Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

MIST Lab at the Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai (IIT Bhilai) is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience on our website. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and engage with our services. Please read this policy carefully.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect information about you in a variety of ways. The information we may collect on the site includes:

• Personal Information: Name, email address, phone number, and postal address when you voluntarily submit contact forms or inquiry requests
• Academic Information: Educational background, research interests, and institutional affiliation when you interact with our research content
• Usage Data: Information about how you access and use our website, including IP address, browser type, operating system, and pages visited
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: We may use cookies to improve your browsing experience (see Section 5 for more details)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect in the following ways:

• To respond to your inquiries and provide requested information about our research and lab
• To improve and optimize our website performance and user experience
• To send you research updates, news, and information relevant to your interests (if you have opted in)
• To analyze website usage and trends to better understand how visitors use our site
• To comply with legal obligations and regulations
• To facilitate collaborations and research partnerships
• To maintain the security and integrity of our website

4. Data Protection and Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include secure servers, encryption protocols, and access controls. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help us recognize you and remember your preferences. You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain website features.

6. Third-Party Links and Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites and services, including academic databases, research repositories, and social media platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information. This Privacy Policy applies only to information collected through our website.

7. Academic and Research Use

As a research institution, we may use aggregated, anonymized data from our website to conduct research on web usage patterns and user behavior. Such research is conducted in accordance with ethical guidelines and does not identify individual users.

8. User-Generated Content

If you submit comments, feedback, or other content to our website, you grant MIST Lab a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, and distribute such content. Your personal information associated with user-generated content will be treated in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

9. Children's Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete such information and terminate the child's account.

10. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. When information is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

11. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

• The right to access your personal information
• The right to correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• The right to request deletion of your personal information
• The right to opt-out of marketing communications
• The right to data portability
• The right to withdraw consent at any time

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in Section 12.

12. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your rights, or have concerns about our privacy practices, please contact:

MIST Lab
Room 412, ED1, IIT Bhilai
Kutelabhala
Durg - 491002, India
Email: subidh@iitbhilai.ac.in

13. International Data Transfers

Information collected on our website may be transferred to and stored in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may not have data protection laws equivalent to your home country. By using our website, you consent to such transfers.

14. Policy Changes

MIST Lab reserves the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Changes will be effective upon posting to the website. Your continued use of the website constitutes your acceptance of the modified policy. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

15. Compliance

This Privacy Policy is designed to comply with applicable data protection regulations, including but not limited to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other relevant privacy laws. MIST Lab is committed to protecting the privacy rights of all users.

16. Disclaimer

This Privacy Policy is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For specific legal questions regarding privacy and data protection, please consult with a qualified attorney.