YEREVAN, Armenia — The American University of Armenia (AUA) is pleased to announce that Dr. Sachin Kumar, associate professor in the Zaven P. and Sonia Akian College of Science and Engineering has been appointed associate and academic editor for two renowned, SCIE- and Scopus-indexed journals, IET Biometrics and IET Computers & Digital Techniques, as well as associate editor for Communication AI & Computing, a recently-launched Nature-branded journal.
Dr. Kumar shared his thoughts on his new editorial appointments and their significance for his research and the broader academic community.
What does this recognition mean to you personally and professionally?
This recognition is both humbling and motivating. Personally, it reflects the value of consistent effort and genuine curiosity in research. Professionally, it is an important milestone that acknowledges my contributions to the field and provides an opportunity to contribute to the peer-review process. Such editorial roles are selective and based on sustained research and academic engagement, which makes the appointment particularly meaningful. It also comes with a responsibility to maintain high academic standards and support the broader research community.
How were you selected for these editorial roles, and what aspects of your research background do you think contributed to these appointments?
I was invited by the publishers to apply for these roles based on my research background and academic contributions. My work in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), along with a consistent publication record and involvement in peer review, may have contributed to this opportunity. I also have some prior editorial experience, which likely helped demonstrate familiarity with the review process. While metrics such as my H-index (32 in Scopus and 42 in Google Scholar) reflect sustained research activity, I believe it is the overall engagement with the research community that played a role in these appointments.
What are the main research themes or innovations currently shaping the fields of AI, biometrics, and digital technologies?
Several research directions are currently shaping these fields. In AI, there is strong momentum around large language models, multimodal systems that combine text, images, and other data, and efforts to make models more interpretable and reliable. In biometrics, the focus is increasingly on improving robustness, security, and privacy, especially in real-world and unconstrained environments.
More broadly in digital technologies, there is growing emphasis on deploying AI in practical applications such as healthcare, security, and smart systems. At the same time, there is a continued focus on making these systems more efficient, trustworthy, and ethically aligned, which is becoming just as important as improving raw performance.
How do these appointments contribute to strengthening AUA’s international research profile?
These appointments help increase AUA’s visibility within the international research community. Being part of the editorial teams of established journals creates opportunities for broader academic engagement and collaboration. It also reflects the active research contributions of AUA faculty and their involvement in global scholarly activities. In a broader sense, such roles help position the University within ongoing international research conversations in areas like AI and digital technologies.
In what ways can AUA students and researchers benefit from having faculty members involved in leading international journals?
Students and researchers can benefit in several practical ways. Through courses, supervision, and research discussions, faculty can share insights into how research is evaluated, what reviewers typically look for, and how to structure and present work effectively. This helps students better understand the expectations of high-quality publications.
In addition, familiarity with the peer-review process allows faculty to guide students in avoiding common mistakes and improving clarity and rigor in their work. More broadly, this exposure helps build a stronger research culture, where students are encouraged to approach problems more critically and aim for meaningful, well-grounded contributions.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.