Kaustubh Dhondge, Ph.D.

Dr. Kaustubh Dhondge is the Associate Dean of Academics and an Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at the Indian Institute of Information Technology Surat (IIIT Surat) with a joint affiliation in the ECE department. He is responsible for strengthening the institute's academics, research ecosystem, external engagements, and strategic partnerships. He provides dedicated leadership and oversight in key areas to drive institutional growth and innovation. 

In his previous role, Dr. Dhondge served as the Founder of Glaukes Labs, a technology company based out of Portland, Oregon, that focused on crafting extraordinary digital experiences. With 25+ apps published, Glaukes Labs has been a market leader in the Android space and proudly served tens of thousands of users from 220+ countries across the globe.

His research interests, publications, and patents lie in the areas of mobile systems and applications which involve the Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Wearable Systems, Visible Light Communication, Authentication & Security for Smart Devices, Vehicular Communication with Smart Devices, and Positioning & Localization for Smart Devices. He's the sole author of two books titled "Lifecycle IoT Security for Engineers" and "Fundamentals of Passwordless Authentication".

Dr. Dhondge has served as a Researcher and Research & Development Intern at TCS Innovation Labs - Cincinnati under the guidance of Dr. Jeffrey Tew. Their research focused on improving the energy-efficiency of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). He received his Ph.D. in Telecommunications and Computer Networking and Computer Science from the University of Missouri - Kansas City, under the guidance of Dr. Baek-Young Choi. His doctoral dissertation proposed and developed diverse direct communication techniques for IoT applications.    

Fundamentals of Passwordless Authentication is a comprehensive resource on the latest advancements in passwordless authentication, providing readers with a detailed understanding of how this technology works, its advantages, and its potential to transform the way we secure our digital lives. In today's digital age, protecting online accounts has never been more critical.

It is now available for order. Please visit the publisher's website for more info: Artech House

Honored to have represented IIIT Surat as an Invited Speaker at The Economic Times Rajasthan Business Summit & Awards 2025 in Jaipur. I had the privilege of contributing to two insightful panel discussions:

• Skill Development & Employability: Industry–Academia Convergence

• Driving Trust and Transformation: Ensuring Academic Integrity in India’s AI-Powered Education Era

Invited to ISAP: Advancing IoT Security Through Innovation to join the panel discussion titled: “From Lab Bench to Field Gate: Translating IIoT Security Research into Scalable Solutions.” 

The session focused on bridging the gap between cutting-edge IIoT security research and its real-world deployment at scale, addressing key challenges such as resilience, interoperability, threat modeling, and secure-by-design architectures.

Invited as the Chief Guest and Award Presenter at EGN Education Leadership Summit and Awards, Surat. This invitation-only conference, organized by the Education Growth Network for senior policymakers, eminent educators, and other key stakeholders, aims to recognize the exceptional work that has redefined the teaching-learning process and prepared students for professional life.

This book offers a thorough introduction to the various security needs and considerations of an IoT product throughout its development and operational life. It is available at all major booksellers worldwide, including: 

Artech House (Publisher), Amazon, Powell's, and many more...

Find it online or in a library near you:

IEEE Xplore, WorldCat