Nishchaya Kumar Mishra, PhD Candidate in Civil Engineering Seeking a Postdoctoral/Research Associate/Scientist Position
NISHCHAYA KUMAR MISHRA, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar
Abstract Number: 314
Working Group: Meet the Job Seekers
Abstract
I am Nishchaya Kumar Mishra, a PhD candidate in Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN). My research lies at the intersection of sustainability, energy efficiency, and occupant health in buildings. Given that buildings consume a large share of global resources and that we spend nearly 90% of our time indoors, ensuring energy-efficient indoor comfort and pollutant control is critical.
At IITGN, I explore the trade-offs between energy consumption, thermal comfort, and indoor pollutant exposure. My first project involved developing a physics-based dynamic optimization model to understand these interdependencies. However, such models require detailed information on house geometry, pollutant deposition, and models for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, thereby limiting real-world applications. To address these challenges, I am integrating reinforcement learning (RL) for dynamic and optimal control of indoor environments. The developed agent is deployed in an office to evaluate its performance under real-world ambient conditions and emissions. I am also investigating the uncertainties associated with the prediction of control actions in the RL agent, along with its potential to be transferred to different homes under varying ambient and pollutant emission scenarios. Currently, I have 3 peer-reviewed publications and 4 at various stages of publication.
In addition to my PhD work, I have explored urban morphology using satellite data and machine learning to study heterogeneity in building heights and footprints. This research contributed to shadow analysis at road intersections, providing valuable insights for urban planning and heat stress mitigation.
I expect to graduate in January/February 2026 and seek postdoctoral, research associate/scientist, or national lab opportunities in the USA or Europe. I would like to collaborate at the intersection of adaptive control, uncertainty quantification, and aerosol science, and I am open to exploring emerging areas in aerosol generation, dynamics, and modelling.