I’m Aayushi Nirwan. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi, and a Master’s degree in Social work from the Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar. My research topic was “Beyond Innocence: Unraveling the influence of media and popular culture on youth Criminal Behavior” I did internships with several Organizations which include District Child Protection Unit, HelpAge India, and Astittva Welfare Foundation etc. I also got opportunity to work on project “AASHIYAN” where I formulated Need Assessment Framework of different old age homes in Delhi in order to get an overview of infrastructural development in these old age homes. I had been a Field Coordinator under project “Sadbhawna” and Key responsibilities include patient support, resource coordination, Community outreach and Education, Crisis Intervention etc. I am passionate about public policies and how the policy making process works through every single social strata of life. As a student of social work I found nuances of human life and learn this importance of serving the underprivileged sections of the society. I believe in sheer hardwork, continuous learning and a creative zeal because through these things one can grow and develop his or her skills.

Akhil obtained his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Sociology. He has had 3 years of work experience, prior to joining the Just Transition Research Centre in 2021 as a Project Assistant.

Apoorva Shrivastava has completed her master’s degree in Economics from Kurukshetra University with a specialization in econometrics and mathematical economics and earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics (Hons.) with psychology from Sophia Girls' College, Ajmer. She also holds a Diploma in Sustainable Development from Sophia Girls' College. Apoorva has successfully cleared UGC-NET for Assistant Professor in Economics. Her academic journey is supported by a strong research orientation, with two published papers: “Green Cosmetics: The Factors Influencing Green Purchase Behavior of Youth in Ajmer City” in the UGC CARE journal, and “Analyzing the External Sector: A Comparative Study of Three G21 Nations Across Three Continents” in the UGC-approved journal. She has also worked as a Subject Matter Expert in Economics and participated in multiple internships and workshops, including those focused on content writing and social work.

Dev Kumar Singh is a Research Associate at the Just Transition Research Centre (JTRC) at IIT Kanpur. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics (with specialization in Energy Economics) from Banaras Hindu University. His dissertation, titled “Economic Implications of AI-Driven Energy Demand Forecasting on National Grid Efficiency and Market Pricing,” explores AI-driven forecasting in energy systems. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Political Science, and Sociology from the University of Lucknow, and he is enrolled in a Professional Certificate program in Data Analytics & Generative AI at IIT Kanpur.
His research interests lie at the intersection of data analytics, energy economics, and generative AI, reflecting a strong foundation in energy policy and sustainable development. He is proficient in tools such as Excel, R, SQL, and Tableau, with working knowledge of Python and AWS Glue, which support his data-driven approach to analysing energy systems. He aims to leverage these skills to address complex challenges in the energy sector, aligning with JTRC’s mission of clean and equitable energy transitions.
Prior to joining JTRC, he gained hands-on experience through internships at India’s Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited on deputation by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (Government of India), Earth5R, and the Dhruvan Foundation, where he worked on renewable energy finance, sustainability case studies, and community education. He has also volunteered with Earth Day Network India, leading outreach for the “Young Climate Champions” program. In his role at JTRC, Dev integrates his academic background and technical expertise to advance research on sustainable and just energy transitions.

Manisha holds a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi. During her Master’s dissertation, she worked at IUCN India Country Office and completed her research thesis under the project “Himalayas For the Future”. She also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law and Policy from WWF India and National Law University, New Delhi.
She has worked with Policy Advocacy team of CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development (CESD) on the topic of Single Use Plastics as an Intern. After completing her master’s degree, she joined SunMoksha Power Private Limited, Bangalore as a Project Intern and continued her work on the “Himalayas For the Future” project. Her work was focused around modelling of various thematic areas using System Dynamics approach. Working in this project derived her interest in the social aspect of Environment Management. Her research interests include Environmental Sociology, Natural Resource Management, Just Transition, Forest Ecosystem, Indigenous communities and their livelihood, Human Wildlife Conflict and Climate Change.

Mayurakshi obtained her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree in Sociology from Jadavpur University, Kolkata. She has worked as a guest lecturer in the Department of Sociology at Shri Shikshayatan College, Kolkata, teaching both Honours and General programme students. She cracked the National Eligibility Test in her first attempt, and is also a holder of the University Grants Commission Junior Research Fellowship. Currently, she is a first year PhD student at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kanpur. Her area of interest lies in Environmental Sociology, Environmental Justice, Energy Transition, social mobility and migration.

Nandana has obtained her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Presidency University, Kolkata and master’s in sociology from South Asian University, New Delhi. She has qualified National Eligibility Test for Assistant Professor in January 2022. During her bachelor’s she has done an internship from Hope Foundation, Calcutta. Currently she is a doctoral candidate in Sociology at Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kanpur. Her doctoral work at IIT Kanpur focuses on gender, justice and energy transition.

Nishi completed his M.Phil. in Sociology from Jadavpur University and obtained an M.A. in Sociology from Pondicherry University. The growing concerns of climate change in the world motivated Nishi to work on the policy framework of energy transition in India for his doctoral thesis at IIT Kanpur. He is interested in investigating the role of trade unions in coal-based power plants in India. In 2019, he presented a paper titled “Market-a space for social mobility and identity assertion for the women in Manipur” at the National Seminar on “Regimes of Gender in Contemporary Globalization” organised by the Department of Political science, Presidency University Kolkata. He is currently receiving a Junior Research Fellowship from the University Grants Commission for his doctoral research.

Neelam obtained Master’s and Bachelor's degrees in Library and Information Science from Chhatrapati Sahu Ji Maharaj University Kanpur. She also has an 'O' level certificate from NIELIT. Due to her keen interest and experience in official work. She joined JTRC IIT Kanpur as Deputy Project Manager. Her work experience spread across various sectors such as Cantonment Board School, P.K Kelkar Library IIT Kanpur, and Dean of Academic Affairs IIT Kanpur.

Ms. Pinki Chahal is a Doctoral Scholar at the Department of Economics,School of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Haryana, India. Her research focuses on industrial hazards, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic impact assessments. With a strong foundation in academic research, policy analysis, and teaching, she brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her work.

In terms of research experience, she worked as a Research Assistant on a Major Project funded by the prestigious apex body of the Government of India, Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), where she actively engaged in household-level surveys, data analysis, and policy evaluation of financial outreach programs across various Indian states. Previously, she also worked as a Research Intern at the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), contributing to localised disaster risk mitigation strategies and policy research.

Her professional journey also includes her role as a Subject Matter Expert in Quantitative Economics at Chegg India, where she developed academic content and solutions for core economics subjects. Additionally, she has taught undergraduate and postgraduate students as an Assistant Professor, mentoring them in research and policy studies.

Ms. Chahal's research has been published in several prestigious, indexed platforms, including journals listed in ABDC and Web of Science, reflecting her growing academic impact. She has also contributed to policy-focused blogs, such as Down to Earth, with an article titled “City Where the Promise of Good Health Turns to Ash.” In addition, she has presented her work at leading national and international conferences, including at IIT Madras. She is proficient in statistical and research tools and continues to pursue new learning opportunities to enhance her research capabilities.

Poulami Ghosh recent graduated of the Master of Arts in Public Policy from Mount Carmel College Autonomous, Bangalore. Her master’s dissertation centered around an analysis of the Karnataka State Policy for Senior Citizens, 2003 with a special focus on Old Age Homes and Day Care Centres run by State Grants in Bengaluru Urban and Rural Districts to understand the impact of policy interventions on elders residing in old age homes. In addition to her academic pursuits, she has gained valuable experience through internships at policy think tanks, political consultancy firms, NGOs, and startups. Her interest area lies mostly around policy interventions within the social sector that address the needs and issues of marginalised sections of the society.

Pradip Swarnakar is trained as a sociologist and specializes in conducting quantitative and qualitative research on various social and environmental issues. During his doctoral research at IIT Kanpur, he had conducted extensive fieldwork in rural West Bengal to investigate people’s beliefs and practices concerning water scarcity and contamination. After completing his PhD, he joined the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Environment and Development at Bangalore to examine the socio-psychological impact of groundwater arsenic contamination. One year later, he moved to IIT Delhi to explore why and how information and communication technologies facilitate small and medium enterprises’ economic activities in Dharavi- Asia’s largest slum at Mumbai. In 2009, he joined the ABV-Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Gwalior and taught undergraduate and postgraduate students in technical and management streams. During his tenure at IITM Gwalior, he observed that the Indian students spend considerable time on social media sites like Facebook to connect with their friends and family. This led him to explore how Indian students create and maintain social capital by using Facebook and other social media applications between 2010-2013. He conducted semi-structured interviews with nine hundred students from three centrally funded technical institutes in India to investigate it further. In 2012, he got involved with the climate policy network research group known as COMPON, conceived and led by Prof Jeffrey Broadbent of the University of Minnesota and spans across several countries. As a lead researcher of the project’s Indian team, Dr. Swarnakar interviewed around eighty climate policy actors in India to identify their collaboration network in the various policy processes. In 2017, he was awarded the Fulbright fellowship to conduct ethnographic fieldwork in San Joaquin Valley to investigate socio-cultural dimensions of drought management in California, which saw one of the worst draughts between 2011-2016. Employing the theoretical perspective of transition management and practice theory, his research highlighted the role of culture in transitioning to the new normal of water scarcity and unpredictability. In 2019, he collaborated with a team of researchers from the University of Technology, Sydney, to interview the residents of a small town of Bulga in New South Wales, Australia, intending to examine and foreground the plight and vulnerability of the indigenous communities of Australia imperilled by mining operations. At CEPRL, he is engaged in research on environmental justice issues like air pollution, forest rights, and just energy transitions, focusing on developing novel methodological and theoretical tools and delivering policy-relevant results.

Pritha completed her PhD in 2025 from IIT Kanpur under the supervision of Prof. Pradip Swarnakar. Her dissertation, Just Transition for a Coal Community: Examining the Precarious Work and Coal Dependence of Raniganj, West Bengal, explored the socio-economic vulnerabilities of coal-dependent communities in the context of India’s energy transition. She holds an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Kalyani. Before joining IIT Kanpur, Pritha gained professional experience across diverse fields, including the banking sector, welfare organisations, and teaching positions in schools and colleges.

Dr. Purnabha Dasgupta is a leading expert in sustainability science,currently serving as a Fellow at the Just Transition Research Centre, IIT Kanpur. With a PhD in Agriculture and Rural Development from RKMVERI, his work focuses on advancing equitable, low-carbon development through a combination of rigorous research and practical, action-oriented leadership.
An alumnus of the U.S. Department of State’s IVLP program, he has led numerous national and international research projects as both a Principal and Co-Principal Investigator.
His notable contributions include co-creating flagship development programs like Dwipanjali and Jharnadhara with the Government of West Bengal, co-developing a decarbonization framework for the brick kiln sector, and leading studies on sustainable livelihoods and participatory groundwater management.
He has also held key adjunct and consultancy roles with institutions such as the University of Calcutta and the Ministry of Jal Shakti. A prolific researcher, Dr.Dasgupta has published over 24 research articles, 5 book chapters, and 3 policy briefs on topics ranging from sustainable agriculture, soil-water connections and energy to just transition.

Rachna Vaish joined the JTRC-IIT Kanpur as a project scientist and is now working as project post-doctoral fellow. She has completed her Ph.D. from Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology in Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department. Her research work was focused on analyzing the impact of renewable energy source integrations and increase in their penetration levels on power system fault diagnosis utilizing machine learning models. Her Ph.D. thesis title was "Performance Assessment of Machine Learning Models for Transmission Network Fault Diagnosis Amidst Ongoing Renewable Energy Source Integrations". She obtained her B. Tech from Shambhunath Institute of Engineering & Technology, Prayagraj, in Electrical Engineering and M. Tech from Kamla Nehru Institute of Technology, Sultanpur, in Power Electronics & Drives. She possesses several software skills such as C, C++, MATLAB, Python, Machine Learning, and Data Analysis. As a doctoral in electrical engineering, at JTRC-IIT Kanpur she aims to contribute to society by researching towards transitions faced due to renewable energy source integrations in energy market and suggesting policies suitable for sustainable development of Indian energy sector.

Raima holds a Bachelor's degree in Geography from the University of Calcutta, and a Master's degree in Development Studies, from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati.
In her dissertation, she has worked at the intersection of agriculture, livelihood, and vulnerability. She has received the Best Thesis Award (MA) for the same. In 2024, her paper titled, "Agriculture, Livelihood and Vulnerability: A Case Study of the Char Dwellers in Bankura District, West Bengal", was published in the Indian Journal of Human Development. Additionally, she has had employment experiences in the development sector as a Management Trainee as well as in academia as a Project Scientist at the School of Public Policy, IIT Delhi.
Her Research interest lies in Climate Change, and Migration.

Rajshri obtained her B.A. (Hons.) in Sociology from Hindu College, Delhi University, and M.A. in Sociology from CSJM University, Kanpur. Currently she is a third-year doctoral candidate in Sociology at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kanpur. Her broad research interests revolve around Environmental Sociology, Climate Change, Energy Transition, Energy Justice, and Social Stratification. In her thesis, she aims to explore the treatment of the structural inequalities and injustices in the process of energy transition towards renewable energy by conducting a comparative study between India and Australia. She holds a national-level Junior Research Fellowship funded by the University Grants Commission. She presented her work at the 'International Workshop on Socio-ecological relations of the energy transition in Australia, Germany, and India in 2019' and 'European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) General Conference 2020'. She has co-authored a paper with prof. Pradip Swarnakar titled ‘Beliefs and networks: Mapping the Indian climate policy discourse surrounding the Paris Climate Change Conference in 2015’ published in Environmental Communication.

Ramraja Patel recently graduated with a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Governance from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad, specializing in Urbanization. His Master's dissertation focused on public health, specifically examining "Occupational Health Hazards of Bus and Truck Drivers: A Case Study of Drivers Operating on the Jhansi-Kanpur Highway." This research highlighted the occupational risks faced by drivers and contributed to a deeper understanding of labour health challenges within transport sectors. Throughout his academic journey, Ramraja gained practical insights through Rural Experiencing Learning and various internships, where he developed hands-on experience in policy implementation and community engagement. His primary interests recline in public policy, institutional frameworks (both public and private), and governance within the social and development sectors, where he aims to contribute to impactful policy interventions and sustainable development solutions.

Rukmini has completed her Masters in Sociology from Savitribai Phule Pune University. During her masters, she has completed a research report on 'Gentrification and its impact in urban cities'. She has worked with UNICEF as a Research Fellow for female journalists based in Maharastra. She has also worked as an Academic writer in Kolkata. Her volunteering experience with NGOs like Adore India and CRY has built her passion for grassroot involvement. Rukmini's research interest areas are Gender and Sustainability, with special focus on the role of rural and marginalised women's contribution in achieving sustainability. She also has a keen interest in psychology and the role it plays in intersectional academic research. She has completed certified courses on mental health and society. She likes to travel in her free time.

Rupam Roy recently assumed the role of Project Associate at the Just Transition Research Centre (JTRC), IIT Kanpur. Prior to this position, he served as a Research Intern at the Center for Natural Resource Management, Climate Change, and Disaster Mitigation (CNRM, CCDM), NIRD & PR, Hyderabad. Rupam holds a Master's degree in Agriculture and Rural Development, which he earned from Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI) in Narendrapur. He also possesses a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Geography from Vidyasagar College, affiliated with the University of Calcutta. During his academic journey, Rupam conducted his M.Sc. thesis research on the topic of sustainable intensification (SI) technologies in the Coastal Sundarbans region of India. Using the Smallholder ADOPT model, he made ex-ante predictions regarding the adoption of these technologies and investigated differences in adoption patterns from a gender perspective. Rupam's research expertise extends to various research methodologies, and he is proficient in utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data analysis software to support his work.

Saakshi obtained her PhD from Kumaun University, Nainital. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics from St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from the University of Delhi. She was formerly associated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a Project Assistant in Plastic Waste Recycling Management project and with the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) hosted at GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment as a Senior Research Fellow. An interdisciplinary approach towards achieving just energy transitions from an economic and environmental standpoint is the focus of Saakshi’s research interests. Her doctoral work focuses on centralised and decentralised hydro electricity production and economic valuations of hybrid renewable energy technology mechanisms in remote Himalayan regions. Her work has been published in Current Science and Theoretical and Applied Economics. She has presented her work at the Indian Science Congress (2019 and 2020) and the Himalayan Researchers Consortium (2018 and 2019). Her work on renewable energy in the Indian Himalayan Region received the Best Presentation Award at the 4th Himalayan Researchers Consortium held at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. She is also a certified mountaineering instructor and a skiing enthusiast.

I'm Sakshi Sharma. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the prestigious St. Xavier's College, Ranchi, and a Master's degree in Economics with distinction from the University of Hyderabad. My academic journey has equipped me with a strong foundation in economic principles and research methods. I've also had the opportunity to apply my skills in a practical setting, having interned as a Research Analyst at a solar panel startup. My areas of interest lie at the intersection of economics, sociology, and psychology, where I explore how human behaviour and social structures influence economic outcomes. I'm excited to continue learning and growing in these fields.

Sayantan Das holds the position of responsibility of research associate at Just Transition Research Centre (JTRC). He holds a Master's degree in Agriculture and Rural Development from Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Education and Research Institute (RKMVERI), conferred in 2023. His academic background stems from Anthropology, having pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Calcutta. With a focus on ethnography and qualitative research methodologies, he brings to the table a wealth of experience and expertise aimed at amplifying grassroots perspectives and fostering community participation in policy formulation processes. His prior experience includes a stint at the National Innovation Foundation, where he served as a scout, identifying grassroots innovations and indigenous traditional knowledge within West Bengal. He is passionate in addressing grassroots challenges and amplifying their voices within the discourse of climate change and just energy transition, his Master's thesis, "Climate Chronicles: Unveiling Sundarbans' Battle with Change", garnered acclaim for its exploration of community perceptions and responses to climate change, shedding light on resilience-building efforts amidst environmental challenges by deploying participatory and reflexive photography. His work provides invaluable insights into community preparedness and mindset in addressing climate change, contributing significantly to the discourse on sustainable development and environmental resilience.

Shivangi Seth holds a Master’s degree in Climate Science and Policy from TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi. She completed her mathematics and statistics graduation from Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur. Shivangi has been associated with TERI School of Advanced Studies and Kalam Foundation to carry out research activities focusing on spatiotemporal data analysis and NGO survey and analysis. She has completed internships with ESPL, Gurgaon, where she was a part of the desk review team for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Gold Standard for Global Goals (GS4GG) and Verified Carbon Standard (VERRA) projects. In her master’s thesis, she explored the scope of deriving “carbon mitigation benefits'' from electric vehicles in India and identified challenges and solutions for their growth and adoption in India. As a young explorer and researcher, she aims to contribute to society by pursuing climate and energy policy research for a sustainable future. As a Programme Lead at JTRC IIT Kanpur, she is responsible for leading research activities of the centre’s climate policy and just transition projects.

Dr. Subhra Halder has recently joined the JTRC at IIT Kanpur as a Post-Doctoral Fellow. She holds a Ph.D. in Science from Jadavpur University, where her research focused on the seasonal variation and management of irrigation water, specifically within West Bengal. Dr. Halder's expertise lies in urban ecology, flood risk management, water resource assessment, sustainable development, and the application of advanced GIS and remote sensing techniques.
Dr. Halder's academic journey includes a strong background in geography, with a P.G. Diploma in Applied Remote Sensing and GIS (Geoinformatics) and an M.Sc. in Geography from the University of Calcutta. Her research interests are diverse and interdisciplinary, encompassing regional climate modeling at the urban scale, remote sensing for environmental monitoring, land use change impacts on ecological balance, and the effects of climate change on hydrological systems.
With a robust skill set in tools such as R Studio, Python, Microsoft PowerBI Desktop, and various data visualization and geospatial analysis software, Dr. Halder has contributed to numerous significant studies. Her published works address topics like ecological quality assessment, sustainable flood hazard mapping, groundwater sustainability amidst urban expansion, and the effectiveness of rainwater harvesting for agricultural development.

Tharun R is a Research Associate at JTRC, IIT Kanpur. He holds an M. Tech degree in Geomatics from CEPT University. His Master’s research project, titled “Forest Fire Risk Assessment of Uttarakhand,” focused on analysing the relationship between various fire causative factors and predicting forest fire occurrences across the state. He has hands-on experience in spatial data analysis and spatial programming and is proficient in a range of geospatial tools and platforms, including ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth Engine, Python, and R, which are essential for the analysis and visualization of geospatial data.

Vaijayanti Burman completed her graduation and post-graduation in sociology from Presidency University, Kolkata and M.Phil. in sociology from Jadavpur University. Subsequently, she joined the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta as a Trainee Teaching Associate. Her postgraduate and M.Phil. dissertation topic was Portrayal of Mother-Child Relationship: A Sociological Study of Paintings through which she has tried to dispel and dissipate the societal myth of sublimity and romanticism in the mother-child relationship. She has also presented a paper titled “Hearing the Unheard: The Shabars of West Bengal” in 44th AISC, 2018. At CEPRL, she works as a project associate and manages communications and other research activities for multiple projects.

Mr. Vishal holds a Master’s Degree in Commerce from DAV College, Kanpur. He possesses over nine years of comprehensive experience in the fields of Accounts and Taxation, having served in reputable FMCG and manufacturing organizations, including Rahman Industries Ltd, RSPL, Ananda Dairy Products, and Sukbhir Agro Energy Ltd.

In 2020, Mr. Vishal joined the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur as an Assistant Project Manager, where he was responsible for managing the Receipt Unit of Institute Accounts, facilitating bank reconciliations, and preparing various payment vouchers. He joined the Just Transition Research Centre (JTRC), IIT Kanpur, in September 2023 and is currently designated as Project Manager, overseeing the Centre’s accounting activities.

I completed my Bachelors in Sociology from Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi and then proceeded to do my Masters in Social work (public health) from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. During my masters, I worked with different community organisations and NGOs in remote parts of West Bengal and Maharashtra. After completion of my Master's degree, I served as Executive (CSR) in NTPC ltd for a period of one year. I am currently a PhD student in the department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IITK. My research interests include rehabilitation and resettlement, climate change and occupational health, environmental sociology and sustainability.