Professional Experience:
Policy and program design professional with over five years of experience across national security, public health systems, and international development. My work has consistently focused on integrating research into program design, supporting implementation, and translating evidence into policy-relevant outputs across complex institutional environments.
At the National Investigation Agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, I worked on policy-oriented research related to terrorism, radicalisation, and emerging security risks. My role involved synthesising multi-source information into structured analytical outputs for senior leadership, contributing to policy inputs and inter-agency coordination. I also supported India’s engagement with international counter-terrorism frameworks such as the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, BIMSTEC, and the Global Counterterrorism Forum, strengthening alignment between research outputs and broader policy priorities.
In the public health sector, I have worked extensively on large-scale, multi-site programmes. At the Indian Council of Medical Research, I coordinated a national research programme across more than 30 sites, working closely with state health departments and institutional partners. I led qualitative components for tuberculosis research and an AI-enabled diagnostics pilot, ensuring alignment between study design, implementation, and reporting. This role required managing stakeholder coordination, overseeing field execution, and supporting monitoring and reporting processes.
At the Public Health Foundation of India, I contributed to a multi-phase national programme, leading qualitative research design and supporting the development of behaviour change and communication strategies based on empirical findings. I managed field implementation, stakeholder engagement, and dissemination activities, ensuring that research insights were integrated into program design and adaptation. My work also involved producing knowledge products, supporting publications, and contributing to grant proposals aligned with program objectives.
I have also supported development-focused initiatives through shorter assignments. At the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, I contributed to implementation of a donor-funded programme, developing policy and communication outputs and supporting stakeholder coordination. Earlier, at the Centre for Policy Research and the Observer Research Foundation, I worked on policy research, stakeholder engagement, and development of briefing materials for policymakers and international partners.
Across roles, I have developed strong capabilities in qualitative and mixed-methods research, program coordination, stakeholder engagement, and policy analysis. I am experienced in working with government institutions, research organisations, and international stakeholders, and in producing high-quality analytical outputs tailored to both technical and policy audiences. My work reflects a consistent focus on evidence-informed program development, effective implementation, and strengthening the link between research, policy, and practice.