IIIT Hyderabad director steps down; Sandeep Shukla to take charge

The International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT Hyderabad or IITH) has appointed its new director, Sandeep Shukla. Former director P J Narayanan has stepped down after a 12-year tenure at the institute.

The new director of IIIT Hyderabad served as a professor for computer science and engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur). He is an “internationally recognised expert” in cyber-physical systems, formal verification, and cybersecurity.

Shukla is also the co-director of the National Interdisciplinary Centre for Cyber Security and Cyber Defence of Critical Infrastructure. He is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) since 2014. He has received multiple awards for his academic contributions to research and education, as per an official statement.

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Speaking on the occasion, Shukla said: “I am extremely honoured and excited that IIIT Hyderabad is entrusting me with the responsibility of their next leader. Areas I would like to explore to develop are cybercrime investigation research methodologies and tools, Development of Web3 and Blockchain-based systems, use of GenAI and agentic AI in cybersecurity, 5G and 6G communication and resilient telecom infrastructure, new age learning and teaching research with emerging technologies, technology policy research, etc.”

“One of my priorities will be to build a world-class cybersecurity research centre extending the existing strengths already developed here. The goal would be to further the reputation of IIIT Hyderabad as a place to go to in several more areas of knowledge and technology,” he added.

Narayanan, the former IIITH head, is credited with expanding the institute’s research, interdisciplinary programmes, and a culture of entrepreneurship and industry collaboration. According to the statement, the institute’s research excellence led to a number 1 ranking in India, while the institute globally ranks among the top 100 for artificial intelligence (AI).