I joined Aston Optometry School Life and Health Sciences in March 2019, having spent previous five years as a research and senior research fellow and associate lecturer at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. At UNSW, I worked as a translational research focused academic and lectured on ocular disease, primary care optometry and visual optics. Prior to that I had spent 3 years as a PhD candidate at the Brien Holden Vision Institute, Sydney.

Following graduation with Bachelor of Optometry, I joined L V Prasad Eye Institute, India for one-year clinical fellowship. Following this I worked as an optometry clinician and contact lens consultant at the L V Prasad Eye Institute, for two years. 

• Module leader – Human Biology and Pathology (OP1MBP); First-year undergraduate
• Supervisor – Elective Studies; Third-year undergraduate 
• Teaching faculty – Contact Lenses (OP2CL1) and Clinical practice 2(OP2CP2); Second-year undergraduate  
• Doctor of Optometry (DOptom) supervisor
• Master of Science in Optometry (MSc. Optometry) supervisor

• Contact lens and dry eye: Anterior ocular surface and tear film, tear lipid layer, effect of preservatives and surfactants on ocular comfort
• Contact lens-related adverse events: Particularly infiltrative events, development of novel antimicrobial agents, antimicrobial peptides, mechanism and activity of antimicrobial peptides, aetiology of development of keratitis

• Industry Research Funding (As CI US$ 62,000, University of NSW) 2019
• UNSW-India seed funding Grant (AU$ 10,000) University of NSW 2018
• Research Infrastructure Grant (as CI AU$ 40,372) University of NSW 2018
• Faculty Research Grant (AU$7,500), University of NSW 2017
• Research Infrastructure Grant (as AI AU$ 38,080) University of NSW 2017
• Early Career Research Grant (AU$ 15,000), Science faculty, University of NSW 2016
• Major Research Equipment and Infrastructure Grant (as CI AU$ 96,210), University of NSW 2015

Current PhD candidates: 

- Impact and association of tear pro-inflammatory biomarkers on the development of Dry Eye Disease - Primary Supervisor at the Aston University

- Efficacy of home-based and in-office treatment regime for dry eye disease - Primary Supervisor at the Aston University

Completed: 

- Safety and efficacy of antimicrobial contact lenses during extended wear - Co-Supervisor at the University of New South Wales, Australia

- Mechanism of action of surface-bound antimicrobial contact lenses - Co-Supervisor at the University of New South Wales, Australia

Available for supervision for suitable applicants:

Potential areas:

1. Patient compliance with dry eye treatment and management
2. Clinic-based assessment of tear electrolytes
3. Assessment of the ocular surface using an objective digital grading system
4. Development of novel antimicrobial contact lenses and antimicrobial therapy 

• March 2019 – current: Lecturer, Optometry School Life and Health Sciences, Aston University
• Jan 2019 – Senior Research Fellow, School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney
• 2014-2018 – Research Fellow and Associate Lecturer, School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney
• 2010 – 2014 – Casual Research Assistant, Brien Holden Vision Institute, Sydney
• 2008-2010 – Clinical optometrist and Contact Lens Consultant, L V Prasad Eye Institute 

• Fellow of Higher Education Academy UK (FHEA)
  
• Ezell Club, American Optometric Foundation (AOF)
• Fellow of American Academy of Optometry (FAAO)
• Fellow of British Contact Lens Association (FBCLA)
• Educator member of International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE)
• Member of Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)

• Bachelor of Optometry, West Bengal University of Technology, India, 2007
• One-year Clinical fellowship in Optometry, LV Prasad Eye Institute 2008
• Epidemiology and Statistics Course; Award: CR, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW, Australia 2011
• PhD in Optometry at Brien Holden Vision Institute, University of New South Wales, 2014

Tel: +44 (0) 121 204 4418

Email: d.dutta@aston.ac.uk

Room: VS131