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Master of Arts (M.A.), Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (B.A. Hons.), University of Calcutta

Prof. (Dr.) Sharmili Mitra

Assistant Professor and Assistant Academic Dean of Examinations

Email sharmili.mitra@jgu.edu.in
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ORCID ID 0000-0001-8459-4667
Key Expertise Cognitive Psychology, Cognition and Emotion, Learning and Memory, Fear Conditioning, Fear Generalization, Fear Extinction, Interventions for reducing fear and anxiety, Memory Reconsolidation, Imagery Rescripting, Mental Imagery, Psychophysiological Measures, Anxiety Disorders, Emotional Memory Disorders, Addiction

Master of Arts (M.A.), Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (B.A. Hons.), University of Calcutta

Biography

Dr. Sharmili Mitra is currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the Jindal School of Psychology & Counselling, 91̀½»¨. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee in December 2024 and qualified for the UGC-NET Junior Research Fellowship in 2019.

Dr. Mitra’s doctoral research explored the effects of reinforcement rates and visual imagery-based interventions in modulating fear responses. Using a multi-method approach—including skin conductance responses, self-report, and behavioral measures—her work examined the cognitive and emotional mechanisms underlying fear learning. Her thesis specifically investigated the role of imagery rescripting and imaginal extinction in modulating fear generalization, extinction, and memory reconsolidation in humans.

Her broader research interests lie in cognitive psychology, learning and memory, emotion and cognition, and therapeutic interventions for anxiety and emotional memory disorders. She is particularly interested in fear conditioning and extinction, fear generalization, memory reconsolidation, mental imagery, psychophysiological methods, and the application of these constructs to the understanding and treatment of anxiety disorders and addiction.

Dr. Mitra has published in several reputed international peer-reviewed journals, including Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Scientific Reports, European Journal of Engineering Education, and Health & Social Care in the Community. She has presented her work at prestigious international and national conferences such as the Society for Neuroscience, the International Congress of Psychology, the National Academy of Psychology (NAOP), and the Annual Conference of Cognitive Science.

Her research has been recognized with multiple awards and grants, including the Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) from the Society for Neuroscience and the International Travel Support (ITS) Scheme from the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Government of India.

Dr. Mitra is deeply committed to fostering a rich academic environment through integrative teaching, interdisciplinary research, and meaningful collaborations.
 

  • Statistical Methods for Psychological Research I
  • International Travel Support (ITS) Scheme travel grant by the Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB) for presenting at the 33rd International Congress of Psychology 2024 at Prague, Czech Republic (2024).
  • Best Poster Award (3rd Position) at the Institute Research Day poster presentation at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (14th March, 2024).
  • Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) by the Society for Neuroscience, travel grant for presenting at the Neuroscience 2023 at Washington D.C (2023).
  • Junior Research Fellowship and eligibility for Assistant Professor in Psychology (99.86 percentile), conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA), University Grants Commission, Government of India (2019).
  • Surendranath Bhattacharjee Memorial Prize, Gokhale Memorial Girls’ College for securing first rank in Psychology, B.A./ B.Sc Part I Honors (2016).
  • Peer Reviewer: Elsevier, Journal of behavioral and cognitive therapy, 2025
  • Peer Reviewer: Taylor and Francis, Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 2025
  • Society for Neuroscience
  • Indian Academy of Neurosciences

Mitra, S., & Asthana, M. K. (2024). Investigating the effect of continuous and partial reinforcement in conceptual fear generalization. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 26305. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71575-0

Mitra, S., & Asthana, M. K. (2024). Attenuating Conditioned Fear using Imagery- Based Interventions: An Overview. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 105751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105751

Verma A, Mitra S, Khamaj A, Kant V, Asthana MK (2024). Preventing fear return in humans: Music-based intervention during reactivation-extinction paradigm. PLoS ONE 19(2): e0293880. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293880

Mitra, S., & Asthana, M.K. (2024). Imagery rescripting attenuates the return of generalized fear through spontaneous recovery, poster presentation at the Neuroscience 2024, annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience on 7th October, 2024 at Chicago, USA.

Mitra, S., & Asthana, M.K. (2024). Role of Imagery Rescripting and Imaginal Extinction in Fear Generalization and UCS Devaluation, oral presentation at the 33rd International Congress of Psychology (ICP) 2024, on 22nd July 2024 at Prague, Czech Republic. Funding source: International Travel Support (ITS) Scheme travel grant by the Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB)

Maji, S., Mitra, S., & Asthana, M. K. (2023). ‘Treading the no woman’s land’: the gender-STEM dynamics in higher education in premier institutions of India. European Journal of Engineering Education, 48(3), 422–447. https://doi.org/10.1080/03043797.2023.2168518

Mitra, S., & Asthana, M.K. (2023). Imagery Rescripting and Imaginal Extinction in Reducing Generalized Fear: A Comparison, poster presentation at the 10th Annual Conference of Cognitive Science, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur on 10th December, 2023.

Mitra, S., & Asthana, M.K. (2023). Continuous and partial reinforcement impact threat expectancies in conceptual fear generalization, poster presentation at the Neuroscience 2023, annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience on 11th November, 2023 at Washington DC, USA. Funding source: Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) by the Society for Neuroscience (2500 USD).

Mitra, S., & Asthana, M.K. (2023). Exploring the role of Imagery Rescripting and Imaginal Extinction in Reducing Generalized Threat Expectancies, poster presentation at the 41st Annual Meeting of the Indian Academy of Neurosciences and International Conference on Brain: Chemistry to Cognition, Jiwaji University, Gwalior.

Mitra, S., & Asthana, M.K. (2023). Investigating the Effect of Reinforcement Levels on Conceptual Fear Generalization, oral presentation at the 32nd National Academy of Psychology (NaOP) Annual Convention, Ahmedabad University.

Mitra, S., Singh, A., Rajendran Deepam, S., & Asthana, M. K. (2022). Information and communication technology adoption among the older people: A qualitative approach. Health & Social Care in the Community, 30(6). https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.14085

Sambath, R. D., Mitra, S., & Asthana, M. K. (2022). Efficacy of Sex Differences on the Perceptual Experience of Virtual Building Images. In D. Chakrabarti, S. Karmakar, & U. R. Salve (Eds.), Ergonomics for Design and Innovation (pp. 247–258). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94277-9_22

Mitra, S., & Asthana, M.K. (2022). Effect of Continuous and Partial Reinforcement in Conceptual Fear Generalization, poster presentation at the 9th Annual Conference of Cognitive Science, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

Mitra, S., & Asthana, M.K. (2022). Information and Communication Technology Acceptance and Digital Inclusion among Elderly Users, oral presentation at the 2nd Young Graduate Meet, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi.

Mitra, S., & Asthana, M.K. (2022). Understanding Information and Communication Technology Acceptance among Elderly Users, poster presentation at the 4th Summer School: Cultural Psychology as an Interdisciplinary Synthesis at the University of Luxembourg (APA Div. 52).

Mitra, S., & Asthana, M.K. (2022). Modulation of Imagery Rescripting and Extinction using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, No-data poster presentation at TEAP Conference 2022, Germany.

Mitra, S., & Asthana, M.K. (2021). Can Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Modulate Generalized Fear Memories, oral presentation at SYNAPSE Neuroscience Symposium 2021 by IISER Thiruvananthapuram IISER Tirupati.

Mitra, S., & Asthana, M.K. (2021). A Qualitative Approach to Examine Technology Acceptance and Ease of Use among Elderly, poster Presentation at Florida Psychological Association Conference- Diversity at Practice.

Mitra, S., & Asthana, M.K. (2021). Can Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Douse Fear Generalization?, oral presentation at Euregio Brain Networking Conference.

Email sharmili.mitra@jgu.edu.in
ORCID ID 0000-0001-8459-4667
Key Expertise Cognitive Psychology, Cognition and Emotion, Learning and Memory, Fear Conditioning, Fear Generalization, Fear Extinction, Interventions for reducing fear and anxiety, Memory Reconsolidation, Imagery Rescripting, Mental Imagery, Psychophysiological Measures, Anxiety Disorders, Emotional Memory Disorders, Addiction