Varun Kumar Singla

Research Interests

Structural Dynamics, Experimental Mechanics, Seismic Instrumentation and Calibration, Earthquake Source Modeling, Seismic Motion Simulation, Inverse Problems in Geophysics and Structural Dynamics

BioSketch

Educational Details

IIT Kanpur

2010

B. Tech., Civil Engineering

IIT Kanpur

2020

PhD, Civil Engineering

Professional Background

Research Scientist

18 Jan 2021 - 31 Jul 2021

University College Dublin

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

22 Apr 2020 - 31 Dec 2020

University College Dublin

Project Officer

12 Sep 2019 - 12 Mar 2020

IIT Madras

Research

Projects

TOPIC	START DATE	FIELD	DESCRIPTION	FINANCIAL OUTLAY	FUNDING AGENCY	OTHER OFFICERS
Ambient Vibration Measurement and ASD Reconstruction Study at the LIGO India Project Site	01 Apr 2026	Microseismic Measurements and Analysis	PI	Rs. 9.44 Lakh	TARANGAA Vibroacoustic Pvt. Ltd., IIT Madras, India	Co-PI: Dr. S. C. Gupta, IIT Roorkee
Measurement of Metro-Induced Noise and Vibrations based on Metro Speed and Track Conditions	06 Mar 2026	Vibration Measurement and Analysis	PI	Rs. 23.6 Lakh	DMRC Ltd., India	Co-PIs: Dr. Anil Kumar, IIT Roorkee; Dr. Yogendra Singh, IIT Roorkee; Dr. S. C. Gupta, IIT Roorkee
Effect of Torsional Ground Motion on Code Compliant Buildings in Seismic Risk Framework	17 Feb 2023	Earthquake Engineering	Co-PI	Rs. 21.4 Lakh	Science and Engineering Research Board, DST	PI: Dr. Saurabh Shiradhonkar, IIT Roorkee
Measurement of Rotational Seismic Ground Motion in Garhwal Himalayas	25 Oct 2023	Seismic Instrumentation and Analysis	PI	Rs. 279 Lakh	THDC India Limited	Co-PIs: Dr. S. C. Gupta, IIT Roorkee; Dr. M. L. Sharma, IIT Roorkee; Dr. Manish Shrikhande, IIT Roorkee
Measurement and Simulation of Seismic Rotational Ground Motions	11 May 2023	Rotational Seismology	PI	Rs. 20 Lakh	SRIC Development Fund, IIT Roorkee

Publications

An analytical model for subsurface ground motions due to kinematic shear dislocation sources in layered media

2026

J. Basu, B. S. Rashmi, STG Raghukanth and V. K. Singla | Elsevier

Journal: Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering Volumes: 208 ,

Reconnaissance report of the 21 July 2023 Jaipur earthquakes in Rajasthan, India

2024

B. K. Maheshwari, V. K. Singla and S. Das | Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences

Journal: Current Science Volumes: 126(5) ,

Seismic wave propagation through layered reduced micropolar medium

2021

A. C. Dhabu, V. K. Singla and STG Raghukanth | Wiley-Blackwell

Journal: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth Pages: e2020JB020931 , Volumes: 126(11) ,

An improved planar wavefront model to estimate rocking seismic motion spectra using translational spectra at a single station

2021

V. K. Singla and V. K. Gupta | Elsevier

Journal: Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering Pages: 106612 , Volumes: 144 ,

Physics-based planar wavefront model to estimate seismic rocking spectra using translational spectra

2019

V. K. Singla and V. K. Gupta | ASCE

Journal: Journal of Engineering Mechanics Pages: 4019016 , Volumes: 145(4) ,

Surface rotations due to kinematic shear dislocation point source in a multilayered elastic medium

2019

V. K. Singla and V. K. Gupta | Seismological Society of America

Journal: Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America Pages: 433-447 , Volumes: 109(1) ,

Planar seismic wavefront modeling for estimating rotational ground motions: case of 2D P-SV line source

2018

V. K. Singla and V. K. Gupta | ASCE

Journal: Journal of Engineering Mechanics Pages: 4018048 , Volumes: 144(7) ,

On planar seismic wavefront modeling for estimating rotational ground motions: case of 2-D SH line-source

2016

V. K. Singla and V. K. Gupta | Elsevier

Journal: Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering Pages: 62-77 , Volumes: 85 ,

Honors And Awards

Honors

IIT Kanpur

2020

Outstanding PhD Thesis Award

MemberShips

Indian Society of Earthquake Technology (ISET)

17 May 2022 - Present

Life Member

Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, United States Of America

13 Feb 2025 - Present

Affiliate Member

European Geosciences Union

01 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2022

Regular Member

American Geophysical Union

01 Nov 2022 - 31 Dec 2022

Regular Member

Teaching Engagements

Seismological Modeling and Simulation ( EQN-531 )

Autumn

Seismic Safety ( EQO-101 )

Spring

Solid Mechanics ( EQE-101 )

Spring

Introduction to Earthquake Engineering ( IEQ-301 )

Spring

Students

SuperVisions

Simulation of Rotational Strong Ground Motions

15 Jan 2025 - Present

Other Supervisors: , Scholar: Nitish Kumar

Structural Response to Torsional Ground Motion

30 Dec 2022 - Present

Other Supervisors: Prof. Saurabh Shiradhonkar, Scholar: Devendra Singh

Miscellaneous

Events

7th Meeting of IWGoRS, Poland

23 Jun 2025 - 27 Jun 2025

AGU Fall Meeting, United States Of America

12 Dec 2022 - 16 Dec 2022

EGU General Assembly 2022, Austria

23 May 2022 - 27 May 2022

Short-Term Programme on "Earthquake Risk Management", India

10 Oct 2022 - 14 Oct 2022

64th Irish Geological Research Meeting, Ireland

25 Feb 2021 - 26 Feb 2021

SSA 2015 Annual Meeting, United States Of America

21 Apr 2015 - 23 Apr 2015

26th General Assembly of IUGG, Czech Republic

22 Jun 2015 - 02 Jul 2015

Visits

Opole University, Poland

2025-06-23

Invited Speaker at 7th Meeting of International Working Group on Rotational Seismology

IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, India

2025-03-21

Keynote Speaker at Centenary National Seminar on Strong Motion Earthquake

IIT Patna, India

2025-02-08

Invited Speaker at 1st International Conference on Advances in Structural and Geotechnical Engineering (ASAGE’25)

NITTTR, Chandigarh, India

2025-04-21

Delivered expert lecture in STP on "Structural Safety Audit of Build Environment"

NIT Rourkela, India

2024-05-03

Delivered technical talk

Administrative Positions

Professor-in-Charge, Shake Table Facility

09 Jan 2024 - Present

Department of Earthquake Engineering, IIT Roorkee

Coordinator, Department Research Committee

16 Aug 2024 - Present

IIT Roorkee

Joint Organising Secretary, 18SEE

15 Jul 2025 - Present

IIT Roorkee, India

Co-Editor

04 May 2023 - Present

Indian Society of Earthquake Technology (ISET)

Convener, Department Faculty Search Committee

23 Jan 2023 - 31 Jan 2026

IIT Roorkee