, Ethics and the Conduct of Business, Pearson Education, Sixth Edition, Indian Reprint, 2009

Grayling, A.C., Philosophy: A Guide through the Subject, Oxford University Press, 1995

Hiriyanna, M., The Essentials of Indian Philosophy, George Allen and Unwin Ltd., London, 1949.

Kant, Immanuel, The Moral Law, London and New York: Routledge Classics, 2005

Mill, J S, On Liberty and Utilitarianism, Bantam Classics, Paperback, 1993

Norman, Richard, The Moral Philosophers: An Introduction to Ethics, Oxford University Press, Second Edition, 1998

Puligandla, R., Fundamentals of Indian Philosophy, D.K. Print World (P) (Ed.), New Delhi: 1997

Radhakrishnan, S. Indian Philosophy, Vol. I & II, George Allen & Unwin Ltd. 1923.

Rowan, John, and Zinaich, Jr., Ethics for the Professions, Wadsworth, 2003

Sharma, C.D., A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy

Singer, Peter, A Companion to Ethics, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1993

Thilly, F., A History of Philosophy, Central Book Depot, Allahabad, 1984 Education:

Areas of Research: Communicating climate change; Relating formal and informal learning; Engaging learners with scientific practices; Teaching and learning in informal setting; Teaching strategies and teacher PD; Adult education; Leadership; Motivation; Classroom Management; Curriculum studies; Qualitative research; Quantitative research; Technology and education; International and comparative education; Teaching and teacher education; Educational psychology Reading List

Dynamic classroom by Bruce M. Mitchell; Kendall Hunt Publication Co. ISBN – 10 – 0840362617

Flip Your Classroom : Reach every student in every class everyday Paperback – July 15, 2012 by Janathan Bergmann, Aaron Sans, ISBN 10 – 1564843157

Developing Teaching and Teaching Practices : International Research Perspectives. Hardcover – Jan 11, 2002 by Christopher Day, Ciaran Sugure, Routledge Falmer.

History and Politics: Areas of Research: Transitional politics; Social movements; International relations; Comparative politics; Urban politics; International relative theory; Behavioral politics; public opinion; Political communication; International organization & law; International relations theory; History of science; Urban environmental history; History of economic thought; History of technology and science; History of engineering and technology; History of life sciences, science and fascism. Reading List

India's Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra, Mridula Mukherjee August 1st 2012 by Penguin Global

India: A History by John Keay Paperback, 608 pages Published April 10th 2001 by Grove Press

International Relations Theory; by Colin Wright.

International Encyclopedia of Social & Behavioral Sciences; by N.J. Snelser, James Wright, P.B. Baltes

Psychology Areas of Research: Educational Psychology-Applied Social Psychology-Positive Psychology, Well-being and Notions of “Happiness”-Leadership Studies & Organizational Development-Self Efficacy, Resilience, Hope & Optimism- Psychological Capital-Positive Psychology Interventions- Work Psychology/ Organizational Psychology – Behavioural Psychology - Clinical Psychology - Counseling Psychology-

Environmental Psychology – Neuropsychology - Health Psychology - Forensic Psychology

Robert A Baron, Psychology (2012) , 5th edition, Pearson

Micheal W Passer, Ronald E Smith, Psychology, the science of mind and behaviour (2007) , 3rd edition , Tata Mcgraw Hill

Jex, S.M. (2006). Organizational Psychology-A Scientist Practitioner Approach. Wiley Student Edition

Donaldson, S. I., Csikszentmihalyi, M., & Nakamura. J. (2010). Applied Positive Psychology: Improving Everyday Life, Health, Schools, Work and Society. Routledge.

Public Administration Areas of Research: Administrative Theory, Management Science and Technique, Comparative and Development Administration, Indian Administrative System, Management of Public Enterprises, Local Government, Personnel Administration, Public Administration and Public Policy, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Financial Administration, Governance, Human Development and Governance, Indian Constitution and Administration, Public Administration and Information Technology, E-Governance, Urban Governance, E-Government. Reading List

Civil Service Administration by C.P.Bhardwaj;

Personnel Administration by S. L. Goel;

Local Self Government in India by M.P.Sharma;

Public Administration in India by Padma Ramachandran;

Indian Administration by Shriram Maheshwari Development Studies: Development studies is an inter-disciplinary subject which aims to provide an understanding of development process through a study of concepts, theories and approaches to development. Areas of Research: Theories of Development – Urbanization and Development - Democracy and Development – Institutions, Governance and Policies – Social movements and Social Change – Gender and Development – Exclusion, Inclusion and Development – Development and Displacement – State, Democracy and Civil Society – Agrarian Change and Rural Development – Ecology and Equity – Climate Change and Sustainable Development – India’s Development Challenges. Reading List

Acemoglu, Daron and James Robinson. 2012. Why Nations Fail: The origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty. London: Profile Books.

Baviskar, BS and George Mathew.2009. Inclusion and Exclusion in Local Governance: Field studies from Rural India. New Delhi: SAGE.

Dreze, Jean and Amartya. Sen. 2002 India: Development and Participation. New Delhi: OUP

Escobar, Arturo. 1995. Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World. Princeton: Princeton University Press

Freire, Paulo. 2000. Pedagogy of the Oppressed. New Delhi: Bloomsbury

Gadgil, M and R. Guha, 1995. Ecology and Equity: The use and abuse of Nature in Contemporary India. Psychology Press.

Polanyi, K. (2001). The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time, 2nd ed.

Rapley, John. 2009. Understanding Development: Theory and practice in the Third World (3rd edition). Viva Books.

Sen, Amartya 1999. Development as freedom. New York: OUP

Stiglitz, J.E. 2012. The Price of Inequality: How Today’s Divided Society endangers our Future. W.W. Norton and Company

Public health: Areas of Research Key concepts, theories and history of public health; India - history of public health from colonial era to post-independence; key developments in public health since 1947; achievements, failures, challenges; global health since the 20th century Environmental Studies: Areas of Research: Environment in history, from the ancient times to the present- environmental challenges since industrialization and urbanization- environment as a multidisciplinary issue- science, technology- development and environment: economy, society, politics and environment. Reading List:

Baviskar, Amita. (ed.) 2008. Contested Grounds: Essays on Nature, Culture and Power.

OUP.

Cernea, Michael M. and Hari Mohan Mathur. (ed.) 2008. Can Compensation prevent

Impoverishment? OUP.

Connelly James, Graham Smith, David Benson and Clare Saunders . 2012. Politics and

the Environment: From theory to practice. Routledge.

Francis, Robert A. and Michael A Chadwick. 2013. Urban Ecosystems: Understanding the

Human Environment. Routledge.

Gadgil, M and R. Guha, 1995. Ecology and Equity: The use and abuse of Nature in

Contemporary India. Psychology Press.

Latour, Bruno. 2007. Politics of Nature: How to bring the Sciences into Democracy.

Orient Blackswan.

Mahesh Rangarajan & K. Sivaramakrishnan. (ed.) 2013. India’s Environmental History: A

Reader, 2 Vols. Permanent Black.

Sarkar, Saral. 2000. Eco-Socialism or Eco-Capitalism: A critical analysis of Humanity’s

Fundamental choices. Orient Blackswan.

Sociology Areas of Research: Theoretical Traditions-Research Methodology-Agrarian Change-Culture- Religion- Education-Media and Communication-Social Stratification-Economic Sociology- Political Sociology- Environment and Natural Resources Management-Family and Marriage-Social Stratification-Science and Society -Sociology of Work-Urbanization Reading List:

Sociology – Anthony Giddens

Sociology – Haralambos and Holborn

Sociological Thinkers – R.K.Mukherjee

Sociological Thought – Francis Abraham and Morgan

Social Stratification – Dipankar Gupta

Handbook of Indian Sociology – Veena Das

Family, Marriage and Kinship in India – Patricia Uberoi

Caste in Modern India and other essays – M.N.Srinivas

Rural Sociology – Doshi and Jain

Social Research Methods – Clive Seal