AT A GLANCE
Dyutiman Mukhopadhyay, PhD
Area of Practice: Cognitive scientist working on experimental aesthetics
OVERVIEW
Dr Dyutiman Mukhopadhyay is a cognitive scientist, biologist, artist, and writer working on art-psychology, human emotion, and multi-modal communication. He uses both arts and sciences as practice-based and practice-led research tools to investigate multiple facets of experimental/cognitive aesthetics, and social/cultural/neuro-sciences. Currently, he is a teaching faculty in Information Arts & Information Design Practices at SMI, MAHE. He also served as an Adjunct Professor in the Consciousness Studies Programme at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, India, and was a former British Academy Newton International Fellow, University College London, UK (Experimental Psychology, Brain Sciences).
Dyutiman’s work on the neuropsychology of the aesthetic paradox (Mukhopadhyay, 2014, Review of General Psychology) has been highlighted in literary theory and emotion research by authorities in the field like G. Gabrielle Starr, Louise Sundararajan, Zachary Simpson, Kim Devereux, and Maria Korusiewicz. His other major work deals with the characterization of functional brain networks and emotional centers based on the Rasa-theory of ancient Indian aesthetics. As a practising artist, he primarily specialises in photography and experimental videography (work portfolio: dyutimanmukhopadhyay.com).
Dr Mukhopadhyay has a PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Post-doctoral experience in Cognitive Sciences (experimental aesthetics), a five-year Advanced Diploma in fine arts (painting) and a widely transdisciplinary career with more than fifteen years of scientific research (biomedical, cognitive and neurosciences) and creative experience (photography, film and painting).
He has been awarded the T1 Exceptional Talent Work VISA endorsed by the British Academy. His photography received official selections and recognition at the Venice International Photo Contest, in Italy, at the International Photography Awards, in the USA, at Prix de la Photographie, Paris, and on the National Geographic website.
EDUCATION
1. PhD (Biomedical Sciences: stress biology and epidemiology of male factor infertility), 2005–2009. Departments of Biochemistry & Zoology, University of Calcutta, India.
2. MSc-First Class in Zoology & 3rd Prize in Seminar; 2002–2004 (Seminar title: ‘Analysing Happiness – Reward Centre of the Brain’). Banaras Hindu University(BHU), India
3. BSc-Honours(in Zoology; Physiology & Chemistry) 1999–2002. Presidency College (University of Calcutta), Calcutta, India.
4. Advanced Diploma in Fine Arts—First Division, Distinction in Practical; 2005–2010. Pracheen Kala Kendra – Indian Classical Art Organisation, Chandigarh, India, Calcutta Centre – Chitrakala, Kolkata- 700060.
WORK EXPERIENCE
1. Faculty in Information Arts and Information Design Practices, Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Bangalore, India, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India (October 2022–present).
2. Adjunct Professor (Honourary), NIAS Consciousness Studies Programme, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, India (April 2022–June 2024).
3. British Academy Newton International Fellow & Honorary Research Associate. University College London—Department of Experimental Psychology, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences (in Faculty of Brain Sciences, School of Life Sciences), London, UK (January 2018–October 2021).
4. Creative Director—‘AcademiaOne’, UK. Academic Education Providing Company Supported by University College London Innovation and Enterprise, UK (June–October 2020).
5. Course Lecturer, Cognitive Psychology Module (Emotion & Cognition) for MSc Psychological Sciences Programme. University College London, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, London, United Kingdom (2021). Also offered lecture at the Virtual Winter Festival of Learning, University of Cambridge, Institute of Continuing Education (2021).
6. Worked as an assistant fMRI operator at Birkbeck-UCL Centre for NeuroImaging (BUCNI), UK (2018–2020).
7. Former DST Govt. of India Post-Doctoral Fellow & PI in Cognitive Science Research Initiative Project. Centre for Cognitive Science (with Humanities and Social Sciences) Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IIT GN), Gujarat, India (Adjunct teaching experience: taught ‘neuroaesthetics’ as a full-semester special elective course, 2014–2016).
8. Former ICMR Research Associate (Biomedical genetics): Indian Council of Medical Research, Govt. of India; Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, India (2010–2013).
9. Practising Artist (Work portfolio: https://dyutimanmukhopadhyay.com)
Photography received official selections and recognition at the Venice International Photo Contest, in Italy, at the International Photography Awards, in the USA, at Prix de la Photographie, Paris and on the National Geographic website.
10. One of the founding artist contributors of the art subscription and sales company (Chadart.global, UK).
INTEREST AREAS
1. Aesthetics, Cognition, Emotion, and Multi-Modal Communication. Research Tools: Indian texts on Philosophy of Science, Religion, and Aesthetics (c. 1500 BC – c.1000 AD), Experimental Psychology, Eye-tracking, Electroencephalography (EEG), Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), Digital Art, Painting, Photography, and Cinema.
2. Cultural Neuroscience, Models of self, self-construal, and cross-cultural emotion transfer using complex naturalistic stimuli, especially films, paintings, photography and digital art.
3. The Rasa theory of Indian aesthetics and its cognitive-emotional interpretations. Research practices on the ‘aesthetic paradox’ (published work: DOI: 10.1037/GPR0000009)
CURRENT PRACTICE AT SRISHTI
1. Sensory Design
2. Multimodal Communication
3. Photography in Context
4. Research Methods
5. Art and Mental Health
6. Information Arts and Storytelling
TEACHING PORTFOLIO
- ‘Sensory Design’ as IAIDP Workshop (ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-2023).
- ‘Engage in Research (Aesthetics, Cognition & Emotion)’ as IAIDP Studio (ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-2023).
- ‘Dust Thou Art (You Are Dust): Becoming Soil and Art’ as Interlude Project (ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-2023).
- ‘Multimodal Interaction’ as IAIDP Studio (ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-2023).
- ‘Poetics, Storytelling, and the Archetypal Psychology of Bengal Embroidered Quilt (Nakshi Kantha) of India’ as PGDP Final Project (ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-2023).
- ‘Photography in Context’ as IAIDP Workshop (ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-2023).
- ‘Madness as Method’ as IAIDP 7th semester UG Project (ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-2024).
CREATIVE PRACTICE & OUTREACH
1. Artistic Practice: Work portfolio: https://dyutimanmukhopadhyay.com
2. Scientific Research & publications: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=yQyDrv4AAAAJ&hl=en
