Research at IIT Gandhinagar

Study to help design fire evacuations in metro stations

Safety is a major concern amid the bustle of India’s metro stations, especially during the peak hours. With metro systems now a common sight in Indian cities, an IITGN-led study aims to enhance safety measures during busy hours, particularly in the event of a fire in an underground station.

New Perspectives on Upland Agriculture in the Northeast

Did you know how hill tribes of northeast India weave a captivating story within their traditional farming practices? Swidden agriculture, or shifting cultivation, is a traditional method where farmers clear, burn, and cultivate land for a few years before moving to a new area. Researchers at IITGN have delved into this traditional practice, specifically focusing on the Kuki tribes in Manipur

Study Probes Protein Mysteries in Alzheimer’s

Within the brain’s narrative, imagine a protein as a mysterious character possibly holding intriguing secrets. GSAP_I4 is one such less explored variant of GSAP, a protein involved in the brain’s complex processes, especially in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Understanding GSAP_I4’s role in our cells, mainly in the context of Alzheimer’s, is like solving a piece of the brain puzzle. Researchers at IITGN have examined GSAP_I4’s characteristics and its interactions with other molecules.

New hydrogels to boost burn recovery

Healing burn wounds has always been a lengthy process, but what if there was a solution to speed up the recovery? Researchers at the IITGN have developed a potent blend mixed with a graphene oxide (GO) base to create a robust hydrogel for faster burn wound healing.

Gold nanoparticles as promising candidates for effective cancer therapy

Fighting cancer can be tough, especially with the painful chemotherapy and high drug doses laden with toxic side effects. This underscores the need for advances in the ongoing efforts towards better therapeutic approaches. Researchers at IITGN strive to improve cancer treatment by making it less painful, more targeted, and with significantly fewer side effects.

Alumni Spotlight: Prof P. Ravi Prakash

“The dynamic research ecosystem at IITGN and my supportive supervisor (Prof. Gaurav Srivastava) actively promoted independent thinking, advocating for multidimensional approaches to research endeavors.” - Prof P. Ravi Prakash, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, IIT Jodhpur.

Ingersoll-Rand India (IR)

‘Ingersoll-Rand India (IR), global market leaders in air and gas compressor manufacturing, has been a great support to IITGN, be it through research collaboration or industry visits for students”- Prof Soumyadip Sett, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, IITGN

Alumni Spotlight: Prof Prof Debayan Bhattacharya

“The vibrant research culture and the freedom to pursue my research interests at IITGN really helped shape my career”- Prof Debayan Bhattacharya, IIT Delhi.

International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 389: Hawaiian Drowned Reefs

“The IODP expedition offered an invaluable opportunity to collaborate with a diverse team of global experts fostering an understanding of varied perspectives and novel concepts.” - Prof Pankaj Khanna, Assistant Professor, Earth Sciences, IITGN

Alumni Spotlight: Prof Abhishek Kumar Pandey

“The mentorship and guidance I received at IIT Gandhinagar is invaluable. In addition to imparting knowledge, the professors encouraged critical thinking, pushing me to explore the frontiers of my chosen field.” - Prof Abhishek Kumar Pandey, Assistant Professor, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.

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Study proposes framework for seismic hazard management

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Study points to faster learning in robot technology

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Simple paths to graphene synthesis

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New approach to analysing impact crater shapes

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Towards Enhancing Fire Safety in High-Strength Concrete

April - June, 2023

January - March, 2023

October - December 2022

July - September 2022

April - June 2022

Exploring India’s Untapped Energy Reservoirs

Is there an untapped source of energy beneath our feet? According to Dr Md Salim Akhtar, a postdoctoral fellow at IITGN’s REEFS Lab, the answer is yes. There are vast reservoirs of heat under the Earth’s surface, generated from the gradual breakdown of rocks containing radioactive elements and the Earth's internal heat. This heat manifests as geothermal energy, interacting with subsurface pressurized water to give rise to natural geysers and hot springs.

Tiny Molecules, Big Impact: Tuning Solar Cell Performance

Rooftops often feature glinting photovoltaic panels comprising numerous solar cells that convert solar energy into electricity. Despite their renewable nature, organic solar cells (OSCs) suffer from energy losses. The module’s active layer, a blend of materials that donate and accept charged particles, helps conduct electricity. Non-radiative energy losses from the acceptor material impact the efficiency of OSCs. “We envision finding potential small molecule acceptors to be used in OSCs,” says Dr Rudranarayan Khatua, a postdoctoral fellow designing novel OSC materials that aim to enhance their performance.

From waste to worth: Using banana peels for sustainable agriculture

Banana peels, which we discard, could hold the power to redefine the fertilizer industry! Dr Himarati Mondal has created a nutrient-capturing composite by combining dried and crushed banana peels with chitosan, a natural biodegradable polymer. The fusion resulted in a product with banana peels’ ion-adsorption capabilities and chitosan’s stability and pH sensitivity. But where would such a composite be of use?

Shining a light on Quantum Dot Blinking

What connects vibrant LED displays, efficient solar cells, and precise medical imaging? Quantum Dots (QDs). These tiniest of nanoscale crystals emit distinct colours when exposed to light, and by adjusting their size, the emitted light changes! This is the USP of QDs. “Despite their remarkable properties, QDs suffer from ‘blinking’,” says Dr NVS Praneeth.

Beneath the Surface: What impacts carbon storage within soil?

The soil beneath our feet, a mineral-rich blend of air, water, and organics, plays a vital role in the carbon cycle by acting as a vault for carbon storage and greenhouse gas cycling. This delicate balance is susceptible to human activity and climatic fluctuations. Dr. Niharika Sharma's research, centered in the Banni grassland region of Kutch, Gujarat, investigated the intricate ways such stressors impact long-term carbon storage in the soil.