Kumar Ravi Priya

Kumar Ravi Priya is a Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), where he has established himself as a leading researcher in culturally-grounded psychological approaches with special emphasis on disaster mental health contexts.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Psychology from University of Delhi (2007)
• M.A. in Psychology from University of Delhi (2001)
• B.A. (Hons.) in Psychology from University of Delhi (1999)

Professor Priya's research spans Disaster Mental Health, Health Psychology, Cultural Psychology, Alternative Paradigms of Psychology, and Research Methods. His scholarly work emphasizes qualitative approaches to understanding mental health phenomena within Indian sociocultural contexts, particularly focusing on trauma, healing processes, and resilience among vulnerable populations affected by disasters and conflicts. He has made significant contributions to developing culturally appropriate frameworks for psychological understanding and intervention in Indian settings.

His publications demonstrate a consistent trajectory from theoretical explorations of health psychology in India toward increasingly applied research on trauma responses and healing mechanisms in specific crisis situations, with particular attention to qualitative methodologies that capture nuanced human experiences.

His notable awards and recognitions include:

• The Class of 1970 Young Faculty Research Fellowship (2013-2016)
• Multiple invitations to international Capacity Building Workshops on Disaster Mental Health sponsored by The Chinese Academy of Sciences and the International Union of Psychological Sciences
• Letters of Commendation from the Director of IIT Kanpur for excellence in teaching PSY 454: Social Psychology
• Junior and Senior Research Fellowships from the University Grants Commission

Professor Priya has demonstrated strong commitment to both research and teaching, with particular recognition for his instruction in social psychology. His work has established important connections between IIT Kanpur and international organizations focused on disaster mental health research and intervention.