ANUPAMA V. A.
Institute Postdoctoral Fellow at IIT Bombay (2026 - Ongoing)
CNRS Postdoctoral Fellow (2025 - 2026)
Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF) holder in PhD (2020 - 2025)
ABOUT
I am an Institute Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. My research supervisor is Dr Swathy Manohar.
I am working on the Material documentation, deterioration mapping and durability assessment of Heritage Monument in India.
Previously, I was a CNRS postdoctoral researcher in the Laboratoire des Fluides Complexes et leurs Réservoirs (LFCR) at University De Pau Et Des Pays De L'adour (UPPA), Pau, France. I was working on the ERC Project - PRD Trigger on Salt Weathering of Building Stones, supervised by Dr Hannelore Derluyn.
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My doctoral research under the guidance of Dr. Manu Santhanam at IIT Madras, India, aimed at elucidating the salt deterioration mechanism in masonry systems, focusing on mortars, substrates, and substrate-mortar interactions. It is an attempt towards a novel scientific framework for the repair and restoration of the historic masonry monuments along the coastal belt of India.
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My research interests include
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microstructural characterization
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heritage building materials
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durability of materials
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repair and rehabilitation
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durability studies
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concrete technology
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Beyond research, I am passionate about classical dance, music and poetry.
EDUCATION
2020 - 2025
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Doctor of Philosophy
CGPA: 10
Dissertation Title: Standardization of repair mortars for the conservation of heritage masonry structures
September, 2022 - December, 2022
Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna
Exchange Research Scholar
2017 - 2019
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Master of Technology in Construction Technology and Management
CGPA: 9.06
Thesis Title: Sandwich technique in reinforced earth wall construction
2013 - 2017
National Institute of Technology Calicut
Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering
CGPA: 8.79
Project Title: Evaluation of Properties of aerated lightweight concrete with rice husk ash as partial replacement of sand.
PUBLICATIONS
JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
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V. A. Anupama, S. Divya Rani, Swathy Manohar & Manu Santhanam, “Investigation of weathering resistance and damage manifestations of mortar formulations for heritage structures in saline environment”, International Journal of Architectural Heritage, https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2024.2374028
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V. A. Anupama & Manu Santhanam, “Salt Weathering Resilience in Masonry: An Accelerated Laboratory Study Involving Wind-Induced Variations”, Construction and Building Materials, https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2024.2374028
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V. A. Anupama, Enrico Sassoni & Manu Santhanam, “Long-term Retention and Efficiency of DAP and TEOS Consolidants in Weathered Masonry”, RILEM Technical Letters, https://doi.org/10.21809/rilemtechlett.2024.206
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V. A. Anupama, Enrico Sassoni & Manu Santhanam, “Investigating salt weathering performance of TEOS-consolidated
brick masonry with naturally carbonated lime mortar
” Research Data and Reports, https://doi.org/10.70002/iitm.rdr.1.1.49
CONFERENCE PUBLICATIONS
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V. A. Anupama & Manu Santhanam, “Impact of wind on the salt weathering resistance of masonry mortars”, RILEM Week 2024
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V. A. Anupama & Manu Santhanam, “Morphological evolution of calcium carbonate crystals in dry hydrated lime mortar”, 6th Heritage Mortar Conference (HMC 2022)
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V. A. Anupama & Manu Santhanam, “An investigation of the salt weathering resistance of dry hydrated lime mortar subjected to accelerated carbonation”, RILEM TC-277 Workshop on ‘Lime based materials for repairing historic structures, 2022.’
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V. A. Anupama & Manu Santhanam, “Durability of heritage masonry structures: Review on the substrate-mortar interaction”, 75th RILEM Week, 2021
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Swathy Manohar, V. A. Anupama, & Manu Santhanam, “Salt deterioration of heritage structures – Correlating the insights from field and lab studies”, 75th RILEM Week, 2021
POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY
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Associate Secretery of Civil Engineering Association, NITC (2016-'17)
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Elected member of Students Activity Council (2016-2017)
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Chief Student Editor of NITC College Magazine ((2016-'17)
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Senior Executive-Media Committee-Tathva, Ragam (2015, 2016 and 2017)
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Executive of the hospitality and public relation committee as part of the national conference TISI-2015.
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Senior executive of Literary and Debating Club, NITC.
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Founder organizer of I-INK, Literature festival of NITC.
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Coordinator of civil technical event 'Labyrinth'.
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Higher secondary school leader (2012-2013), High school head girl (2010-2011)
AWARDS & HONOURS
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Woman PhD scholar with the highest CGPA in the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras, India.
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Special mention in the Young Researchers’ Symposium (YRS), organized by Technology for Low Carbon and Lean Construction Centre of Excellence at IIT Madras – January 2025
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Best Poster Award at the one-day workshop on 'Conservation of Heritage Structures - connecting the past and future' at IIT Bombay - September, 2024.
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Best Paper Award in the RILEM Conference on Sustainable Materials and Structures as part of 78th RILEM Week, held at Toulouse, France - August 2024
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PhD Travel Grant by RILEM
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Second prize in the 180Research@CE-IITM Season 2 organized by Civil Engineering Association, IITM – August 2022
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International Immersion Experience Travel Award launched by the Office of Global Engagement, IIT Madras – Jan 2022
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Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship – December 2020
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One of the top ten students among the undergraduate class comprising 150 students at NIT Calicut in 2017
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First prize in the intercollegiate debate, street play and recitation competitions in Ragam 2015 and 2017
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Best outgoing student of the years 2011 and 2013
State awards-
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Kadathanaatt Madhaviyamma Puraskaram (2015)
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Winner for Malayalam poetry writing and Hindi recitation competitions (2011,2013).
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Changampuzha kavya Puraskaaram (2010)
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Thirunelloor Puraskaaram (2010)
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Orchard India Award (2010)
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Kuttettan Puraskaaram (2009)
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DC books Vaayana Puraskaaram (2008).
MEMBERSHIPS
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RILEM, International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems, and Structures (Young Member since February, 2020)
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American Concrete Institute (Student Member since March, 2021)
CONTACT
Email: vaanupama9@gmail.com
Address: Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400076