Rajendra M. Sonar

Faculty Profile

Rajendra M. Sonar

Professor of Information Systems/Technology

Landline: +91 22 25767741
Associate Faculty: C-MInDS
Professor-in-Charge: Optiver AI Innovation Lab
Co-founder: WKA Technologies Pvt Ltd, SINE, IIT Bombay
Rajendra M. Sonar

Research

Research Interests

Hybrid AI and Intelligent Systems (especially integrated architectures of neural networks, case-based reasoning, genetic algorithms and rule-based expert systems) and business applications of AI, Leveraging Classical AI using GenAI, N=1 analysis for hyper personalization, powering software frameworks, architectures and development using GenAI.

Architected and developed a all inclusive platform: to develop, configure and manage enterprise software solutions, apps and agentic AI (a kind of IDE) backed by LLMs and state of the art goal driven expert system engine supported by a 4GL.

Practice

Consulting Interests

Modelling and implementing business solutions using intelligent systems and GenAI (database modelling, knowledge modelling using rule-based expert systems, case-based reasoning, neural networks and genetic algorithms), Analytics using AI techniques and N=1 Analytics.

Pedagogy

Teaching & Training

Information Systems, Managing Digital Transformation, Intelligent Systems, Business Applications of AI, Leadership with AI

My AI Presentation Slides

A Comprehensive Intro to AI, Gen AI and Agentic AI (PDF)

Background

Education

  • Ph.D. Computer Science, Applied AI/ML, Hybrid Intelligent Systems, Dept of Computer Science, Pune University, India (2000)
  • M.C.S. (Master of Computer Science), Pune University (1992)
  • B.C.S. (Bachelor of Computer Science), Pune University (1989)

Executive Education

Continuing Education Programmes

CEP on CTO-Programme

Started from 21 Nov 2025 with Jaro Education. Duration 8 months (on campus immersion + online).

CEP on Leadership with AI

Started from Jan and May 2026 with Great Learning. Topics. Duration 4 months (online).

Career

Work Experience

Professor of Information Systems/Technology

Shailesh J Mehta School of Management, IIT Bombay — December 2018 onward

Associate Professor of Information Systems/Technology, SJMSOM, IIT Bombay

2008 – 2018

Co-Founder, iKen Solutions Pvt Ltd.

2005 – 2016

A SINE, IIT Bombay incubated company developing BI solutions for personalised experiences using hybrid AI. Note that I have exited completely from iKen Solutions (iKen Personics) in June 2016 with following IPRs (complete software platforms):

  • N=1 Customer Analytics Platform (related paper) is a state-of-the-art platform that provides real-time, contextual, operational and automated intelligence using a combination of hybrid AI (artificial intelligence) along with other filtering techniques to enable superior end user experience.
  • iKen Studio: an integrated hybrid AI platform developed over a decade back to IIT Bombay.

(Was on long leave for three years from Jan 2013 to Oct 2015 to iKen Solutions Pvt Ltd.)

iKen got numerous awards:

Assistant Professor of Information Systems/Technology, SJMSOM, IIT Bombay

2003 – 2008

Research Officer and Asst Professor in IT Area Group, National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM), Pune

1996 – 2003

Senior Technical Asst (Computer Programmer), Directorate of Water Mgt Research

1994 – 1996

(Now, Indian Institute of Water Management – Indian Council Of Agricultural Research)

Lecturer, Science Colleges affiliated to Pune University

1992 – 1994

Tools

Core Software Skills

ASP.NET, Oracle, MS-SQL, MySQL, C#, C/C++, Matlab, Python, Prolog, Visio, ChatGPT, Gemini, Open/Gemini AI APIs etc.