Faculty details

Prof.Rahul D R

Designation: Assistant Professor

Department: Humanities and Social Sciences

Email: rahuldr[at]iitism[dot]ac[dot]in

Contact Number:

Office Number: +91-326-223-5768

Personal Page: Click Here

About Me: Rahul D R is Assistant Professor of English in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology Dhanbad, specializing in Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition. He is an alumnus of the National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli and the English and Foreign Languages University Hyderabad.

Research Interest: Applied Linguistics; Second Language Acquisition; Reading; Vocabulary; Evidence Synthesis; Open Science in Applied Linguistics

Teaching

S. No Code Name Type Semester Level
1 NHSC503 Corpus Linguistics DC Monsoon PG
2 HSD563/NHSD507 Evidence Synthesis in Humanities and Social Sciences DE Winter/Monsoon PG
3 HSD560 Second Language Acquisition DE Winter/Monsoon PG
4 HSO515 Reading and Dyslexia OE Winter/Monsoon UG/PG
5 HSO401 Introduction to Language Sciences OE Winter/Monsoon UG
6 NHSI500 Research and Technical Communication Audit Monsoon PG
7 NHSA101 Communication Skills IC Winter/Monsoon UG
8 NHSA102 Communication Skills Lab IC Winter/Monsoon UG

 

 


 

Academics

  • PhD - National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India (Jun 2017 - Jul 2022)
  • PGDTE - The English and Foreign Languages University Hyderabad, India (2014 -2015)
  • MA - Pondicherry University (2012-2014)

 


 

Position

  • Assistant Professor - Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, India (Feb 2023 Onward)
  • Assistant Professor - Shiv Nadar University Chennai, India (Apr 2022 - Jan 2023)
  • Assistant Professor - Don Bosco College Yelagiri Hills, India (Jun 2015 - May 2017)

 


 

Awards and Honors

  • Merit Scholarship for securing the highest marks in the entrance exam and the successive semester exams during PGDTE at EFLU Hyderabad.

 


 

Publications

Books Published

1. Sriganesh, R., Rahul, D. R., & Ponniah, R. J. (2018). Genetics of Reading Ability and Its Role in Solving Reading Difficulties. In The Idea and Practice of Reading (pp.125-139). Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8572-7_8

 


 

List Of Research Publications (only in Peer-reviewed Journals)

18. Shahiwala, S., & Rahul, D. R. (2026). A Bayesian Meta-Analysis of Digital Game-Enhanced Vocabulary Learning. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 42(3), e70246. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcal.70246
17. Sreerekha, K. P., & Rahul, D. R. (2026). Task Complexity in Language Pedagogy: A Scientometric Review Protocol. Research Synthesis in Applied Linguistics. https://doi.org/10.1080/29984475.2026.2616685
16. Shahiwala, S., & Rahul, D. R. (2025). A qualitative analysis of gamers’ experiences with vocabulary acquisition: Insights from grounded theory. System, 135, 103864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2025.103864
15. Shahiwala, S., & Rahul, D. R. (2025). Protocol for Bayesian Meta-analysis on Digital Game-Enhanced Vocabulary Learning. Research Synthesis in Applied Linguistics, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/29984475.2025.2490568
14. Shahiwala, S., & Rahul, D. R. (2025). Digital Games for Language Learning: A Scoping Review. Research Synthesis in Applied Linguistics, 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1080/29984475.2025.2497862
13. S. Veerasingam et al., "EEG Based Deep Learning Model for Automated Classification of Frequent and Infrequent Readers," 2024 International Conference on Brain Computer Interface & Healthcare Technologies (iCon-BCIHT), Thiruvananthapuram, India, 2024, pp. 117-122, https://doi.org/10.1109/iCon-BCIHT63907.2024.10882440
12. Shahiwala, S., Rahul, D. R., & Baker, J. R. (2024). Incidental vocabulary learning: A scientometric review. Research Methods in Applied Linguistics, 3(3), 100160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmal.2024.100160
11. Al-Obaydi, L. H., Rahul, D.R., & Pikhart, M. (2023). The effect of online oral reading on reading comprehension, reading anxiety, and classroom anxiety among EFL learners. Education and Information Technologies. 26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-11950-y
10. Rahul, D. R., & Ponniah, R. J. (2023). Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition Through Listening. MEXTESOL Journal. 47(1). https://doi.org/10.61871/mj.v47n1-3
9. Rahul, D. R., & Ponniah, R. J. (2022) Incidental vocabulary acquisition of Indian ESL learners through reading. The Journal of Asia TEFL. 19(3), 1119 – 1126. http://dx.doi.org/10.18823/asiatefl.2022.19.3.27.1119
8. Ismail, S. M., Rahul, D. R., Patra, I. & Rezvani, E. (2022) Formative vs Summative Assessment: Impacts on Academic Motivation, Attitude toward Learning, Test Anxiety, and Self-regulation Skill. Language Testing in Asia. 12(1), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40468-022-00191-4
7. Rahul, D. R., & Ponniah, R. J. (2022). A systematic review of associations between genetic polymorphism and dyslexia in the Indian population. Journal of Biosciences, 47(3), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-022-00276-5
6.

Rahul, D. R., & Ponniah, R. J. (2021). Educational Insights into Dyslexia. Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, 13(4), 1 – 12. https://dx.doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v13n4.35

5. Rahul, D. R., & Ponniah, R. J. (2021) The modularity of dyslexia. Pediatrics and Neonatology, 62(3), 240-248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedneo.2021.03.001
4. Rahul, D. R., & Ponniah, R. J. (2020) Understanding the robustness of incidental vocabulary acquisition through reading: Qualitative insights from biolinguistics. Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, 12(5), rioc1s23n2. https://10.21659/rupkatha.v12n5.rioc1s23n2
3. Rahul, D. R., & Ponniah, R. J. (2019). Language impairment in primary progressive aphasia and other neurodegenerative diseases. Journal of Genetics, 98(4), 95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-019-1139-5
2. Rahul, D. R., & Ponniah, R.J. (2019). Decoding the biology of language and its implications in language acquisition. Journal of Biosciences, 44(1), 25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-018-9832-8
1. Rahul, D. R. (2015). A Critique on Dogme ELT. The Journal of English Language Teaching, 57(6), 29 – 33. https://journals.eltai.in/jelt/article/view/JELT570607

 

 


 

Projects & Activities

Sponsored Research Projects (External Funded)

  • FRS, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad - 9.90 Lakh

 


 

Membership of Scientific Societies

  • Member, IATEFL
  • Member, Asia TEFL

 


 

Other Academic and Administrative Activities

Administrative Activities/Responsibilities

  • Convener, Department Postgraduate Committee (DPGC), IIT (ISM) Dhanbad (Aug 2025 Onward)
  • Coordinator, MA Admissions - AY2026-27
  • FIC, Department Branding, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad (May 2025 Onward)
  • Member, DFSC, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad (Sept 2023 - Sept 2024)
  • Member, DAC, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad

 


Academic Activities

  • Thesis Examiner, EFLU Hyderabad
  • External Doctoral Committee Member of G. Deepika, VIT University Vellore
  • External Doctoral Committee Member of Ravi Varma, VIT University Vellore

 


Editorial/Reviewer Roles

  • Peer Reviewer, Studies in Second Language Acquisition
  • Peer Reviewer, Innovations in Language Learning and Teaching
  • Peer Reviewer, Journal of Psycholinguistic Research
  • Peer Reviewer, Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science
  • Peer Reviewer, Frontiers in Psychology
  • Peer Reviewer, Frontiers in Education
  • Peer Reviewer, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (NASB)
  • Peer Reviewer, Cogent Education
  • Peer Reviewer, Cogent Humanities

 


 

Guidance

  1. Sofiya Shahiwala (Ongoing)
  2. Kadambari P S (Ongoing)
  3. Abhinav Vinod (Ongoing)
  4. Marwa (Ongoing)