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Dr. Nirmala Vasudevan

Associate Professor, Department of Physics, School of Physical Sciences, Amritapuri

Qualification: BSc, MSc, PhD
nirmalav@am.amrita.edu
Scopus Author ID
Research Interest:

Theoretical physics: Supersymmetric grand unified theories; Neutrino phenomenology
Landslide processes: Field investigation for landslide characterization; Geotechnical characterization of landslide materials; Hydrological and slope stability modeling
Literacy acquisition

Bio Publications Education
Bio

Nirmala Vasudevan is Associate Professor in the Department of Physics, Amritapuri. She obtained a doctorate in theoretical physics from Northwestern University, USA. Her doctoral thesis titled, “The Phase Transition SUSY SU(5) → SUSY SU(3)×SU(2)×U(1)” examines phase transitions in the early universe in the framework of supersymmetric grand unified theories. After the completion of her PhD, she worked on neutrino phenomenology.

Dr. Nirmala joined Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University) in 2006. She became actively involved in India’s first European Commission-funded project for the deployment of a wireless sensor network-based landslide early warning system at the Anthoniar Colony landslide in Munnar, Kerala. The system consists of over 150 sensors installed at different locations and depths; the data are transmitted to the university campus over an aerial distance of approximately 130 km. The system has been functional since 2009, with landslide alerts issued in 2009, 2011, and 2018. Based on this system, the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, sanctioned a similar deployment at the Chandmari landslide in Gangtok, Sikkim. The system installation was completed in September 2018. In addition to participating in the deployments, Dr. Nirmala has visited over 50 landslides in India in the states of Kerala, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Mizoram, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, and Arunachal Pradesh, and is responsible for the geotechnical characterisation of the landslides and hydrological and slope stability modelling.

Additionally, motivated by a desire to help children with learning disabilities, she approached the Amrita Centre for Research in Analytics and Technologies for Education (CREATE) in 2013. She has studied the challenges children face in learning to read and spell in Malayalam. This research was supported by a grant from the Department of Science and Technology-Cognitive Sciences Initiative, Government of India.

Publications

Journal Article

Year : 2024

Developing a multi-dimensional phonological and morphological framework for understanding reading and spelling acquisition: A study in Malayalam literacy learning

Cite this Research Publication : Mithun Haridas, Nirmala Vasudevan, Raghu Raman, David L. Share, Prema Nedungadi, Developing a multi-dimensional phonological and morphological framework for understanding reading and spelling acquisition: A study in Malayalam literacy learning., Reading and Writing 1-43

Publisher : Springer

Year : 2023

A Novel Application of Catchment Approach to Assessment of 2021 Rockfall and Landslides Vulnerabilities in Tirumala Hills, Andhra Pradesh, India

Cite this Research Publication : Wadhawan, S. K., Singh, B., Kumar, M. N., Vasudevan, N., & Ramesh, M. V. (2023). A Novel Application of Catchment Approach to Assessment of 2021 Rockfall and Landslides Vulnerabilities in Tirumala Hills, Andhra Pradesh, India. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 99(5), 599-606.

Year : 2023

A multi-dimensional framework for characterizing the role of writing system variation in literacy learning: a case study in Malayalam

Cite this Research Publication : Nirmala Vasudevan, Mithun Haridas, Prema Nedungadi, Raghu Raman, Peter T. Daniels & David L. Share, "A multi-dimensional framework for characterizing the role of writing system variation in literacy learning: a case study in Malayalam" Read Writing (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-022-10374-3

Publisher : Springer

Year : 2012

The Deployment of Deep-earth Sensor Probes for Landslide Detection

Cite this Research Publication : Dr. Maneesha V. Ramesh and Dr. Nirmala Vasudevan, “The Deployment of Deep-earth Sensor Probes for Landslide Detection”, Landslides, vol. 9, pp. 457-474, 2012

Publisher : Landslides

Year : 2009

Real Time Landslide Monitoring via Wireless Sensor Network

Cite this Research Publication : Dr. Maneesha V. Ramesh, Dr. Nirmala Vasudevan, and Freeman, J., “Real Time Landslide Monitoring via Wireless Sensor Network”, vol. 11, p. 14061, 2009.

Publisher : Volume 11, p.14061 (2009)

Year : 2007

Neutrino phenomenology of very low-energy seesaw scenarios

Cite this Research Publication : André de Gouvêa, James Jenkins, and Nirmala Vasudevan, Neutrino phenomenology of very low-energy seesaw scenarios, Physical Review D.

Conference Paper

Year : 2020

Comparing English and Malayalam Spelling Errors of Children using a Bilingual Screening Tool

Cite this Research Publication : M. Haridas, Dr. Nirmala Vasudevan, Gutjahr, G., Raghu Raman, and Prof. Prema Nedungadi, “Comparing English and Malayalam Spelling Errors of Children using a Bilingual Screening Tool”, in Fourth International Congress on Information and Communication Technology, Singapore, Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, Volume 1027, 2020, Pages 427-436

Publisher : Springer Singapore.

Year : 2019

Inter-Rater Reliability of a Dyslexia Screening Test

Cite this Research Publication : M. Haridas, Dr. Nirmala Vasudevan, Sasikumar, L., Gutjahr, G., Raghu Raman, and Prof. Prema Nedungadi, “Inter-Rater Reliability of a Dyslexia Screening Test”, in 2019 IEEE Tenth International Conference on Technology for Education (T4E), 2019

Publisher : 2019 IEEE Tenth International Conference on Technology for Education (T4E) .

Year : 2019

Feature-Aware Knowledge Tracing for Generation of Concept-Knowledge Reports in an Intelligent Tutoring System

Cite this Research Publication : M. Haridas, Dr. Nirmala Vasudevan, Gayathry, S., Gutjahr, G., Raghu Raman, and Prof. Prema Nedungadi, “Feature-Aware Knowledge Tracing for Generation of Concept-Knowledge Reports in an Intelligent Tutoring System”, in 2019 IEEE Tenth International Conference on Technology for Education (T4E), 2019

Publisher : 2019 IEEE Tenth International Conference on Technology for Education (T4E)

Year : 2016

Geological factors contributing to landslides: Case studies of a few landslides in different regions of India

Cite this Research Publication : Dr. Nirmala Vasudevan and Ramanathan, K., “Geological factors contributing to landslides: Case studies of a few landslides in different regions of India”, in IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2016, vol. 30

Publisher : IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science.

Education
  • PhD in Physics [Theoretical High Energy Physics] (Nov. 2005) Northwestern University, USA.
  • MSc in Physics(May 1999) Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India.
  • BSc in Physics (May 1997) Stella Maris College, Affiliated to the University of Madras, India.
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