I am Alakananda Mitra, a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and a Visiting Computer Scientist at USDA-ARS, Beltsville. My research lies at the intersection of deep learning, computer vision, edge computing, and context-aware intelligence.

My current focus is on designing efficient, real-time AI systems that can function reliably in edge environments—such as smart agriculture, embedded forensics, and autonomous sensing networks. I explore how context-aware deep learning models can adapt to the constraints and specific conditions of edge devices, delivering both accuracy and scalability.

Academic Background & Recognition

I earned my Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of North Texas, working under Dr. Saraju P. Mohanty. I also hold an M.Tech. in Radiophysics and Electronics from the University of Calcutta and a B.Sc. in Physics from Presidency College, Kolkata.

Selected Awards:

• Best Paper Award – Research Demo Session, 6th IFIP International Internet of Things (IoT) Conference (IFIP-IoT), 2023.
• Outstanding Early-Stage Doctoral Student Award – Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of North Texas, 2022.
• Best Paper Award – 19th OITS International Conference on Information Technology (OCIT), 2021.

News Coverage:

•  News Coverage: Academic deepfake research paper suggests liveness detection vulnerable | Biometric Update
• University of North Texas, College of Engineering: Student, faculty receive award for research on deepfake media
• University of North Texas, College of Engineering: College hosts international IoT conference exploring global collaboration
• IFIP- News: 2023 IFIP IoT Conference Explores Global Collaboration