Ms. Nidhi Sinha | Cognitive Psychology | Young Scientist Award
PhD in Psychology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH), India
Nidhi Sinha is a Cognitive Psychologist pursuing a Ph.D. at IIT Hyderabad, specializing in emotion perception using virtual reality and physiological measures. Her academic journey began with an M.Phil. in Psychology at IIT Hyderabad, where she earned the Institute Silver Medal. Nidhi has worked as a visiting research scholar and research volunteer, contributing to cognitive science projects at IIIT Hyderabad and the University of Hyderabad. She has extensive experience working on emotional perception, cognitive development, and mental health, with a focus on psychosis, emotion recognition, and VR applications. Nidhi’s research aims to explore the intersection of cognitive processes and mental health using innovative tools like VR and EDA. She has also contributed to various publications and conferences on mental health, attention networks, and cognitive biases.
Publication Profile
🎓 Education
Nidhi Sinha holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from IIT Hyderabad, where she conducted research on emotion perception using virtual reality and physiological measures. She also earned an M.Phil. in Psychology from IIT Hyderabad, securing an impressive CGPA of 9.75 and receiving the Institute Silver Medal. Nidhi’s journey in higher education began with a Master of Arts in Applied Psychology from Lovely Professional University (LPU), where she achieved a CGPA of 9.96 and was awarded the University Gold Medal. Her academic pursuits have revolved around cognitive sciences, emotion recognition, and mental health. Nidhi has also contributed to various research projects and gained hands-on experience through internships and collaborations with renowned institutions like the University of Hyderabad and IIIT Hyderabad. This strong academic foundation has paved the way for her innovative research and publications in the field of cognitive psychology.
💼 Experience
Nidhi Sinha’s research and teaching experience spans multiple esteemed institutions. As a Ph.D. candidate at IIT Hyderabad, Nidhi has focused on emotion perception and attentional control, collaborating with leading scientists in the field. Her role as a visiting research scholar at IIIT Hyderabad’s Cognitive Science Lab allowed her to delve deeper into understanding the cognitive aspects of emotional processing. Nidhi’s experience also includes internships at the University of Hyderabad’s Center for Neural and Cognitive Sciences, where she honed her skills in experimental techniques like eye tracking. She has worked on projects involving mental health at ASHA Hospital and has contributed to clinical research at NIMHANS, where she provided Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Additionally, Nidhi has volunteered for research projects in user engagement at IIT Hyderabad’s Department of Computer Science and has served as a teaching assistant, assisting in preparing lectures and academic assessments for postgraduate courses.
🏆 Awards & Honors
Nidhi Sinha has earned numerous accolades for her outstanding academic achievements and contributions to research. She was awarded the Institute Silver Medal for her exceptional performance in M.Phil. Psychology at IIT Hyderabad. Nidhi also received the University Gold Medal during her Master’s in Applied Psychology at LPU, where she achieved the highest CGPA of 9.96. In recognition of her groundbreaking work, Nidhi was honored with the “Early Career Research Award” from the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) in 2017. Her significant contributions to mental health research have earned her several opportunities to collaborate internationally. Nidhi’s research has been featured in prestigious journals, and she has presented her work at multiple conferences. Her dedication to advancing knowledge in cognitive psychology and mental health earned her recognition as an expert reviewer for various academic platforms, including APS, Psychosis, and IGI Publishers.
🔬 Research Focus
Nidhi Sinha’s research focuses on emotion perception, cognitive processes, and mental health, particularly within the realms of cognitive psychology and affective computing. Her Ph.D. research at IIT Hyderabad explores how virtual reality (VR) and physiological measures, such as electrodermal activity (EDA) and photoplethysmogram (PPG), can assess emotional responses in individuals. She is particularly interested in how attention networks are disrupted in mood disorders like depression and how these cognitive networks influence emotional regulation. Nidhi’s work has also extended to understanding the experiences of individuals with auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH), a common symptom in psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia. By using tools like VR, EDA, and eye tracking, Nidhi investigates how cognitive biases and attentional control mechanisms contribute to mental health disorders. Her research aims to innovate psychological assessments and improve mental healthcare by integrating modern technologies, such as VR, with traditional diagnostic tools. Nidhi has contributed to various interdisciplinary research projects, focusing on improving cognitive assessments in clinical settings.
📝Conclusion
Nidhi Sinha’s strong academic and research credentials, coupled with her interdisciplinary approach and innovative contributions to cognitive psychology and technology, make her an excellent candidate for the Young Scientist Award. Her research has the potential to significantly impact the fields of mental health and emotion recognition, particularly in integrating virtual reality and physiological measures. With continued growth in interdisciplinary collaborations and global research visibility, she is poised to make even more significant contributions to the scientific community.
Publication Top Notes
- Title: Stress and worry in the 2020 coronavirus pandemic: Relationships to trust and compliance with preventive measures across 48 countries in the COVIDiSTRESS global survey
Authors: A Lieberoth, SY Lin, S Stöckli, H Han, M Kowal, R Gelpi, S Chrona, et al.
Journal: Royal Society Open Science
Volume & Issue: 8 (2), 200589
Year: 2021 - Title: COVIDiSTRESS Global Survey dataset on psychological and behavioural consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak
Authors: Y Yamada, DB Ćepulić, T Coll-Martín, S Debove, G Gautreau, H Han, et al.
Journal: Scientific Data
Volume & Issue: 8 (1), 3
Year: 2021 - Title: Introducing gamification for advancing current mental healthcare and treatment practices
Author: N Sinha
Book Title: IoT in Healthcare and Ambient Assisted Living, 223-241
Year: 2021 - Title: What networks of attention are affected by depression? A meta-analysis of studies that used the attention network test
Authors: N Sinha, S Arora, P Srivastava, RM Klein
Journal: Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
Volume & Issue: 8, 100302
Year: 2022 - Title: Affective computing and emotion-sensing technology for emotion recognition in mood disorders
Author: N Sinha
Book Title: Enhanced Telemedicine and e-Health: Advanced IoT Enabled Soft Computing
Year: 2021 - Title: Understanding the effects of unemployment in Indian graduates: Psychological, financial and social perspectives
Author: N Sinha
Journal: Psychological Studies
Volume: 63, 315-324
Year: 2018 - Title: Using virtual reality in college student mental health treatment
Author: N Sinha
Book Title: Current and Prospective Applications of Virtual Reality in Higher Education
Year: 2021 - Title: Living with voices: A thematic analysis of individuals’ experiences of voice-hearing in India
Authors: N Sinha, S Ranganathan
Journal: Psychosis
Volume & Issue: 12 (2), 115-127
Year: 2020 - Title: Global Mental Health Movement: Need for a cultural perspective
Author: N Sinha
Journal: Indian Journal of Medical Ethics
Year: 2023 - Title: Affective Computing in Mood Disorders: Beyond Conventional Diagnostic Tools to Modern Technologies
Authors: N Sinha, P Srivastava, MP Ganesh
Book Title: Affective Computing for Social Good: Enhancing Well-being, Empathy, and …
Year: 2024 - Title: Student Notebook: Beginning Your Collaborative Writing Journey
Author: N Sinha
Journal: APS Observer
Volume: 36
Year: 2023 - Title: An evaluation on existential crisis of Filipinos during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis
Authors: Y Yamada, DB Ćepulić, T Coll-Martín, S Debove, G Gautreau, H Han, et al.
Journal: Frontiers in Psychology
Year: 2021 - Title: Political Cognition: The Unconscious Mechanisms Underlying Political Beliefs and Action
Author: N Sinha
Book Title: The Psychology of Political Behavior in a Time of Change, 235-246
Year: 2021 - Book Review: J. Bargh: Before You Know It: The Unconscious Reasons We Do What We Do
Author: N Sinha
Journal: Psychological Studies
Volume & Issue: 65 (1), 97-99
Year: 2020 - Title: Women in the asylum: Understanding the medicalization and kinship in Indian psychiatric care
Author: N Sinha
Journal: Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology
Volume & Issue: 28 (5), 378-381
Year: 2018 - Title: Listening To The Voices: A Qualitative Study Of The Experiences Of Hearing Voices In Individuals With Auditory Hallucinations
Authors: N Sinha, S Ranganathan
Institution: Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
Year: 2018