Professional Experience:
I have over three years of experience (post a doctorate) in interdisciplinary research, policy analysis, and consultancy at the intersection of water governance, urban planning, borderland development, and environmental policy. My work spans academic institutions, public policy think tanks, government ministries, international collaborations, and civil society organisations, enabling me to work effectively across research, policy, and implementation contexts.
I currently serve as Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), New Delhi, where I lead research on statutory planning for river-centric urban development under a project supported by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. My work focuses on strengthening the integration of rivers within India's statutory planning system by examining legal, institutional, and governance frameworks that influence urban water management. I conduct policy analysis, institutional mapping, qualitative research, stakeholder consultations, and comparative assessments of planning instruments to develop evidence-based recommendations for national and state governments. My responsibilities include preparing policy briefs, technical reports, workshop documentation, and research publications, while engaging with government officials, planning practitioners, and academic experts to support river-sensitive urban planning initiatives.
Prior to joining CPR, I served as Project Co-Investigator on a United Kingdom Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF-TESF) project jointly implemented by the University of Bristol and the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS). The project examined the role of higher education institutions in promoting sustainable urbanisation across cities in Northeast India. I coordinated research activities across multiple institutions, conducted stakeholder consultations with universities, government agencies, civil society organisations, and community groups, and contributed to project reports, workshops, and dissemination activities. This role strengthened my experience in managing collaborative, interdisciplinary, and internationally funded research projects.
My consultancy experience includes working with UNICEF India and RedR India to develop a framework for integrating Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into Assam's Samagra Shiksha education planning process. I conducted policy analysis, reviewed institutional frameworks, and prepared technical recommendations to support risk-informed planning at the state level. Earlier, as Research Officer with Oxfam India, I conducted field-based research on transboundary water stewardship in the Mahakali River basin along the India–Nepal border. This involved qualitative data collection, community engagement, focus group discussions, institutional analysis, and preparation of an analytical report examining governance challenges surrounding shared water resources.
Throughout my career, I have undertaken extensive ethnographic fieldwork across Northeast India, particularly in Assam and Meghalaya, focusing on water governance, urbanisation, infrastructure, borderlands, and environmental change. My research combines qualitative interviews, archival research, participant observation, document analysis, and institutional assessment to generate policy-relevant evidence. I have worked closely with central and state government agencies, universities, local communities, civil society organisations, and international research partners, enabling me to navigate diverse institutional and cultural settings. I have authored policy briefs, project reports, technical documentation, academic publications, and conference papers, and have organised stakeholder workshops, expert consultations, and capacity-building events. My work requires translating complex research findings into accessible, actionable recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and development partners.