Potential topics floated by the faculty to the prospective students. You may mail the concerned faculty to know more about the topic. TA means - funded through Institute fellowship, and TAP means funded by Sponsored research including exchange programes.
CE1 - Transportation Systems Engineering -
CE2 - Geotechnical Engineering -
CE3 - Water Resources Engineering -
CE4 - Structural Engineering -
CE7 - Construction Technology and Management -
| No | Specialisation, Professor (email), Topic, Details, (TA/TAP options) |
|---|---|
| 1 | CE1 - Transportation Systems Engineering - : Prof. Archak Mittal (archak@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Trusted Electronic Bills of Lading (e-BL) for India's Multimodal Logistics Networks. Most bills of lading in India still move on paper. Every hand-off between port, rail, road, bank and customs adds delay, re-keying errors and room for fraud. This topic builds the trusted digital alternative. It sets up a common data model and APIs so an e-BL can pass securely between carriers, forwarders, banks and customs, and work with MLETR-aligned platforms abroad. It will be piloted on real shipments with a logistics-software partner, measuring the change in cycle time, exceptions and trade-finance turnaround. Funded by the IITB-FedEx ALFA Centre, including conference travel. Background: CS/data systems or logistics; Python/Java, APIs, databases. (TAP) |
| 2 | CE1 - Transportation Systems Engineering - : Prof. Archak Mittal (archak@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Joint Signal and Vehicle Optimization for Network-Level Traffic Control and Mobility Efficiency Using Connected Vehicle Data. Signal controllers and vehicles are still optimised separately: the controller sets phases and vehicles react. With V2X, signal timing and vehicle trajectories can be solved as one coupled problem. This ANRF-funded topic develops joint signal–trajectory control for Indian mixed traffic, where only a fraction of vehicles will be connected for years. The work moves from simulation to a V2X living-lab corridor being set up in Jaipur with signal-system and roadside-unit partners, measuring delay, stops and fuel use. Background: traffic flow and signal control, or optimisation/control; Python/MATLAB; SUMO/VISSIM or MPC a plus. (TAP) |
| 3 | CE1 - Transportation Systems Engineering - : Prof. Archak Mittal (archak@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Early Detection of Driver Fatigue: From Reference-Grade Gaze and Physiological Sensing to Low-Cost In-Cab Monitoring. Most drowsiness warnings react to visible signs such as long blinks, yawns and lane weaving, by which point the driver is already impaired. This topic aims for earlier warning. Research-grade eye-tracking glasses with physiological sensing (Project Aria Gen 2) serve as the reference instrument in naturalistic and night-duty driving. You will find which early signs of fatigue can be picked up by cheap in-cab sensors such as a dashcam, steering sensors and seat-belt sensors. You will then build a monitor for Indian truck, bus and car drivers and validate it in on-road studies. Background: signal processing or computer vision with ML (Python); human-subject studies a plus. (TA/TAP) |
| 4 | CE1 - Transportation Systems Engineering - : Prof. Dharamveer Singh (dvsinghchauhan@gmail.com) Topic: Understanding Interfacial Bond Strength of Bituminous Layer. nterfacial Bond Strength of Bituminous Layers play a critical role in ensuring good load transfer (TA/TAP) |
| 5 | CE1 - Transportation Systems Engineering - : Prof. Dharamveer Singh (dvsinghchauhan@gmail.com) Topic: Overlay Design Using Innovative Non-destructive Methods. Overlay design for bituminous and concrete roads are carried using various methods. The bituminous pavement overlay is designed using FWD. (TA/TAP) |
| 6 | CE1 - Transportation Systems Engineering - : Prof. Gopal R Patil (gpatil.iitb@gmail.com) Topic: Regional Transportation Planning for Freight transport. The Government of India has initiated a national-level master plan for multi-model integrated transportation planning. For the success of this initiative, an important step is to develop regional-level transport demand models for freight and passengers. Eventually, we need a demand model for both freight and passenger; the aim is to develop a model for freight transport. The likely study area is the State of Maharashtra. (TA) |
| 7 | CE1 - Transportation Systems Engineering - : Prof. Tom V. Mathew (vmtom@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Adaptive traffic signal control from drone data using AI and ML methods.. This research topic is intended to develop adaptive traffic signal control. An innovative aspect of this design is the use of the queue information as well as stop-line discharge information for controlling traffic. The research requires very good traffic engineering concepts, optimization, coding skill, and exposure to AI/ML techniques such as PINN. This project is funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Govt. of India and is undertaken in collaboration with CDAC, and RnD Organisation under Ministry of Electronics. (TAP) |
| No | Specialisation, Professor (email), Topic, Details, (TA/TAP options) |
|---|---|
| 1 | CE2 - Geotechnical Engineering - : Prof. Deepankar Choudhury (dchoudhury@iitb.ac.in) Topic: (1) Advanced Deep Soil Mixing technology for desk and field applications in new Nuclear Power Plant site of India (TAP - 2 numbers with support from NPCIL mega project). (2) Sustainable foundation solutions for high-rise buildings/mega infrastructures to control seismic damages (TAP - 2 numbers from major ANRF JC Bose Grant).. Please see website: https://www.civil.iitb.ac.in/~dc/ and contact the proposed Supervisor Deepankar Choudhury, who is PI of above two major projects of NPCIL and ANRF. (TA/TAP) |
| 2 | CE2 - Geotechnical Engineering - : Prof. Pinom Ering (pinome@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Soil-structure interaction problems in landslide slopes; Design of efficient landslide mitigation measures; flow-like landslides . Analyzing the behavior of structures located on landslide prone slopes; solid-fluid transition processes in flow-like landslides (such as debris flows, quick clays, mudflows) and design of structural mitigation measures (TA/TAP) |
| 3 | CE2 - Geotechnical Engineering - I'll select a Supervisor and be a Co-supervisor.: Prof. D N Singh (dnsiitb@gmail.com) Topic: Carbon Sequestration in Geological Formations . https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsharp-storage-act.eu%2F&data=05%7C01%7CR.Venkataraghavan%40unilever.com%7C917b90020e13457b383508db24a777fc%7Cf66fae025d36495bbfe078a6ff9f8e6e%7C1%7C0%7C638144073929821172%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=I05EZghPyGysco0Zv1T0DU6Mg8g2T9Aa0wdtVQZSR30%3D&reserved=0 (TA) |
| 4 | CE2 - Geotechnical Engineering - I'll select a Supervisor of the candidate and be a co-supervisor.: Prof. D N Singh (dnsiitb@gmail.com) Topic: Biomining and Bio-Remediation of a Legacy Landfill. Biomining and Bio-Remediation of a Legacy Landfill (TAP) |
| 5 | CE2 - Geotechnical Engineering - I'll select a supervisor and be a co-supervisor for the candidate working on this project.: Prof. D N Singh (dnsiitb@gmail.com) Topic: Synthesis and Dissociation of Gas Hydrates. Laboratory investigations on synthesis and dissociation of Gas Hydrates. (TAP) |
| No | Specialisation, Professor (email), Topic, Details, (TA/TAP options) |
|---|---|
| 1 | CE3 - Water Resources Engineering - : Prof. Subimal Ghosh (subimal@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Water Food Energy Nexus in BRICS countries in a changing climate. This PhD research proposes to investigate the Water–Food–Energy (WFE) nexus in BRICS countries under a changing climate, with particular emphasis on the global transfer of virtual water through international food trade. The study will first quantify global virtual water flows embedded in food commodities and examine the evolving role of BRICS countries as major producers, consumers, exporters and importers within this interconnected system. It will assess how climate-induced water stress, droughts and hydroclimatic extremes disrupt these virtual water transfers, alter trade patterns and influence food and water security, as well as the capacity and timescales of the system to recover. Building on this global assessment, the research will develop an integrated WFE modelling framework for BRICS countries that captures interactions among water availability, agricultural production, food trade and energy requirements. Data-driven and machine-learning approaches will be integrated with process-based understanding to identify critical nexus linkages, quantify vulnerabilities and explore pathways for enhancing resilience and sustainability under future climate scenarios. (TAP) |
| 2 | CE3 - Water Resources Engineering - : Prof. Manne Janga Reddy (mjreddy@iitb.ac.in) Topic: River basin water planning & operation of reservoir systems under climate change. River basin planning and reservoir operation under climate change requires integrated frameworks that combine hydrological modeling, adaptive reservoir rules, and basin-scale coordination. Climate variability is making traditional reservoir operation rules outdated, pushing water managers toward simulation–optimization, digital twins, and policy-driven basin master plans. Hence, it is vital to explore more research on Adaptive Reservoir Policies, Policy Integration, and Community Participation. Tools and Technqiues: 1) Swarm Intelligence/Evolutionary Algorithms for Optimisation of Reservoir Systems ; 2) AI/ML tools for hydrological prediction (TA) |
| 3 | CE3 - Water Resources Engineering - : Prof. Manne Janga Reddy (mjreddy@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Developing a smart water distribution management system using Evolutionary Algorithms, AI/ML and IoT tools. Evolutionary algorithms and machine learning are increasingly gaining popularity and being integrated with IoT-based tools to optimize smart water distribution systems, enabling predictive management, leak detection, and efficient resource allocation. These technologies are transforming traditional water grids into intelligent, adaptive infrastructure. Tools and Techniques: a) Self-Adaptive Single /Multi-objective Differential Evolution for Parameter Calibration and Design of Water Distribution Systems; b) Model-based and data-driven ML techniques for leak detection and localisation in pipeline networks (TA) |
| 4 | CE3 - Water Resources Engineering - : Prof. Eldho T.I. (eldhoti1966@gmail.com) Topic: Experimental and numerical investigation of hydrodynamics and scouring on submerged pier structures.. ) Experimental and numerical investigation of hydrodynamics and scouring on submerged pier structures - In this topic, the student will investigate the effects of staggered piers on hydrodynamics and scour using PIV and CFD tools such FLOW 3D- Hydro. (TA) |
| 5 | CE3 - Water Resources Engineering - : Prof. Eldho T.I. (eldhoti1966@gmail.com) Topic: Hydrological impacts of climate and landuse change on urban watersheds . here student will investigate impacts of urbanization and climate change on hydrology and flooding effects especially on major city like Mumbai. (TA) |
| No | Specialisation, Professor (email), Topic, Details, (TA/TAP options) |
|---|---|
| 1 | CE4 - Structural Engineering - : Prof. Manish Kumar (mkumar@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Analysis and design of structures against impact and blast effects. Research would involve analytical, experimental and numerical work. Candidate should be open to learn new skills and willing to work on challenging tasks in demanding environment. Prospective candidates are encouraged to reach out and discuss with my current PhD students to assess their suitability to our research group. (TA) |
| 2 | CE4 - Structural Engineering - : Prof. Manish Kumar (mkumar@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Engineered composites for shock and impact attenuation. Investigation of different type of fibers and lattice structure to develop shock and impact resistant panels for application to protective gear applications. This would involve analytical, numerical and experimental work. Strong command on structural dynamics is essential. Interest in FEA and Experimentation is desired. (TA) |
| 3 | CE4 - Structural Engineering - Computational mechanics; Mechanics of materials;: Prof. Tushar Kanti Mandal (tushar.mandal@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Micromechanics of Fracture and Healing in Hydrogels and Composites: Towards Fatigue-Resistant Materials. Fatigue fracture is a major challenge in soft and composite materials, where repeated loading can progressively accumulate damage and lead to failure. Inspired by the remarkable ability of biological materials such as bone to tolerate, repair, and adapt to damage, our research aims to develop a micromechanical understanding of fracture and autonomous healing in hydrogels and composite materials. The research will investigate how microstructure, interfaces, and healing mechanisms interact with crack initiation, propagation, and fatigue damage, and develop physics-based computational models to predict damage accumulation, crack growth, and recovery of mechanical performance. The work will be conducted in collaboration with experimental groups at Université de Lorraine, France, providing opportunities to directly connect modelling with experiments and develop materials with enhanced fatigue resistance through intrinsic and extrinsic healing mechanisms. (TA) |
| 4 | CE4 - Structural Engineering - Computational mechanics; Mechanics of materials;: Prof. Tushar Kanti Mandal (tushar.mandal@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Fracture of Composites in Extreme Thermo-Chemical Conditions. Extreme environments can induce rapid degradation and fracture through the interaction of thermal gradients, chemical transformations, mechanical stresses, and evolving microstructure. Our research aims to develop a first-principles, thermodynamically consistent framework for fracture of composites under extreme thermo-chemo-mechanical loading, linking material degradation and microstructural evolution to crack initiation, propagation and failure. The research will investigate how heat transfer, thermal expansion, chemical decomposition, phase transformation, and mass loss interact with fracture across multiple length and time scales. Thermal protection systems and ablative composites will be an important application, while the framework will address a broader class of materials subjected to extreme thermal and chemical environments. The work will be carried out in collaboration with Dr Abhinav Gupta, Vanderbilt University, USA. (TA) |
| 5 | CE4 - Structural Engineering - Computational mechanics; Mechanics of materials;: Prof. Tushar Kanti Mandal (tushar.mandal@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Micromechanics of Pitting Corrosion and Stress-Corrosion-Cracking. Pitting corrosion is one of the most critical forms of corrosion because highly localised material loss can trigger premature failure despite limited overall corrosion damage. Yet, the micromechanics governing passive-film evolution, breakdown, and pit growth remain poorly understood, particularly under coupled electrochemical and mechanical conditions. We aim to develop a physics-based continuum framework to understand and predict pitting corrosion by resolving the coupled evolution of electrochemical reactions, mass transport, passive films, and mechanical stresses, from passivation and pit initiation to pit growth and re-passivation. The research will specifically investigate how electrochemical environment and mechanical stress drive passive-film breakdown and control pit evolution, ultimately establishing a predictive framework for long-term corrosion behaviour. This is based on our ongoing study and in collaboration with experimental groups from Materials Science, IIT Bombay. (TA) |
| 6 | CE4 - Structural Engineering - : Prof. Mandar M. Inamdar (minamdar@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Nonlinear Mechanics and Shape Evolution of Thin-Walled Structures. The project will investigate how geometry, internal stresses, material or structural adaptation, and mechanical instability govern large deformation and shape selection in thin structures and shells. The work will combine analytical modelling, nonlinear computational mechanics and stability analysis, with potential applications to morphing and adaptive structures. (TA) |
| 7 | CE4 - Structural Engineering - : Prof. Ashish Pal (ashish.pal@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Drive-by Bridge Health Monitoring. The project will explore whether ordinary or instrumented vehicles can be used as mobile sensors to assess bridge condition. By analysing vibrations, videos, GPS traces, and other measurements collected while a vehicle crosses a bridge, the research will develop methods to separate bridge response from vehicle motion, road roughness, speed effects, and environmental variability. The work will involve structural dynamics, vehicle–bridge interaction, signal processing, physics-guided AI, and uncertainty quantification, with the goal of building a scalable bridge screening tool for infrastructure health monitoring. (TA/TAP) |
| 8 | CE4 - Structural Engineering - : Prof. Ashish Pal (ashish.pal@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Uncertainty-Aware System Identification for Civil Structures. This project focuses on identifying the dynamic properties and health condition of civil structures from measured vibration and response data while explicitly accounting for uncertainty. Instead of producing a single deterministic estimate of stiffness, damping, or damage, the research will develop probabilistic methods that report confidence bounds and distinguish between structural changes, measurement noise, modelling error, and environmental effects. The work will involve structural dynamics, inverse problems, Bayesian inference, filtering methods, physics-guided machine learning, and digital twin updating. The aim is to create trustworthy system identification methods for structural health monitoring of bridges, buildings, and other infrastructure systems. (TA) |
| No | Specialisation, Professor (email), Topic, Details, (TA/TAP options) |
|---|---|
| 1 | CE5 - Ocean Engineering - : Prof. Ananth Wuppukondur (ananth.w.sharma@gmail.com) Topic: Understanding effectiveness of mangrove forests for coastal flood protection . We are offering a PhD opportunity under a research project aimed at understanding the interaction between storm surge dynamics and mangrove forests. The project will investigate how mangrove vegetation influences waves during extreme events such as cyclones. The outcomes will contribute to improved coastal management strategies and disaster risk reduction in vulnerable environments. (TA) |
| 2 | CE5 - Ocean Engineering - : Prof. Srineash V K and Manas R Behera (srineash@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Multi-Functional Coastal Structures for Integrated Shoreline Protection and Renewable Energy Generation. Design of Multi-Functional Coastal Infrastructure for Integrated Shoreline Protection and Ocean Energy Harvesting; Hybrid Wave Energy–Coastal Protection Systems: From Conceptual Design to Real-World Deployment (TA) |
| 3 | CE5 - Ocean Engineering - : Prof. Srineash V K (srineash@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Dredging Analysis and Optimization for Sustainable Sediment Management in Coastal and Port Environments. Analysis and optimization of dredging practices to enable sustainable sediment management in coastal and port environments. By integrating hydrodynamic modelling, field data, and predictive tools, the study aims to minimize dredging costs while maintaining navigational safety and environmental balance. (TA/TAP) |
| 4 | CE5 - Ocean Engineering - : Prof. Manas Behera (manasa.rb@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Resource and Environmental Condition Assessment for Offshore Wind Energy. The PhD scholar is expected to work in corrdination with other faculty members and international collaborators. (TA) |
| 5 | CE5 - Ocean Engineering - : Prof. Manas Behera (manasa.rb@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Extreme wave impact on Offshore Wind Energy Platforms. Hydrodynamic and structurl stability analysis of offshore energy platforms in Indian scenarios (TA) |
| No | Specialisation, Professor (email), Topic, Details, (TA/TAP options) |
|---|---|
| 1 | CE6 - Remote Sensing - : Prof. Sanchari Thakur (sanchari.thakur@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Spaceborne Radar Sounding for Subsurface Mapping of the Indian Subcontinent: Target Analysis, Feasibility Assessment, and Instrument Design. Radar sounders are active microwave remote sensing instruments capable of imaging the near-surface and shallow subsurface of planetary bodies by transmitting low-frequency pulsed signals that penetrate the surface and backscatter from subsurface dielectric interfaces. While spaceborne radar sounders such as MARSIS and SHARAD have been extensively used for subsurface exploration of Mars and the Moon, no dedicated Earth-orbiting radar sounder (EORS) exists for large-scale subsurface mapping of terrestrial targets. India presents a compelling scientific case for such a mission, with high-priority subsurface targets including shallow freshwater aquifers and paleochannels in the arid deserts of Western Rajasthan, glacier thickness and subglacial hydrology of the Himalayan glaciers, and saline water intrusion into coastal aquifers. The research will involve: (1) a systematic review and characterisation of the dielectric and geophysical properties of the target environments, (2) three-dimensional stratigraphic and geoelectrical modelling of the subsurface targets, integrating borehole records, hydrogeological maps, and published geophysical surveys to construct realistic subsurface models, (3) simulation of the radar response to predict what a spaceborne sounder would observe over these targets, and (4) development of automatic methods for the analysis and interpretation of subsurface radar data jointly with other remote sensing datasets. This will include the detection of key subsurface interfaces such as the water table, paleochannel boundaries, and glacier bed, using image processing and machine learning techniques. Possible external collaborations exist with the University of Trento, Italy, the University of Roma Tre, Rome, Italy, ESPOL, Ecuador and the Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO. The project offers significant opportunities for research immersion beyond IIT Bombay. The student may undertake research visits to collaborating institutions for training in radar instrumentation, data analysis techniques, and laboratory dielectric measurements of representative target materials. Field visits to the target areas in Western Rajasthan and the Himalayas will form an integral part of the project, providing ground truth data to validate simulation results. The student will also have the opportunity to participate in airborne radar sounder test campaigns as the EORS prototype is developed. Active participation in leading international conferences and summer schools in remote sensing, radar instrumentation, and geophysics will be encouraged to support research dissemination, community networking, and enhancement of research quality. (TAP) |
| No | Specialisation, Professor (email), Topic, Details, (TA/TAP options) |
|---|---|
| 1 | CE7 - Construction Technology and Management - : Prof. Varun Kumar Reja (varunreja@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Simulating Real-World Construction Using LEGO-Based Testbeds. Developing scaled physical construction environments to study how construction activities are planned, executed, monitored, and improved. The research may explore construction sequencing, productivity, sensing, automation, robotics, and digital monitoring through repeatable experiments in a controlled environment. (TA/TAP) |
| 2 | CE7 - Construction Technology and Management - : Prof. Varun Kumar Reja (varunreja@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Improving Construction Safety and Quality Using Extended Reality. Exploring how augmented, virtual, and mixed reality can support safer construction practices, better quality inspections, worker training, hazard identification, and communication of site information. The research may involve developing and evaluating immersive tools for practical construction applications. (TA/TAP) |
| 3 | CE7 - Construction Technology and Management - : Prof. Varun Kumar Reja (varunreja@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Artificial Intelligence for Understanding Construction Projects.. Exploring how artificial intelligence can use information from photographs, videos, drawings, documents, schedules, and other project records to better understand construction activities and support project teams. Applications may include progress monitoring, safety, quality assessment, reporting, and decision-making. (TA/TAP) |
| 4 | CE7 - Construction Technology and Management - : Prof. Varun Kumar Reja (varunreja@iitb.ac.in) Topic: Multimodal Sensing and Robotic Construction Site Monitoring.. Integrating RGB cameras, LiDAR, RGB-D sensing, environmental sensors, and mobile robotic platforms for automated construction-site monitoring. Research may address multimodal data fusion, robotic data acquisition, scene understanding, progress and productivity monitoring, and intelligent inspection of complex construction environments. (TA/TAP) |