People of ARPA

Board, Advisory, and Fellows

ARPA brings together experienced researchers, educators, and practitioners to translate science into practical public-purpose action.

Our Board

Board of Directors

ARPA is guided by experienced scholars, practitioners, and community leaders committed to evidence-based public purpose work.

Board Director

Board Leadership

Dr. Pardeep Singh

Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Studies, PGDAV College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India

We are committed to strengthening institutional governance, transparency, and accountability while advancing inclusive growth for underserved communities. Our approach focuses on building long-term self-reliance through capacity development, economic empowerment, and access to essential services. Through a structured and impact-driven framework, we aim to foster resilient communities and contribute to equitable social transformation.

Board Director

Professor A.S. Raghubanshi

Director, IESD, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India

Professor A.S. Raghubanshi is currently a professor and the founder Director of the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development at Banaras Hindu University, India. He leads a research team focusing on the ecological understanding and sustainable management of tropical ecosystems and urban environments. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India and the National Institute of Ecology, India, and was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Society for Environmental Sustainability, India. He has also received the Young Scientist Medal of the Indian National Science Academy and the Young Associateship Award of the Indian Academy of Sciences.

Board Director

Dr Udaya Bhan Singh

Consultant & Director, Noble Star Diagnostics & Interventional Center, Varanasi

Consultant and Director at Noble Star Diagnostics & Interventional Center, Varanasi, with clinical and imaging leadership experience across Charak CT-MRI (BHU Trauma Center) and Charak CT Scan, LTU SGPGI Lucknow. He serves as an Executive Council Member at KGMU Lucknow and is an active speaker at state, national, and international specialty conferences. His professional leadership roles include Organizing Secretary, UP State IRIA; Organizing Secretary, SER; Joint Secretary, UP State IRIA; Council Member, UP State IRIA; Treasurer, UP State SFM; and Organizing Co-Secretary, SER 2025. He has contributed 42 national papers and 17 international papers.

Board Director

Smt. Manju Singh

Board Director

A community leader and advocate for marginalized communities, Smt. Manju Singh brings ground-level insight and deep commitment to ARPA's education and social well-being programs.

Board Members

Section 8

Non-Profit

Focus Areas

Strategic Advisors

Advisory Board

Global and interdisciplinary experts who strengthen ARPA's strategy, quality, and long-term institutional direction.

Advisory Board

Dr. Alexander Sorokin

Dean, HSE Campus in St. Petersburg and Saint Petersburg School of Social Sciences, HSE University

Dr. Alexander Sorokin is the Dean of the HSE Campus in St. Petersburg and the Saint Petersburg School of Social Sciences at HSE University. He is also a Professor in the Department of Public Administration and a Member of the HSE Academic Council. Since joining HSE University in 2023, he has been engaged in academic leadership, teaching, and research. He holds a Candidate of Sciences degree (PhD-equivalent) from Tomsk State University and a Master's degree from National Research Tomsk State University, and was awarded the title of Associate Professor in 2021. His academic work focuses on public administration and governance.

Advisory Board

Prof. Dr. Andre C. S. Batalhao

Professor, Minas Gerais State University (UEMG), Brazil

Prof. Dr. Andre C. S. Batalhao is a Professor at Minas Gerais State University and serves as a Visiting Professor and research supervisor across institutions in Brazil, including the Federal University of Goias and Sao Paulo State University. His international academic trajectory includes appointments at University College London and HSE University, with postdoctoral research in environmental engineering, business administration, environmental sciences, and clinical medicine focused on health management and planning. He holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences from the Federal University of Goias under a cotutelle with NOVA University Lisbon. His interdisciplinary work spans sustainability assessment, ESG governance, composite indicators, sustainable management, and health services planning. He has served as an external consultant to the European Environment Agency and contributes to EURODOC working groups on equitable opportunities, sustainable research culture, mental health, academic integrity, and artificial intelligence.

Advisory Board

Prof. Dr. João Paulo Bassin

Associate Professor, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Prof. Dr. João Paulo Bassin is an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, working in the field of environmental technologies, with emphasis on the treatment and valorization of wastewater and solid waste. His research focuses on the development and optimization of processes aiming to improve efficiency, ensure environmental compliance, and support the sustainable management of water resources. In addition, he serves as a consultant for industry and research institutions, contributing his expertise to projects related to environmental management, water and waste treatment technologies, and the development of innovative processes.

Advisory Board

Dr. Daniel Balsalobre-Lorente

Full Professor (Tenure), Department of Applied Economics I, University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Spain

Dr. Daniel Balsalobre-Lorente is a PhD in Economics and Full Professor (Tenure) at the University of Castilla-La Mancha, where he also directs the GVIES research group. His expertise spans public finance, energy economics, economic growth and environment, tourism, innovation, and globalization. He has published over 100 studies in leading international journals and book chapters, with around 23,000 Google Scholar citations and an h-index of 75. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Evaluation Review (SAGE) and Associate Editor for Heliyon and Environment, Development and Sustainability, and has reviewed more than 800 papers for highly ranked journals. He has been recognized among the top 2% researchers globally by Stanford University (2022-2024), included in Clarivate Highly Cited Authors (2022 and 2023), and awarded as a regional best researcher in social sciences in Castilla-La Mancha. He also maintains affiliations with multiple international institutions in Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, and Spain.

Advisory Board

Aleksei Sorbale

Researcher, HSE University (St. Petersburg School of Social Sciences)

Aleksei Sorbale is a researcher affiliated with HSE University (St. Petersburg School of Social Sciences), specializing in environmental regulation and sustainable development. His academic work focuses on the political economy of environmental governance, with particular attention to how regulatory frameworks are implemented at the subnational level and how different actors (regional authorities, business, and civil society) interact in shaping sustainability policies. Aleksei is the author of a number of academic publications in the fields of comparative politics, environmental governance, and European studies. His broader publication record includes studies on multilevel governance, state capacity, and policy compliance. In 2024, Aleksei participated in two joint field expeditions organized by HSE University (St. Petersburg) and University of Delhi (PGDAV College) to the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. The expeditions focused on collecting qualitative field data, including interviews with local communities, in order to assess attitudes toward climate change and public policy responses at local, regional, and federal levels in the Indian Himalayas. He is currently the project lead on behalf of HSE University for the international research project "Regional and Inter-regional associations in Norm-building and Norm-Control in the Area of Environmental regulation in Russia and India", implemented jointly with UPES (Dehradun, India). The project is supported for the period 2025–2027 and aims to advance comparative insights into institutional mechanisms of environmental regulation. In April 2026, Aleksei co-organized the international summer school "Climate Change and Policy Responses in Russia and India" for students of HSE University and UPES, fostering academic exchange and interdisciplinary dialogue on climate policy.

Advisory Board

Dr. Anwesha Borthakur

Research Scientist, Technical University of Munich, Germany

Dr. Anwesha Borthakur works on interdisciplinary research spanning climate change in the Indian Himalayas and electronic and textile waste governance in India, South Africa, and the European Union. She is a Research Scientist at the Technical University of Munich and recipient of the Humboldt Fellowship and the Marie Sklodowska Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship. She completed her PhD in Science Policy from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and was a visiting researcher at the University of Bradford, UK. Her current work focuses on lived climate experiences of the Gaddi community in the Western Himalayas, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.

Advisory Board

Dr. Nabajyoti Deka

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi, India

Dr. Nabajyoti Deka is an applied economist working at the intersection of agri-food systems, society, and climate change. He is currently an Assistant Professor at FMS, University of Delhi, where he teaches Sustainability and Strategy. A B.Tech graduate from VNIT Nagpur, he completed his Master's at the University of Hyderabad and his Doctorate at IIT Kharagpur. He brings strong interdisciplinary and field-based research experience focused on addressing complex economic, social, and environmental challenges.

Advisory Board

Shubhram Goswami

Development Professional, Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods

Shubhram Goswami is a development professional with over 12 years of experience in sustainable agriculture, rural livelihoods, value chains, and natural resource management. He is currently associated with the Food and Agriculture Organization under the GEF-funded Green-Ag Project, supporting landscape-level planning and implementation in Mizoram and Madhya Pradesh. His work emphasizes green value chains, sustainable land and forest management, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. He has previously worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers and FDRVC, and on World Bank-supported projects including APART and NERLP. He also brings grassroots experience working with institutions of the poor under the NRLM program in Bihar and West Bengal.

Advisory Board

Dr. Kshitij Kumar Singh

Associate Professor, Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi

Dr. Kshitij Kumar Singh is an Associate Professor at Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. He earned his LL.M. and PhD degrees from Banaras Hindu University and received Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Asia-Pacific 2010. He is Research Affiliate to Inter-CeBIL Programme at University of Copenhagen, Denmark and a collaborator to Genetic Discrimination Observatory (GDO), Centre of Genetics and Policy, McGill University, Canada. His primary area of interest is IP law and biotechnology law, particularly ethical, legal and policy issues relating to biomedical technology, sustainable innovation, AMR and precision medicine. He published extensively with esteemed publishers including Oxford, Edward Elgar, Cambridge, Elsevier and Springer Nature on patenting of agricultural biotechnology and biomedical technology in the light of open and collaborative approaches. He emphasizes a pragmatic approach to law that addresses the concerns of various stakeholders in the biotechnology domain through inclusion and participation. His current interest is “equity and diversity in science” (research pertaining to human genetics and genomics).

Advisory Board

Dr. Pradeep Kumar

Associate professor in department of chemical engineering IIT BHU Varanasi

Associate Professor in the Dept of Chemical Engineering and Technology, IIT (BHU) Varanasi. Dr. Kumar has earned his Ph.D. (2007) and M.Tech. (2002) from IIT Roorkee, and his B.Tech. (1993) from Amravati University. He also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Universiti Sains Malaysia (2009–2010). His research areas include industrial pollution abatement, catalytic thermal treatment, coagulation-flocculation, adsorption, bioremediation, pyrolysis, and solid waste management. He has authored around 70 international journal publications, contributed to conferences and poster presentations, and written 13 book chapters. He also holds one patent and has been involved in several research and consultancy projects.

Advisory Board

Dr. Richa Agarwal Malik

Leading Researcher in Environmental Biotechnology and Climate Change Studies

An accomplished academician, researcher, and environmental advocate, currently serving as Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at PGDAV College, University of Delhi. With a robust educational background including a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from ICGEB-JNU, an M.Sc. from AIIMS Delhi, a B.Sc. in Microbiology from the University of Delhi, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Environment and Sustainable Development from IGNOU, she brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to her work. Over the past decade, her research has evolved from molecular biotechnology and disease biology to addressing pressing environmental challenges. She has contributed significantly to international journals with publications ranging from microbial engineering for wastewater treatment to immunological pathways in tuberculosis and genetic diversity in Plasmodium vivax. Dr. Richa’s areas of expertise include microbial technologies, waste management, climate change studies, biodiversity conservation, environmental biotechnology, genetic engineering, institutional environmental audit, and environmental education and outreach. Her research primarily focuses on developing sustainable waste management strategies, understanding the impacts of climate change on traditional knowledge systems in the Indian Himalayan Region, and promoting ecosystem restoration. Recognized for her academic merit, Dr. Malik’s work exemplifies a balanced approach to academia, policy relevance, and grassroots environmental action. Her multifaceted contributions position her as a key figure in India’s efforts toward climate resilience, particularly in ecologically sensitive and culturally rich mountain regions.

Advisory Board

Dr. Sonam Wangmo

Assistant Professor and Environmental Research Scholar with Expertise in Climate Change and Biodiversity

Assistant Professor of Environmental Sciences at Eliezer Joldan Memorial College, University of Ladakh. She holds a Master’s degree, M.Phil., and Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. With over a decade of combined teaching and research experience, she has contributed extensively to the field through numerous research papers, book chapters, and articles on diverse environmental issues. Dr. Wangmo has presented her work at several national and international conferences and seminars. She has also organized an international conference on climate change in 2023 at the University of Ladakh, as well as a national seminar on biodiversity and conservation. Her teaching experience spans seven years, during which she has taught undergraduate and postgraduate students, and she is currently supervising two research scholars.

Advisory Board

Dr Bhupinder Singh

Principal Scientist, Plant Physiology, ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute

Principal Scientist at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. He joined the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) as a Scientist (Plant Physiology) in 1991 and was posted at the Nuclear Research Laboratory, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi in 1992. Dr Singh has more than 30 years of research and teaching experience and has focused his research pursuits in the key areas of plant mineral nutrition, pollutant management, waste to wealth, and radioecology. His scientific interests have helped in gaining insight into the role of phytosiderophore biosynthesis in improving Fe-Zn efficiency under limited nutrient availability and in phytoremediation of heavy metals. His other research interests include studies on gaseous and particulate matter pollution response of crops, utilization of SOx and NOX as sources of mineral N and S for plants, and management of industrial waste. Dr. Singh has more than 100 research publications in reputed international and national journals. He has guided more than 17 PhD and MSc students and has several awards and recognitions to his credit, such as the ICAR-Lal Bahadur Shastri Young Scientist Award, DST BOYSCAST fellowship, INSA-DAAD International Scientific Exchange Fellowship, RD Asana gold medal, and R.H. Dastur (AAAS) award. His research pursuits have been supported by several funding agencies, such as DST, ICAR, BARC, Tata Steel Ltd, Ministry of Steel, DBT, etc. Dr. Bhupinder is also a fellow of the Indian Society for Plant Physiology (ISPP) and was its elected Vice President for the years 2014-2015. He was a member of the Scientific panel on biological hazard (2009-2015), Member, Scientific panel on the genetically modified organisms and foods (2015-2018), and Member of both Panels at FSSAI, Govt. of India (2019-2022).

Advisory Board

Dr. Akash Malik

Gates Foundation | Public Health Systems Expert

Medical doctor and public health professional currently serving as Senior Programme Officer, Global Development, at the Gates Foundation. He is the focal point for the Foundation’s health systems strengthening technical assistance in Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand, with a focus on government-led reforms, institutional capacity, and improved service delivery at scale. He leads and supports key workstreams on public health systems strengthening, including supply chain strengthening, digital health, human resources for health, facility readiness, governance reforms, and institutional strengthening. In Bihar, his work has contributed to strengthening state platforms and enabling more reliable delivery of maternal, newborn, child health, and broader public health services. Dr. Malik has been closely involved in the introduction and scale-up of innovative health solutions and products, including Ferric Carboxymaltose for anaemia management, Rotavirus Vaccine, and digital public health platforms such as CoWIN and U-WIN. His work spans the full pathway from identifying system gaps and supporting product adaptation to enabling government adoption, implementation planning, and scale-up through public systems. He also has a special interest in randomized controlled trials and implementation research. He conducted a randomized controlled trial on zinc and its effect on diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections and is currently advising on an RCT examining the neonatal dose of Rotavirus Vaccine. He is actively working with digital health and AI teams to explore and test relevant AI use cases for health service delivery, particularly in maternal and newborn health. His academic and professional interests span public health, health systems, pediatrics, digital health, supply chains, clinical trials, and implementation at scale.

Advisory Board Member

Dr. Juhi Gupta

Assistant Professor at Amity University in Noida

Brings a wealth of knowledge to the academic world. She holds a Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi and specializes in Environmental Microbiology, Nanotechnology, Ecosystem sustainability & resource management. Her skill set also includes advanced techniques like Climate change monitoring and next-generation sequencing. Dr. Gupta's academic achievements are numerous and distinguished, highlighted by her receipt of the J. William Fulbright Research Scholarship in the USA and the Swachh Sarthi Fellowship from the Government of India. Her exemplary performance in India's National Eligibility Test (NET) and the Doctoral Research Scholarship awarded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), India, are testaments to her scholarly prowess. Additionally, she actively contributes to the scientific community by reviewing for various prominent Elsevier Publications journals. Dr. Gupta's deep commitment and vast expertise in environmental sciences distinguish her as a prominent figure in her field.

Advisory Board

Professor Mika Sillanpää

Environmental Engineering Scholar Specializing in Water Treatment and Resource Recovery

Leading environmental engineering scholar with 30+ years of experience, 1,400+ peer-reviewed publications, 105,000+ citations, and an h-index of 147. His research targets practical, low-cost solutions to global water and environmental problems, spanning chemical water treatment, adsorption, photocatalysis, electrochemical processes, advanced oxidation, membrane bioprocesses, environmental monitoring, sensor development, chromatography, and real-time analysis. He has collaborated with 200+ research partners across six continents, published in top journals including Chemical Society Reviews, Advanced Materials, Environmental Science & Technology, Water Research, Applied Catalysis B, and Chemical Engineering Journal, and held senior editorial roles such as Editor of Inorganic Chemistry Letters and Field Chief Editor of Frontiers in Environmental Chemistry. His recent work focuses on resource recovery from waste streams, with multiple papers recognized among the most cited and hottest in environmental science and chemical engineering

Advisory Board

Dr Ajay Kumar

Associate Professor, Department of Botany, University of Delhi

After earning his master’s degree in Botany from the University of Jammu, Dr Ajay Kumar joined JNU’s School of Life Sciences for a PhD program with Prof. Nirala Ramachiary. He is currently serving as an Associate Professor in the Department of Botany at the University of Delhi. Prior to this, he served as an Assistant Professor at the Central University of Kerala’s Department of Plant Science for nearly a decade. With over 10 years of research and teaching experience, Dr Kumar brings with him expertise in field and experimental research spanning diverse areas of ecology, ethnobotany, biology of mangroves, and sustainable food systems. He has vast experience of field work in the Western Himalayas and the Western Ghats. He is a published author with over 50 publications in the top-tier journals. He has also edited 4 books with a reputed publisher, Springer Nature. Dr Kumar has also served as a mentor and guide to more than 40 PG and 3 PhD students. Many of his students have performed exceptionally in competitive exams and the research field. He has vast administrative and managerial experience and, in the past, served as a member of the Academic Council and Court of the Central University of Kerala. His expertise and advise to the APRA Opportunity Foundation is very timely.

Advisory Board

Dr. Prateek Srivastava

Senior Manager, Nature-based Solutions Operations | Forestry & Natural Resource Management Specialist

Dr. Prateek Srivastava is a forestry and natural resource management professional with 10+ years of experience across Asia and Africa. He holds a Ph.D. in Forestry from FRI Dehradun and specializes in Nature-based Solutions, carbon projects, REDD+, forest management, watershed ecosystems, and sustainability standards. His work spans project design, field operations, carbon standard alignment, investor and partner coordination, forest concession management, traceability systems, and applied research on forest–water dynamics. He has also authored multiple publications, including a SpringerNature book on Nature-based Solutions and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Advisory Board

Dr. Yulia Milshina

Deputy Director of the Foresight Centre and Senior Researcher at ISSEK, HSE University, Moscow.

Deputy Director of the Foresight Centre and Senior Researcher at the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK), HSE University, Moscow. She holds a PhD in Economics from Lomonosov Moscow State University and leads HSE's global trends monitoring initiative. With 20+ publications in Elsevier, Springer, and CRC Press, her research focuses on foresight methodologies, strategic planning, megatrend analysis, and decision-making under deep uncertainty. Her work bridges academic rigor and real-world policy, supporting evidence-based decision-making for governments and industry.

Research Community

Visiting Fellows

Scholars and practitioners contributing domain expertise, collaborative research, and implementation insight across ARPA priorities.

Visiting Fellow

Dr. Abhijit Sarkar

Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, University of Gour Banga, West Bengal, India

Dr. Abhijit Sarkar is an accomplished botanist and environmental scientist with a PhD in Botany from Banaras Hindu University. His research centers on plant responses to air pollution, particulate matter deposition, and climate change impacts, with emphasis on physiological and anatomical adaptations under abiotic stress. He has contributed to interdisciplinary projects on environmental pollution monitoring and bioindicators, and has published on particulate matter interactions with plant surfaces, biochar applications in soil remediation, and urban air quality mitigation. His work integrates statistical modeling and machine learning for environmental risk assessment. He also develops postgraduate curricula on plant anatomy, phytoremediation, and climate resilience, and mentors students in proposals, data analysis, and scientific communication.

Visiting Fellow

Dr. Sughosh Madhav

Senior Project Scientist, Sri Aurobindo College, University of Delhi

Dr. Sughosh Madhav is an environmental scientist with over a decade of research experience in hydrogeochemistry, water quality, sustainable remediation, and climate change. He earned his PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University and held the Dr. D.S. Kothari Postdoctoral Fellowship at Jamia Millia Islamia. He has authored and edited more than 20 books with major publishers including Elsevier and Springer, and his work is widely cited. His research focuses on pollution assessment, remediation technologies, and sustainable resource management, and he actively contributes to science communication and peer review.

Visiting Fellow

Dr. Gurudatta Singh

Research Associate, National Institute of Technology Delhi

Dr. Gurudatta Singh is an environmental studies researcher specializing in water and wastewater treatment, with a strong focus on emerging contaminants in the River Ganga and remediation through constructed wetlands. He holds a PhD from Banaras Hindu University and works across bioremediation, phytoremediation, and advanced analytical methods. With over 50 publications and multiple national and international awards, his work is dedicated to practical and sustainable solutions for water quality management and environmental protection.

Visiting Fellow

Dr. Vijay Kumar

Environmental Scientist and Nanotechnology Researcher (Green Chemistry)

Dr. Vijay Kumar is an environmental scientist and nanotechnology researcher focused on green chemistry and sustainable environmental solutions. He earned his PhD from IIT (BHU) on green synthesis of nanoparticles and their environmental and biological applications. A former Assistant Professor at the University of Delhi and Rama University, he has built a substantial research profile with extensive citations, edited books, and a patent in green nanotechnology. His interests include environmental chemistry, nanomaterials, heavy metal pollution, and climate change, and he contributes actively to conference organization, academic leadership, and journal review.

Visiting Fellow

Dr. Preetismita Borah

Senior Technical Officer, CSIR-CSIO, Chandigarh & Assistant Professor, AcSIR, New Delhi

Presently works as a senior technical officer in the CSIR-CSIO, Chandigarh, and as an Assistant Professor in AcSIR, New Delhi. Dr. Borah received her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (Honors) in 2007 at J. B. College, Assam, India, and Master of Science in Chemistry (Organic Chemistry) in 2010 from Dibrugarh University, India. She did her Ph.D. in the field of Organic Chemistry from Gauhati University, Guwahati, India, in 2016. Her current research focuses on synthetic method development and developing user-friendly materials, techniques for water quality monitoring, and method development by using chromatographic techniques. She joined CSIR in 2011 and has 15 years of research experience. Her investigations are published worldwide in highly reputed international journals. She has published more than 40 international publications, 1 patent, 20 book chapters, 19 conference papers, and 4 books. She is a recipient of many awards, like SERB-SIRE Fellowship Award (2023), Senior Scientist Award, Dr. J. M Dasgupta Young Scientist Award.

Visiting Fellow

Dr. Rishikesh Singh

Assistant Professor of Environmental Sciences, Amity University Punjab

Dr. Rishikesh Singh is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Sciences at Amity University Punjab, with a Ph.D. from Banaras Hindu University and UGC-NET (JRF) qualification. His research focuses on plant ecology, land-use change, sustainable agronomic practices, biochar applications, and soil carbon dynamics in the context of climate change. He has authored over 90 publications, including research articles, books, and book chapters, and serves as an editorial board member and reviewer for several reputed international journals. A recipient of the Young Scientist Award (NESA, 2022) and a Fellow of the International Society for Tropical Ecology, Dr. Singh is actively engaged in advancing sustainable environmental research and academic excellence.

Visiting Fellow

Dr Suruchi Singh

Biodiversity Expert, Japan International Cooperation Agency-funded project in Sikkim

Dr Suruchi Singh is an experienced botanist cum environmental scientist with a PhD and a Post-doctoral from Banaras Hindu University. She is presently working as a Biodiversity Expert in a Japan International Cooperation Agency-funded project in Sikkim. She has also contributed to the preparation of the World Bank-funded Environment and Social Management Framework for Himachal Pradesh. She drafted India’s first Bioengineering Solutions Manual on slope stabilisation for Himachal Pradesh. She was engaged in preparing the Environmental and Social Management Plans for the Water Treatment Plant (BOT) funded by the World Bank, "Ludhiana Bulk Water Supply Project" on the Sutlej River. She has also worked to enhance the plant's performance under various abiotic stresses using soil nutrient management and stress-exclusion strategies and has identified the best agronomic practices for minimum greenhouse gas emissions and yield under varying salinity levels.

Visiting Fellow

Dr. Ankita Ojha

Senior Assistant Professor, MBRRPS College, VKSU, Arrah

Dr. Ankita Ojha is an environmental researcher and academic with expertise in water treatment, environmental sustainability, and community-based interventions. She earned her Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi and is currently a Senior Assistant Professor at MBRRPS College, VKSU, Arrah. Her research focuses on sustainable water management and treatment technologies, with published work in the field. She actively integrates research with practice through her role as an NSS Program Officer, leading initiatives such as Namami Gange programs, cleanliness drives, and youth-focused health and hygiene awareness campaigns.

Visiting Fellow

Dr. Rahul Bhadouria

Assistant Professor and Teacher-in-Charge, Department of Environmental Studies, Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, University of Delhi

Dr. Rahul Bhadouria is an Assistant Professor and Teacher-in-Charge at the Department of Environmental Studies, Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Banaras Hindu University and has significant academic and research experience, including postdoctoral work at the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. His expertise spans environmental science, forestry, and climate change, with a strong publication record of over 30 research papers, numerous book chapters, and edited books with leading international publishers. His research interests focus on ecosystem processes, sustainable development, and environmental sustainability.

Visiting Fellow

Dr. Monika Yadav

Assistant Professor, Rama University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh

Dr. Monika Yadav is working as Assistant Professor in Rama University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh with a focused academic, research as well as administrative work profile. She has guided 2 Ph.D. students in biofertlizer and water quality assessment. Along with Environmental studies in academics she also manages the Examination cell as Assistant Center Superintendent for smooth conduction of University Examination. She holds a Ph.D. degree from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and M.Sc. from Banaras Hindu University. Her research domain is focused on adsorbent synthesis (Bioadsorbent, Hydrogel and Nanoadsorbent), characterization, organic/inorganic pollutants removal and instrumentation analysis. With more than 30 publications of research papers, reviews and book chapters with reputed publications such as ELSEVIER, SPRINGER, ACS, RSC, CABI, WILLEY etc. she has focused her work in environmental remediation and sustainable approaches.

Visiting Fellow

Dr. Harshit Pant

Forest Biodiversity & Climate Change Expert | Sustainable Forest Management Specialist | Indian Himalayan Ecology Researcher

Seasoned forest biodiversity and climate change expert with over 15 years of experience, specializes in sustainable forest management, biodiversity and ecosystem function, and ecosystem service evaluation, particularly within the Indian Himalayan context. Her work integrates rigorous ecological research with community-based natural resource governance, emphasizing participatory approaches and the socio-economic application of rural technologies. Dr. Pant has led six nationally and state-funded research projects and contributed extensively to the field through 20 peer-reviewed publications, 5 books, and numerous technical manuals and popular articles. She brings a strong track record of interdisciplinary collaboration, grounded fieldwork, and science-based communication tailored to both academic and non-technical audiences. With 20 research papers (totaling an impact factor of 31.62), five books, fourteen book chapters, eight technical manuals, and seventeen popular articles, Dr. Pant integrates multi-dimensional research on forest ecology, climate change, and natural resource management. She excels in collaborative and multi-disciplinary teams and is adept at communicating complex environmental issues to both scientific and laymen audiences. Dr. Pant’s research career is dedicated to advancing ecological science and fostering sustainable development in the Indian Himalayan Region. She has contributed foundational studies on forest biomass, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem dynamics, providing critical data that supports climate change mitigation policies and enhances scientific understanding of mountain ecology. Her work is documented through numerous peer-reviewed publications and technical resources. Beyond academia, Dr. Pant focuses on translating research into societal benefits by developing and promoting low-cost, eco-friendly rural technologies. Initiatives like pine needle bio-briquette production address dual challenges of forest fire risk and renewable energy access, while creating livelihood opportunities for local communities. By integrating participatory approaches, interdisciplinary collaboration, and science-based decision-making, Dr. Harshit Pant strives to build ecological resilience and support socio-economic well-being across the Himalayas. Her efforts aim to bridge the gap between rigorous environmental science and inclusive, actionable solutions for sustainable mountain development

Visiting Fellow

Dr. Monika

Environmental Scientist | Contaminant Transport, Phytoremediation & Water–Soil Systems

An environmental researcher whose work focuses on sustainable remediation, water and soil quality assessment, contaminant fate and transport, adsorption-based treatment systems, and phytoremediation. She is currently an Institute Postdoctoral Researcher at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. She earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Banaras Hindu University, where her research addressed the influence of irrigation water quality on soil health, plant response, and agricultural sustainability. Her research interests further encompass environmental monitoring, pollutant risk assessment, remediation strategies, and wastewater reuse.

Visiting Fellow

Dr. Sarvpriya Raj

Sustainable Energy Researcher | Solar Adoption & Governance (India)

PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Her recent research examined solar adoption at household and community levels across key agricultural states of Punjab and Haryana, as well as urban contexts such as Chandigarh. Her work engages questions of energy transitions, policy design, and implementation, with a focus on adoption metrics and governance challenges. She is interested in exploring the Solar–Agriculture–Water nexus. As a Visiting Fellow, she aims to contribute to ongoing work on sustainable energy transitions.

Visiting Fellow

Dr. Hijam Liza Dallo Rihmo

Researcher in International Relations and Climate Change Discourse

An Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at North-Eastern Hill University. She previously taught at Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi. Her academic interests lie in International Relations theory, Political Theory, and climate change. She holds a PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University, where her research focused on climate change politics and the construction of threat in India and Iran. She has presented her work at numerous national and international conferences and has published in her areas of expertise.

Visiting Fellow

Dr. Olga Ustyuzhantseva

Leading Scholar in Innovation Policy, Digital Governance, and Sustainable Development

An affiliated Senior Research Fellow at the Trilateral Chair on Transformative Innovation and the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) for Sustainable Development at the University of Johannesburg. She is involved in international research projects and works at the intersection of innovation policy, digital governance, climate change, and sustainable development. Her research focuses on artificial intelligence governance, digital public infrastructure, data governance, innovation policy, and the political economy of technological transformation, with particular attention to India, South Africa, and the Global South. Across this work, she examines how technological change is shaped by institutions, development priorities, and broader social and political contexts. Dr. Olga holds a PhD in History and a Master’s degree in Social Anthropology, which inform her interdisciplinary approach to technology, institutions, and society. Her research has addressed questions of digital sovereignty, inclusive innovation, climate and energy transitions, and the governance of emerging technologies. Dr. Olga has also worked extensively on issues related to environmental change, community vulnerability, and sustainable development in India, South Africa, as well as in the Arctic and post-Soviet contexts. She has published on science, technology, and innovation policy, digital transformation, and international development, and has contributed to academic, policy, and public discussions on these issues. Dr. Olga Ustyuzhantseva's work combines scholarly analysis with a strong interest in institution-building, policy relevance, and socially grounded forms of knowledge production.