MU-VT Interdisciplinary Advanced Research Centre for Transformative Technologies (IARCT2)
Advancing interdisciplinary research at the convergence of emerging and transformative technologies.
Announcements
Overview
The Mahindra University–Virginia Tech Interdisciplinary Advanced Research Center for Transformative Technologies (IARCT²) is a pioneering initiative dedicated to tackling critical scientific and engineering challenges in the realm of converging and emerging technologies.
With a strong focus on innovation and sustainability, the center aims to drive transformative research that fosters a future where advanced technologies seamlessly integrate to address global needs. By bringing together interdisciplinary expertise and cutting-edge resources, IARCT² serves as a hub for breakthrough solutions that shape a smarter, more sustainable world.
Mission
The broad charter of the IARCT2 is to harness the creative talent at Mahindra University to advance interdisciplinary and collaborative research at the nexus of engineering, the physical, life, and social sciences, and the humanities.
Entrepreneurial and dynamic in nature, it will foster a proactive, responsive, and agile research culture, driving transformative ideas that push the boundaries of science, technology, positioning MU as a global leader in discovery and problem-solving.
IARCT2 Values
Consistent with the value system of MU, MU-VT IARCT2 will be guided by the following core values and unwavering ethical standards
Excellence
This principle underpins everything that we do. Our objective is to be among the
top three research institutions in all our efforts.
Faculty-focus
Our strength as an institute depends on the quality of MU’s faculty and on our
ability to support them in their transformational interdisciplinary research efforts.
Nimbleness
We must be constantly on the lookout for the “next big thing” and must be ready to position the center to exploit the opportunities offered. We must be proactive in identifying and creating these opportunities and responsive to changing circumstances.
Metrics
Our decisions will be informed and guided by measures of scholarly, societal, and financial impact.
Programme details
Spring 2026 (January 2026 intake) Ph.D. students may be admitted in the following specialised research areas, subject to suitability and faculty availability.
- Smart and connected cities
- Precast concrete, self-sensing materials and structural health monitoring
- Precast concrete, nanomaterials and self-healing materials
- Transportation planning and urban mobility
- Traffic safety, V2V and V2I communications
- Operations research / industrial engineering, transportation logistics and IoT systems
- Geoinformatics, urban planning and analytics, environmental engineering, IoT systems and software engineering
- Geotechnical engineering: construction and demolition (C&D) waste and sustainable materials
Link: MU Test Syllabus
- Biomarker discovery for early detection and biotherapeutics
- Antibody engineering
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and RNAi therapeutics
- Computational biology
Link: MU Test Syllabus
- Energy–water nexus
- Nanomaterials for high-performance supercapacitors
Link: MU Test Syllabus
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Computational linguistics for deciphering ancient Indian scripts
- Computer vision and deep learning
- Explainable AI in computer vision
- Object motion analysis in complex and degraded environments
- Reinforcement learning for millimetre-wave communication
- Generative AI and neuroscience
- Immersive technologies (AR/VR/MR/XR)
- Generative AI for biomaterials and materials design
- Evolutionary algorithms, diffusion models and signal processing (including applications in Indian music theory)
- Machine-learned potentials for molecular dynamics simulations
- Quantum-enhanced generative methods for inverse design of metamaterials
Link: MU Test Syllabus
Important dates
| Admission milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Last date for submission of applications | 10 December 2025 |
| Shortlisting of candidates for interview | 15 December 2025 |
| Ph.D. entrance test / interview | 20 December 2025 |
| Announcement of results | 30 December 2025 |
| Commencement of Spring 2026 semester teaching | 15 January 2026 |
Meet the leadership team
Yajulu Medury
Roop Mahajan
Visalakshi Talakokula
M K Padmanabhan
Anitha GP
IARCT2 thrust areas
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Leader: Dr. Arya K Bhattacharya, Professor and Dean R&D
Co-leader: Dr. Prafulla Kalapatapu, Assistant Professor
- IoT-based real-time monitoring of power substations and blackout prediction in smart grids using deep learning techniques – Dr. Neeraj Choudhary-Assistant Professor
- Symbols to syntax: decoding the ancient writing systems (Indus valley script) through artificial intelligence – Ms. Nidhi Goyal-Assistant Professor
- Indian sign language translation with a real-time dataset – Dr. Dipti Mishra-Assistant Professor
- AI-driven cephalometric landmark detection for precision orthodontics and craniofacial analysis – Dr. Neeraj Choudhary-Assistant Professor
- DeepFake video detection for digital forensics – Dr. Ankita Jain-Assistant Professor
- Tracking object in underwater environment – Mr. Rahul Roy-Assistant Professor
- Designing learning algorithms for low latency millimeter wave communication in highly dynamic environments – Dr. Gourav Saha-Assistant Professor
- Building brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) using deep generative models – Ms. Nidhi Goyal-Assistant Professor
- Transforming tourism through augmented/virtual reality technologies – Dr. Venkata Rajesh Kumar Tavva-Assistant Professor
- Inverse materials design with graph diffusion model – Dr. Shampa Raghunathan-Assistant Professor
- Automatic synthesis of music aligned with specific emotional states (Rasas) using evolutionary algorithms – MS.Prafulla Kalapatapu and Arya K Bhattacharya-Assistant Professor,Professor and Dean R&D
- Fusion of extended reality (augmented/virtual/mixed reality) technologies for the visualization, simulation and interaction with digital twins in automotive industry – Dr. Venkata Rajesh Kumar Tavva-Assistant Professor
- Physics informed ML – RVDS-LSUM scheme for analysis and design of complex aerospace configurations – Prof. Arya Kumar Bhattacharya-Professor & Dean R&D
- Machine learning Ab-Initio potentials using graph neural networks – Dr. Shampa Raghunathan-Assistant Professor
- Quantum generative methods for metasurface based single photon emissions – Dr. Jayasri Dontabhaktuni-Associate Professor
Technology platforms for early detection & novel biotherapeutics for cancer(s)
Leader: Dr. Rajinder Singh Chauhan, Professor & Dean Centre for LifeSciences
Co-leader: Dr. Arun Khattri, Associate Professor
- Predictive biomarkers and affordable assay for the stratification of Indian patients with OPMDs and oral cancer – Dr. Arun Khattri
- Nanobodies as detection system & biotherapeutics for lung cancer – Dr. Bhaskar Paidimuddala
- MicroRNA-based biomarkers and precision therapeutics for head and neck cancer – Dr. Manish Kumar
- Advancing precision gene therapy through synthetic AAV serotypes with cancer-specific tropism – Dr. Aruna Kumar C
Smart and connected cities
Leader: Prof. Visalakshi Talakokula, Assistant Dean & Professor Civil Engineering
Co-leader: Dr. Sri Kalyana Rama Jyosyula, Associate Professor
- Performance evaluation of precast concrete elements using nano-enabled self-sensing cementitious composites and embedded piezo sensors – Dr. Sri Kalyana Rama Jyosyula, Prof. Visalakshi Talakokula, Dr. Aditya Abburi
- Investigation of self-healing Efficiency in nano-engineered precast cementitious composites – Dr. Sri Kalyana Rama Jyosyula, Prof. Visalakshi Talakokula, Dr. Keerti Katam
- Developing an implementable and sustainable MaaS framework – Dr. Saladi Subbarao, Dr. Veeraiah
- Advanced traffic management system using V2X communications – Dr. Subbarao Boddu, Dr. Yarlagadda Jahnavi, Dr. Saladi Subbarao
- Reusable self-propelled visible light driven micro/nano motors for waste water treatment – Dr. Gomathi Anandhanatarajan-Associate Professor
- IoT-based WQM monitoring system with technologies for low-cost indigenous sensing solutions – Dr Chitra Gurnani-Associate Professor and HOD of Chemistry Department
Water and energy nexus
Leader: Dr Chitra Gurnani-Associate Professor and HOD of Chemistry Department
Co-leader: Dr. Gomathi Anandhanatarajan, Associate Professor
- Development of low-dimensional layered metal chalcogenides for a robust and defect engineered electrode materials for energy storage application – Dr Chitra Gurnani-Associate Professor and HOD of Chemistry Department
- Sandwich heterostructures – MXene@completely delaminated metal – Dr. Gomathi Anandhanatarajan-Associate Professor
- Calcium fluoride nanomaterials for advanced energy storage applications – Dr Aditya Abburi-Associate Professor
- Room-temperature gas and VOC detection using M₂S₃ nanostructures – Dr Chitra Gurnani-Associate Professor and HOD of Chemistry Department
- Air purification technology – Dr. Keerti Katam and Dr. Jayato Nayak
- Optimizing waste management to mitigate open dumping – Dr. Sandeepan Roy
- Waste valorization towards manufacturing of smart packaging material – Dr. Jayato Nayak
- Utilization of C&D waste in MSE wall – Dr. Hariprasad and Dr. Janardhan
Platform technologies
A platform technology is a core technological foundation that supports the center in creation of a broad spectrum of applications, enabling cross-disciplinary solutions and fostering collaborative innovation.
Characterization and instrumentation
Dr. Anil Annadi
Computation
Dr. Jagan Mohan Padbidri
Dr. Mohd Ataullah Khan
Development of graphene oxides from coal and their polymeric nanocomposites
Dr. Sonu Kumar
Graphene integrated photocatalyst
development for transformation of
anthropogenic CO2 to Bio-methanol
Dr. Jayato Nayak
Black swan technologies
Unencumbered or curiosity-driven research refers to exploratory investigations motivated by a desire to advance knowledge without predefined applications or immediate goals. It emphasizes intellectual freedom, encouraging researchers to pursue questions of fundamental importance and uncover novel insights that may lead to Black Swan breakthroughs in the future.
Resilience through
voluntary hardship
Dr. Chaitanya Solanki
Exploring the pathway of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)secretion in adult’s urine: towards innovative biosensor development and therapeutic strategies
Dr. Manish Kumar
Magnetoelectric sensor framework
for painless muscle health monitoring
Dr. Pulla Kondaiah
CaA digital prototype of a net- zero living building (NLB) for Mahindra University campus
Dr. Surekha Tetali
Dr. Sonam Sahu
Dr. Balasubramanian Sambasivam
Dr. Sonam Sahoo
Anderson
localization in
disordered
photonics time
crystals and
amplifications
Dr. Somnath Ghosh
Prof. Bishnu Pal
IARCT2 facilities
Publications
Research
News & updates
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