SINNU SUSAN THOMAS
April 22, 2024 2026-03-10 11:41SINNU SUSAN THOMAS
Computer Vision, Image/Video Signal Processing, OptimizationTechniques, Machine/Deep/Reinforcement Learning.
Born in the educational hub of coaching institutes in India- Kota, Rajasthan, went for schooling at St. John’s Senior Secondary School, Kota, Rajasthan, received the B.E. (Hons.) degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Rajasthan University, Jaipur, and the M.Tech. Degree in Communication Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal, advised by Sumam S. David, and received a PhD in Electrical Engineering, from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, advised by Sumana Gupta and K. S. Venkatesh. The PhD thesis was titled “Perceptual Attributes in Video Summarization,” in which videos were summarized from a human visual perspective.
She taught at The Modi Institute of Management and Technology, Kota, Rajasthan, and at Viswajyothi College of Engineering and Technology, Muvattupuzha, Kerala. Subsequently, was hosted as a Post Doctoral Research Associate by Matthew B. Blaschko at the Department of Electrical Engineering, KU Leuven, Belgium, in collaboration with The FORD Innovation and Research Centre in Germany and USA. During her Postdoctoral, she worked on designing a front suspension for Mac-Pherson Architecture. She studied the behaviour of massive stars in space using Bayesian Optimization, and working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Digital University Kerala (formerly Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Kerala) , leading Image and Vision Computing Lab alongwith Optimization, and Machine Learning Lab.
- PhD
Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur - MTech
Communication Engineering, National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal - BE (Honors)
Electronics and Communication Engineering from Rajasthan University Jaipur
She taught at Modi Institute of Management and Technology, Kota, Rajasthan, and Viswajyothi College of Engineering and Technology, Muvattupuzha, Kerala. Subsequently, was hosted as a Post Doctoral Research Associate by Matthew B. Blaschko at the Department of Electrical Engineering KU Leuven Belgium in collaboration with FORD Innovation and Research Centre Germany and USA. During her postdoc, she worked on designing a front suspension for Mac-Pherson Architecture. She studied the behaviour of massive stars in space using Bayesian Optimization and working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Digital University Kerala (formerly Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Kerala) and leading Image and Vision Computing Lab alongwith Optimization and Machine Learning Lab.
- Deep Learning (DUK)
- Optimization Techniques (DUK)
- Mathematics for Computer Science (IIITMK, DUK)
- Reinforcement Learning (DUK)
- Computer Vision (IIITMK, DUK)
- Computer Architecture (DUK)
- Pattern Recognition (IIITMK)
- Digital Image Processing (KTU)
- Digital Signal Processing (MGU)
- Signals and Systems (IITK, MGU)
- Circuit Theory (MGU)
- Digital Electronics (MGU, RTU)
- Introduction to Electronics Engineering (MGU, RTU)
- Electronics Engineering Labs (MGU, RTU)
- Communication Engineering Labs (MGU, RTU)
- Miguel A Solis; S. S. Thomas; Christian A Choque-Surco; Edgar A Taya-Acosta; Francisca Coiro G, “ Bayesian Optimization for the Synthesis of Generalized State-Feedback Controllers in Underactuated Systems,” in Mathematics, vol. 13, no. 19, 2025.
- T. James; S. S. Thomas, “Multi Objective Regionalized Bayesian Optimization via Entropy Search,” in NeurIPS Workshops, 2024.
- R. Prakash; S. S. Thomas, “ Unbalanced Fingerprint Classification for Hybrid Fingerprint Orientation Maps,” in arXiv:2409.00779, 2024.
- S. S. Thomas; G. Lamine; J. Palandri; M. Lakehal-ayat; P. Chakravarty; F. Wolf-Monheim; M. B. Blaschko, “ Mitigating Bias in Bayesian Optimized Data while Designing MacPherson Suspension Architecture,” in IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 904-915, Feb 2024.
- E. F. Arruda; R. e A. Alexandre; M. D. Fragoso; João B. R. do val; S. S. Thomas, “A Novel Queue-based Stochastic Epidemic Model with Adaptive Stabilising Control,” in ISA Transactions, vol. 140, pp. 121-133, Sep 2023.
- S. S. Thomas; G. Lamine; J. Palandri; M. Lakehal-ayat; P. Chakravarty; F. Wolf-Monheim; M. B. Blaschko, “ Mitigating Bias in Bayesian Optimized Data while Designing MacPherson Suspension Architecture,” in IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence, May 2023. [Code available on request]
- R. Badarinath; B. K. Raju; M. Anshad K; V. Prabhu; S. S. Thomas, “Real-time Vision Sensor for Volumetric Flowrate Estimation in Robotic Fused Filament Fabrication,” in IFAC World Congress, Yokohawa, Japan, Jul 9-14, 2023. [Code]
- S. S. Thomas; J. Palandri; M. Lakehal-ayat; P. Chakravarty; F. Wolf-Monheim; M. B. Blaschko, “ Kinematics Design of a MacPherson Suspension Architecture based on Bayesian Optimization,” in IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, vol. 53, no. 4, pp. 2261-2274, Apr 2023. [Code available on request]
- E. F. Arruda; T. Sharma; R. e A. Alexandre; S. S. Thomas, “ Epidemic Control Modeling using Parsimonious Models and Markov Decision Processes,” in arXiv:2206.13910, 2022.[Code]
- R. Giriraj; S. S. Thomas, “ Causal Discovery in Knowledge Graphs by Exploiting Asymmetric Properties of Non-Gaussian Distributions,” in arXiv:2106.01043, 2021. [Code]
- V. Kumar; S. S. Thomas, “ Make Bipedal Robots Learn How to Imitate,” in arXiv:2105.07193, 2021.[Code]
- T. Xu; S. S. Thomas, “ Unpaired Video Summarization using COT-GAN,” in CVPR Workshops, 2021.
- M. A. Solis; S. S. Thomas, “ Generalized State-Feedback Controller Synthesis for Underactuated Systems through Bayesian Optimization,” in arXiv:2103.17158, 2021. [Code]
- E. F. Arruda; R. e A. Alexandre; M. D. Fragoso; João B. R. do val; S. S. Thomas, “A Novel Stochastic Epidemic Model with Application to COVID-19,” in arXiv:2102.08213, 2021.
- S. Mukherjee; S. S. Thomas, “Deep Unfolding Approaches for Sparse Dictionary Learning in Video Summarization,” NeurIPS Workshops, Vancouver, Canada, Dec 6-12, 2020.
- O. T. James; S. S. Thomas, “ Bayesian Optimized Event Based Epidemic Modeling in India,” in arXiv:2010.01280, 2020.
- A. M. Paul; S. S. Thomas, “Multifaceted COVID-19 Outbreak,” in arXiv:2008.12127, 2020.
- S. S. Thomas; J. Palandri; M. Lakehal-ayat; P. Chakravarty; F. Wolf-Monheim;M. B. Blaschko,“Designing MacPherson Suspension Architectures using Bayesian Optimization,” BENELEARN, Brussels, Belgium, Nov 6-8, 2019.
- S. S. Thomas; S. Gupta; Venkatesh K. S., “Context Driven Optimized Perceptual Video Summarization and Retrieval,” in IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, vol. 29, no. 10, pp. 3132-3145, Oct 2019.
- S. S. Thomas,“Perceptual Attributes in Video Summarization,” in UPCON , Gorakhpur, India, Nov 2-4, 2018.
- S. S. Thomas,“Video Summarization,” in CICT, Jabalpur, India, Oct 26-28, 2018.
- S. S. Thomas; S. Gupta; Venkatesh K. S., “Event Detection on Roads Using Perceptual Video Summarization,” in IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, vol. 19, no. 9, pp. 2944-2954, Sep 2018.
- S. S. Thomas; S. Gupta; Venkatesh K. S., “Perceptual Video Summarization – a New Framework for Video Summarization,” in ISCAS, Florence, Italy, May 27-30 2018.
- S. S. Thomas; S. Gupta; Venkatesh K. S., “Perceptual Video Summarization – a New Framework for Video Summarization,” in IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, vol. 27, no. 8, pp. 1790-1802, Aug 2017.
- H. Kumar, S. Bhattacharya, S. S. Thomas; S. Gupta; Venkatesh K. S., “Design of Smart Video Surveillance System for Indoor and Outdoor Scenes,” in DSP, London, August 23-25 2017.
- S. S. Thomas; S. Gupta; Venkatesh K. S., “Smart Surveillance Based on Video Summarization,” TENSYMP, Cochin, July 14-16 2017.
- S. S. Thomas; S. Gupta; Venkatesh K. S., “Perceptual Synoptic View based Video Retrieval Using Metadata,” Signal, Image and Video Processing, vol. 11, pp. 549-555, Mar 2017.
- S. S. Thomas; S. Gupta; Venkatesh K. S., “Perceptual Synoptic View of Pixel, Object and Semantic Based Attributes of Video,” Journal of Visual Communication and Image Representation, vol. 38, pp. 367-377, Jul 2016.
- S. S. Thomas; S. Gupta; Venkatesh K. S., “An Energy Minimization Approach for Automatic Video Shot and Scene Boundary Detection,” in IIHMSP, Kitakyushu, Japan, August 27-29 2014, pp. 297-300.
- S. S. Thomas; S. Gupta; Venkatesh K. S., “Non User Interaction Content Summarization,” in DSP, Hong Kong, August 20-23 2014, pp. 286-290.
- S. S. Thomas; S. Gupta; Venkatesh K. S., “AUTOENSUM: Automated Enhanced Summary for Multiple Interacting Objects,” in ICME Workshops, Chengdu, China, July 14-18 2014, pp. 1-6
- “Deep Learning for Computer Vision”, DST SERB Accelerate Vigyan Scheme – ABHYAAS (Vritika), 2023.
- “Developing Policy Inputs for Faster Economic Recovery while Promoting Disaster Preparedness via Artificial Intelligence”, British Council Going Global Partnerships Exploratory Grants, 2021.
- “Causal Optimal Transport for Summarizing the Unpaired Videos”, DST SERB Start-up Research Grant, 2021.
- “Setting Computer Vision Lab”, Kerala State Planning Board, 2021.
- “Event related Modelling of COVID-19”, Google Cloud Platform Credits, 2020.
- “Road Accident Detection using Perceptual Attributes of Video”’, Hari-Om funded project, 2018-2019.
- Organizing Committee
- Area Chair, IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence (WCCI), June 2026.
- Area Co-Chair, International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN), July 2025.
- Area Co-Chair, IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing (ICASSP), April 2025.
- Tutorials Co-Chair, National Conference on Computer Vision, Pattern Recognition, Image Processing and Graphics (NCVPRIPG), July 2024.
- Conference Review
- International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Statistics (AISTATS) 2026.
- Annual Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) 2026.
- American Control Conference (ACC) 2023.
- IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC) 2023.
- IEEE Sensor Array and Multichannel Signal Processing Workshop (SAM) 2022.
- Journal Editor/Review
- Associate Editor of Sadhana Journal (May 2025-December 2027).
- Reviewer of IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, RAIRO – Operations Research, Signal, Image and Video Processing.
- Institution-Building
- Chief Hostel Warden, DUK, Oct 2025 – present.
- Chair, Women’s Cell Committee, DUK, 2022-2025.
- Member, IQAC & Committee for Accreditation, DUK, 2023-2025.
- Member, Anti Ragging Committee DUK, 2023-2025.
- Member, Board of Examinations DUK, 2023-present.
- Member, Convocation Committee DUK, 2023-2025.
- Chair, School of Computer Science and Engineering (SoCSE), 2023-2024.
- Chair, Centre for External Linkage & Collaborations. (DUK), 2021-2023.
- Member, Board of Studies, School of Computer Science and Engineering (SoCSE), 2021-present.
- Other
- Member, Pass Board, Saintgits College of Engineering, 2025-present
- Member, Board of Studies, Saintgits College of Engineering, 2024-present.
- Professional Membership
- Senior Member: IEEE
- Life-Member: ISTE
- Awards to Students
- Awards
- DAAD Post-Doc-Net AI Fellow for 2021-22.
- Finalist for Falling Wall Labs, Leuven Belgium 2019.
- Nominated for Ranjan Kumar Memorial Award 2018, IIT Kanpur.
- Best PhD Thesis Award at CICT 2018.
- Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Award 2018.
- PhD Scholarship, MHRD, Government of India, 2011
- M.Tech Scholarship, MHRD, Government of India, 2008.
- Best Student, St. Johns Senior Secondary School, Kota, Rajasthan, India 1996.
- Causal Inference and Explainable Models for Medical Imaging, Tutorial presented at Indian Conference on Computer Vision, Graphics and Image Processing (ICVGIP 2024), Bangalore, India, Dec 2024.
- Conditional Generative Models, Tutorial presented at National Conference on Computer Vision, Pattern Recognition, Image Processing, and Graphics (NCVPRIPG 2024), Kerala, India, Jul 2024.
- Video Summarization for Unpaired Videos, Tutorial presented at International Conference on Computer Analysis of Images and Patterns (CAIP 2021), Nicosia, Cyprus, Sep 2021.
- Design Solutions using Bayesian Optimization, Tutorial presented at The International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN 2021), Shenzhen, China, 23 Jul 2021.
- Bayesian Optimization, Tutorial presented at IEEE International Conference on Development and Learningand Epigenetics Robotics (ICDL 2020), Valparaíso, Chile, Oct 2020.
- Bayesian Optimization, Tutorial presented at International Conference on Computing and Network Communications(CoCoNet’19), Kerala, India, Dec 2019.
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