Student Details

Link to student's project: HSS1203

Supervisors:

• Prof. Rashmi Gupta (Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Bombay)
• Prof. Jennifer Windt (Department of Philosophy, Monash University)
• Prof. Jeroen van Boxtel (School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University; University of Canberra)

Short Bio and Project Details:

With a Bachelor's in Zoology from Assam University and a Master's in Neural and Cognitive Sciences from the University of Hyderabad, I developed a deep interest in the interdisciplinary field of cognitive science—particularly the intricate relationship between attention and consciousness. I joined the IITB-Monash Research Academy in 2025 to pursue my PhD on the topic of cognition and consciousness, under the joint guidance of experts from psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy.

My research explores the long-standing debate in cognitive neuroscience: Is attention necessary for consciousness? Rather than approaching this question through traditional perceptual tasks, I investigate it through the lens of spontaneous thought—like mind-wandering and internally generated experiences. These phenomena offer unique insights into how conscious awareness arises and fluctuates in the absence of deliberate attention. Beyond academia, I am a trained dancer with 11 years of formal training and a past love for recitation. I enjoy reading non-fiction, particularly the works of Robert Sapolsky, and recently found a favourite in fiction through Madeline Miller's novels.