Dr. Rakesh Kumar Mandal is a distinguished academician and researcher with 20+ years of experience in teaching, research and academic administration. He is currently serving as Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Technology, University of North Bengal (2018–Present), where he is actively engaged in teaching, research supervision, curriculum development and institutional leadership.

Previously, he served as Assistant Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Technology, University of North Bengal (2006–2018), during which time he established himself as an accomplished scholar in machine learning and artificial neural networks. He also served as Head of the Department of Computer Science and Application, University of North Bengal (2016–2018), overseeing academic governance and departmental operations. Prior to his academic career, he gained 2 years of professional experience in IT administration as an EDP Officer at Oriental Bank of Commerce.

Research & Publications

Dr. Mandal has developed a strong research profile in Machine Learning, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Medical Image Processing and Cloud Computing. His scholarly output is substantial and diverse: 50 publications in national and international journals, 24 presentations at national and international seminars and conferences, 1 authored book and 10 book chapters. His recent publications span cutting-edge topics including deep learning for medical imaging, lie detection systems, wildlife and animal detection using artificial intelligence, and applications of machine learning in healthcare. Several of his publications are indexed in prestigious databases including SCI, Scopus and Web of Science.

Ph.D. Supervision & Scholar Mentorship

Dr. Mandal has demonstrated excellence in graduate research mentorship. He has supervised 2 Ph.D. scholars to successful completion, both of whom have produced dissertations of significant quality. Dr. Dipanjan Moitra's thesis focused on deep learning models for prediction of malignant tumors using multimodal imaging techniques, and Dr. Payel Saha's thesis addressed the development of artificial neural network techniques to detect lupus disease. He currently supervises 6 ongoing Ph.D. scholars, reflecting his commitment to advanced research training and knowledge creation.

Patents, Books & Scholarly Contributions

Beyond research articles, Dr. Mandal has contributed significantly to scholarly knowledge dissemination. He has authored one book, Computer Networks for Students (SPD, 2018), and has written 10 book chapters published by reputed publishers including Springer. His book chapters address diverse topics such as elephant detection using geophone sensors, wildlife detection systems, lie detection frameworks and lung disease severity assessment. These contributions demonstrate his ability to synthesize research into accessible scholarly resources.

Research Projects & Funding

Dr. Mandal has secured research funding and successfully executed multiple projects. His ongoing minor project, "An ANN Based Expert System to Stop Animal Casualties on Roads using Geophone Sensors" (University of North Bengal, ₹1,50,000, commenced 2021) reflects his commitment to applied research with societal impact. He has completed 4 research projects, including a major UGC-funded project on "Design and Development of an Artificial Neural Network Based Expert System to Diagnose Human Brain Tumor from CT scan and MRI Images" (2015–2017, ₹10 lakhs 10 thousand), demonstrating his ability to conceptualize, implement and deliver high-impact research outcomes.

Teaching & Academic Contributions

Dr. Mandal has consistently demonstrated excellence in teaching and curriculum development. He has taught diverse courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and has authored teaching materials. His commitment to pedagogy is reflected in his roles as Chairman, Board of UG Studies in BCA; Chairman, Board of UG Studies in B.Sc. (Computer Science); and Chairman, PG Diploma in Cyber Security, all at the University of North Bengal. He has also served as Chairman, Carrier Oriented Program (COP), contributing to skill-oriented education. His engagement extends to mentoring emerging scholars and fostering research-led learning in his department.

Faculty Development & Professional Engagement

Dr. Mandal has invested significantly in continuous professional development and capacity building. He has attended 6 faculty development programmes, including the 62nd Orientation Programme at UGC Academic Staff College, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and multiple refresher courses. He has delivered 26 lectures and presentations as a resource person across national and international platforms, addressing topics including Artificial Neural Networks, Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Open Source Software and Emerging Technologies. He has served as keynote speaker and plenary speaker at multiple national conferences, and has chaired 5 technical sessions at international conferences, contributing to scholarly discourse at the highest levels.

Conference Organization & Academic Leadership

Dr. Mandal has played pivotal roles in organizing and stewarding major academic events. He served as Program Secretary for National Conference in Computational Technologies (NCCT) in 2015 and 2016, and as Organizing Secretary for NCCT-2017. Most significantly, he served as General Chair and Convener of the International Conference in Computational Technologies and Electronics (ICCTE-2023), a Springer CCIS-indexed event held at the University of North Bengal in November 2023. He has also served on the Advisory Board and Technical Programme Committees of multiple national and international conferences, including the International Conference on Big Data Analytics in Bioinformatics. These leadership roles underscore his standing within the academic community.

Editorial & Peer Review Responsibilities

Dr. Mandal has assumed editorial and quality assurance responsibilities in scholarly publishing. He served as Executive Editor of the International Journal of Computer Sciences and Engineering, a UGC-enlisted, open-access, peer-reviewed journal (till 2019). He regularly serves as a peer reviewer for reputed journals including Network Modeling Analysis in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics (NHIB), indexed in the Web of Science.

Administrative & Institutional Leadership

Beyond the classroom and laboratory, Dr. Mandal has assumed substantial administrative responsibilities. He served as Head of the Department of Computer Science and Application (2016–2018), providing institutional leadership and strategic direction. He has held 6 years of experience as Person-In-Charge of the NBU Reporting Centre, West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination Board, managing e-counselling operations. His administrative portfolio includes chairmanships of multiple academic bodies: Board of UG Studies in BCA, Board of UG Studies in B.Sc. (Computer Science), PG Diploma in Cyber Security, and PG Diploma in Forensics. He serves as Programme Coordinator of the National Service Scheme (NSS) overseeing 92 NSS units, and holds memberships on the Ethical Committee at North Bengal Medical College & Hospital, and various Boards of Studies at multiple institutions including Jalpaiguri Government Engineering College and Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology. As Governing Body President of Sukanta Mahavidyalaya, he contributes to strategic governance of higher education institutions.

Awards, Honours & Professional Memberships

Dr. Mandal's contributions have been recognized through multiple accolades. His achievements include qualification in UGC-NET in Computer Science & Applications (2004) and qualification in the Indian Territorial Army Infantry Officers Exam conducted by UPSC (2015), demonstrating excellence beyond academia. He holds a 1st Dan Black Belt in IKO Kyokushinkaikan Karate, reflecting commitment to discipline and physical excellence. His research and institutional contributions have been honored with the Computer Society of India (CSI) Innovation Award (Honourable Mention, 2014), CSI Active Participation Award (Young member, 2014), Bharat Vikas Award (2017), and Outstanding Paper Award at the 8th Regional Science & Technology Congress jointly organized by the Department of Science and Technology and Biotechnology (Govt. of West Bengal) with the University of North Bengal. He is professionally affiliated with Computer Society of India (CSI), IAENG and Itihas Academy Dhaka. He also serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), connecting academic expertise with industry needs.

Eligibility for Laureate Scientist Award

Dr. Rakesh Kumar Mandal exemplifies the profile of a distinguished scientist and academic leader. His 20+ years of dedicated teaching and research experience, 50 peer-reviewed journal publications, 10 book chapters with major publishers, successful Ph.D. supervision of 2 scholars with 6 ongoing, secured research funding, curriculum leadership through multiple chairmanships, organization of national and international conferences, peer review and editorial contributions, and recognition through prestigious awards collectively demonstrate sustained and substantial contributions to the advancement of knowledge in Computer Science and related fields.

Dr. Mandal's research agenda has evolved strategically from foundational work in pattern recognition and character recognition to cutting-edge applications in medical image processing, wildlife detection, disease diagnosis using artificial intelligence, and emerging areas of computational science. His interdisciplinary approach, combining theoretical rigor with practical societal impact, reflects mature scholarly vision. His institutional leadership, evident through departmental stewardship, curriculum development and scholarly community building, extends his influence beyond individual research contributions.

Based on the cumulative evidence of academic excellence, research productivity, scholarship, institutional leadership and professional recognition, Dr. Rakesh Kumar Mandal is eligible for consideration for the Laureate Scientist Award in Scientific Laurels, particularly in recognition of his sustained contributions to teaching, research, guided scholarship, and institutional advancement in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence.