Pooja Sarin

Dr. Pooja Sarin is an Assistant Professor in Data Science at the School of Computer Science, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun. She holds a PhD in Information Systems and Analytics from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

Her research lies at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Computational Social Science, and Digital Behavioral Analytics, with a particular focus on understanding the “dark side” of digital platforms, including social media addiction, misinformation, and digital well-being. Her doctoral work involved large-scale analysis of social media interactions across India and the United States, and the development of novel behavioral frameworks for understanding user engagement and platform-driven reinforcement mechanisms.

She combines rigorous data-driven methods with theoretical grounding to contribute to both academic research and real-world digital policy discussions.

Assistant Professor (Data Science)
School of Computer Science, UPES, Dehradun
(Jan 2024 – Present) 

• Doctoral Researcher, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi 
• Research exposure in Computer Vision and AI applications in intelligent transportation systems 
• R&D experience at CSIR–Central Scientific Instruments Organisation involving applied data analytics and signal processing 

Initiated industry-academia collaboration with Siemens Energy in the energy analytics domain

Artificial Intelligence (including Generative AI) | Computational Social Science | Digital Behavior and Social Media Analytics | Dark Side of Digital Technologies | Digital Health and Well-being | Big Data Analytics | Platform Governance and Innovation | Sustainability Analytics | Blockchain and Emerging Technologies

Dr. Pooja Sarin adopts a research-driven and application-oriented teaching approach that emphasizes conceptual clarity, critical thinking, and real-world relevance. She integrates case-based learning, data-driven assignments, and interdisciplinary perspectives to bridge theory with practice. Her pedagogy focuses on equipping students with strong analytical capabilities, problem-solving skills, and ethical awareness in the design and deployment of AI and data-driven systems.

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 
• Big Data and Large-Scale Computing 
• Statistics and Data Analysis 
• Database Management Systems (DBMS) 
• Pattern Recognition and Anomaly Detection 
• Software Engineering and Project Management 
• Research Methodologies in Computer Science 
• Human-Computer Interaction

• Principal Investigator – Institutional Shodh Research Grant (Explainable AI applications) 
• Co-Principal Investigator – Industry-funded research project with Siemens Energy 
• UPES Faculty Travel Grant (International Conference Participation) 
• AIS Membership Scholarship (Association for Information Systems) 
• Institute Fellowship, IIT Delhi 
• GATE Scholarship (AICTE)

• Published in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences in the areas of AI, analytics, and digital systems 
• Active reviewer for leading journals including Decision Support Systems, Technological Forecasting & Social Change, and Technology in Society 
• Reviewer and contributor to major international conferences such as ICIS, ACM, and IEEE venues 
• Speaker and session chair at national and international academic forums 
• Engaged in interdisciplinary research on digital ecosystems, user behavior, and responsible AI 

pooja.sarin@ddn.upes.ac.in