Meet Our Bloggers
Abhay Agarwal After completing dual undergraduate degrees in Mechanical Engineering and International Development from Bucknell University, Abhay co-founded Bicycles Against Poverty, a CBO in Northern Uganda working on appropriate technology and development models. Previously, he served as an engineering consultant to the Small Business Development Centre in Pennsylvania and an operations analyst for Goldman Sachs. Abhay previously worked as a Research Associate for an impact evaluation of the Ultra Poor Program in West Bengal, and is currently involved with various research and policy advocacy initiatives, as well as strengthening CMF's organizational structure.
Aditi Kumar has a Bachelor’s in economics from Delhi University and a Master’s from London School of Economics. She was born and brought up in Bhopal. While doing her undergrad, she has done a summer research project on impact of access toilets on health and sanitation rural Tamil Nadu. Her Master’s thesis mainly focused on analyzing how frequency of loan repayments in micro-finance contracts changes default rates. She enjoys reading fiction and traveling!
Amanbir Singh
Amanbir has a bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Economics and Statistics. Originally from Delhi, he is working on a randomized evaluation of a microfinance program in rural Tamil Nadu. When not getting beaten at sports by children of Thanjavur, he spends his time trying to learn Tamil and blogging about it at http://tam-wow.tumblr.com/
Amulya Champatiray
Amulya has a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDI), Ahmedabad and a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. For over two years, Amulya worked with the Capacity Building Team in Sa-Dhan, focusing primarily on programs around Financial and Information Systems Management for small and medium NGO-MFIs. He also has six years of grassroots experience in implementing community-based microfinance projects during his association with Agragamee in Orissa and Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (KMVS) in Gujarat. Amulya joined CMF in March 2008 and coordinates courses and workshops for the Centre.
After completing her Bachelors in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry in 2010 from College of Veterinary Science, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUA&T), Anuja earned a Masters Degree in Rural Management (PGDM-RM) from the Xavier Institute of Management in Bhubaneswar (XIMB). While at XIMB, she has conducted independent research on Working capital issues of Dharani Farming and Marketing Mutually Aided Cooperative Society Ltd. Last summer, as an intern at Monsanto Holdings Private Ltd, she conducted research on “Protected Cultivation- Market Sizing, Potential & Trends in North India” leading to recommendations on product portfolio selections & market entry strategy. Her hobbies include dancing, cooking and travelling. Anuja joined CMF in April 2012 as a Research Associate and is based in Chennai.
Anushree has completed her Bachelors in Economics from St Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad and her Masters in Economics from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara. She worked for a year as a lecturer in Economics at Patna Women’s College in Patna, Bihar. She joined CMF in July 2010 as a Project Assistant for the loan officer’s incentives project. Currently, she is a Research Consultant for consumer’s behaviour study on Life Insurance. Anushree’s areas of interest include developmental issues related to women, children and education as well as governance and management of natural resources. Her hobbies include dancing, painting, photography and traveling.
Arpita Khanna
Arpita has a Masters degree in International Trade, Finance and Development from Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, Spain. Prior to that she completed undergraduate degree in Economics from Hans Raj College, University of Delhi and MA Economics from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Her research interests include development issues such as education, health economics and gender studies. At CMF she is working as a Research Associate on a study evaluating the impact of expanding Rashtriya Swasth Bima Yojna in Karnataka.
Camille holds a M.Phil in Economics from the Toulouse School of Economics, following an M.A from the University of Edinburgh. Prior to joining CMF in February 2013, she was working with Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) in Mali, West Africa. Her work there focused on evaluating micro-finance in rural settings, as well as exploring rural labor markets. She has also volunteered for several NGO’s in India, mainly in the field of female empowerment.
Deepti has a Bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from National Institute of Technology (NIT) - Jaipur. After completing her degree in India, she moved to US to pursue her Master’s degree in Environmental and Public Health Engineering. She also has a Master’s degree in Fundraising Management and Nonprofit Administration from Columbia University. Prior to joining CMF, she worked as a Project Coordinator at Columbia University Medical Center, New York where she oversaw a large population-based cohort study. Deepti joined CMF in November 2008 and is currently working as a Principal Researcher for the Livelihoods Research Project.
Isabelle has a Masters in Public Policy (William & Mary, 2012) and a BA in International Relations (William & Mary, 2011). She was a TIP/FD intern in 2011 and returned to join the Centre for Micro Finance in June 2013. Prior to that, she worked as a Research Associate at Duke University, analyzing data for impact evaluations. Her master’s thesis equivalent focused on the long-run impact of public infrastructure financing in the United States. Her research interests are focused in development economics, in particular governance, financial access, social networks, and the relationship between health and economics. She is currently a Senior Research Associate at CMF
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John holds a Masters degree from the Madras school of social work and Bachelors of Computer science from Madras university. He has been specialised in Community development in his Masters degree. He has worked in Tata Consultancy services in implementing Computer based functional literacy training program in Tamil nadu. Later he has worked in entrepreneurship development program of Bharatiya Yuva Shakthi trust under Confederation of Indian Industries. His major field work experience is in the development of Small and Micro Enterprises by credit linkages through public and private sector banks. His focus areas in development of entrepreneurs through funding, mentoring and training. John joined SEFC in June 2011.
Kalrav Acharya
Kalrav holds a bachelors degree in Business and Economics from Warren Wilson College, North Carolina, with a concentration in sustainable economic development, and minors in both Mathematics and Global Studies. During his last year of college, he interned as a research assistant for the city of Asheville in the Office of Economic Development. While in college, he attended a Harvard World Model UN, part of a team simulating the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Taipei, Taiwan. Kalrav’s academic interests include sustainable development and game theory. During his free time he enjoys playing basketball and writing.
Maulik Jagnani
Kalrav holds a bachelors degree in Business and Economics from Warren Wilson College, North Carolina, with a concentration in sustainable economic development, and minors in both Mathematics and Global Studies. During his last year of college, he interned as a research assistant for the city of Asheville in the Office of Economic Development. While in college, he attended a Harvard World Model UN, part of a team simulating the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Taipei, Taiwan. Kalrav’s academic interests include sustainable development and game theory. During his free time he enjoys playing basketball and writing.
Kunal Mangal
Kunal graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.A. in Economics, Mathematics, and International Studies. Prior to joining the Centre for Micro Finance in July 2012, he conducted research on the vulnerability of electrical power grids to hurricanes at Rice University. His undergraduate thesis explored the factors influencing trends in public discontent towards income inequality in Latin American countries. Kunal is currently an RA working on projects studying microfinance and self help-groups in Tamil Nadu. He enjoys learning languages and reading The Economist.
Kunal graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.A. in Economics, Mathematics, and International Studies. Prior to joining the Centre for Micro Finance in July 2012, he conducted research on the vulnerability of electrical power grids to hurricanes at Rice University. His undergraduate thesis explored the factors influencing trends in public discontent towards income inequality in Latin American countries. Kunal is currently an RA working on projects studying microfinance and self help-groups in Tamil Nadu. He enjoys learning languages and reading The Economist.
Laura Litvine
Laura Litvine holds a M.Phil in Economics, following a BA in Political Science and International Relations from Sciences Po, Paris.
Prior to joining CMF as a Research Associate in August 2011, she has worked on the impact evaluation of a recycling program in Peru. She has also been involved in volunteering for different social centers and NGOs in France, Kenya and Colombia.
Prior to joining CMF as a Research Associate in August 2011, she has worked on the impact evaluation of a recycling program in Peru. She has also been involved in volunteering for different social centers and NGOs in France, Kenya and Colombia.
Maulik Jagnani
Maulik holds a Masters Degree in Economics from Tufts University. His graduate thesis was an impact evaluation study of SEBI’s policy interventions in Indian Equity Markets between 2007 - 2011. He completed his undergraduate degree in Commerce from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, Bombay. His interests mainly lie in Empirical Micro-econometrics, Behavioral Economics and Development Economics. Maulik joined CMF in Decemeber 2012 as a Research Associate on the Index-based Weather Insurance project based out of Gujarat.
Misha Sharma
Misha has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Stella Maris College, Chennai. She recently completed her Masters in Economics from the University of Edinburgh. During the coursework, she worked on the literature review of “Impact Evaluation of Microfinance Sector in India”. Prior to this, she has worked in Goldman Sachs as an Operations Analyst. In her spare time, Misha loves cooking. She joined CMF in November 2011 and is currently working on impact evaluation of Self Help Groups formed by a Madurai based NGO.
Misha has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Stella Maris College, Chennai. She recently completed her Masters in Economics from the University of Edinburgh. During the coursework, she worked on the literature review of “Impact Evaluation of Microfinance Sector in India”. Prior to this, she has worked in Goldman Sachs as an Operations Analyst. In her spare time, Misha loves cooking. She joined CMF in November 2011 and is currently working on impact evaluation of Self Help Groups formed by a Madurai based NGO.
Monisha Mason
Monisha has a Master’s degree in Population and Development from the London School of Economics. After her Master’s she worked at an Advertising and Consulting Agency in Bangalore as a Project Lead. She managed projects in Education and Healthcare and developed a Sustainability Report for a major corporate. She is interested in core areas of development including education, healthcare, microfinance and population. She joined CMF in December 2011 at Bangalore and is working on the Savings Monitors Project.
Mudita holds a Master in Public Policy and a Masters in Public Health (Epidemiology/Biostatics) from University of California, Berkeley, and B.B.A in Information Technology from Cleveland State University. Prior to CMF, Mudita worked on analysing public health policy issues in India and other low- and middle-income countries, and with grass roots NGOs working on financial inclusion and education of women. She has also worked for the private sector as a business analyst and IT auditor. At CMF, she is working on research evaluating financial inclusion and financial literacy programs in states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In her spare times she catches up on world news and Bollywood happenings.
Nayantara Sarma
Nayantara has completed her Bachelors in Economics from Miranda House, University of Delhi. This was followed by Masters in Economics at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Bombay. After her graduation, she worked at Diamond Management and Technology Consultants - PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) in the Analytics division. Her interests lie mainly in Development Research, Applied Microeconomics and topics pertaining to Inequality.
Nikhil handles outreach, and engages in short-term policy research projects. He also manages the Development Outlook blog and the organization’s social media outreach. His interests broadly include development economics, public policy, social entrepreneurship, and social network analysis. Nikhil holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from New York University (NYU). During his undergraduate studies, he worked at a microfinance organization in Ghana, conducted an organizational network analysis of Financial Education/Inclusion NGOs in New York City to optimize their network strategy, and worked at the Initiative for Policy Dialogue, a think-tank based at Columbia University. While at NYU, he published a paper on a possible non-linear relationship between changes in the income distribution and aggregate savings.
Nikita Taniparti
Nikita has a bachelors degree in Economics and Anthropology from the University of Notre Dame. She is currently a Research Associate based in Thanjavur for the KGFS Impact Evaluation at the Centre for Microfinance. During her undergraduate studies, she studied abroad in Greece and then interned with the Fulbright Scholars Program in Washington D.C. Nikita has conducted qualitative and quantitative research in financial access, education, social policy, governance, and social network theory. She enjoys food and yoga and laughing in her free time.
Nikita has a bachelors degree in Economics and Anthropology from the University of Notre Dame. She is currently a Research Associate based in Thanjavur for the KGFS Impact Evaluation at the Centre for Microfinance. During her undergraduate studies, she studied abroad in Greece and then interned with the Fulbright Scholars Program in Washington D.C. Nikita has conducted qualitative and quantitative research in financial access, education, social policy, governance, and social network theory. She enjoys food and yoga and laughing in her free time.
Parul Agarwal
After completing her Bachelor in Arts in Economics in 2008 from Ramjas College, University of Delhi, Parul earned a masters degree in Rural Management (PGPM-RM) from the Xavier Institute of Management in Bhubaneswar (XIMB). While at XIMB, she attended various field training programs in rural Orissa organized around themes such as social sector research and natural resource management. Last summer, as an intern at the Small Enterprise Finance Centre (SEFC) at the Institute for Financial Management and Research, she helped research chit funds for a project on innovative financing for low-income households. She has alsoconducted independent research on urban poverty and migration in Delhi and Bhubaneswar. Parul joined CMF as a Research Associate in May 2010 and is currently working on the Map of Microfinance.
After completing her Bachelor in Arts in Economics in 2008 from Ramjas College, University of Delhi, Parul earned a masters degree in Rural Management (PGPM-RM) from the Xavier Institute of Management in Bhubaneswar (XIMB). While at XIMB, she attended various field training programs in rural Orissa organized around themes such as social sector research and natural resource management. Last summer, as an intern at the Small Enterprise Finance Centre (SEFC) at the Institute for Financial Management and Research, she helped research chit funds for a project on innovative financing for low-income households. She has alsoconducted independent research on urban poverty and migration in Delhi and Bhubaneswar. Parul joined CMF as a Research Associate in May 2010 and is currently working on the Map of Microfinance.
Prerna graduated from Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, double-majoring in Economics and English. During her undergraduate studies, she worked with the United Nations and the Grameen Bank, and studied abroad for a semester in Paris, France. At Oberlin, she worked as a research assistant over the summer, and as an editorial assistant at the Office of Communications. Her senior thesis focused on the effects of the Public Distribution System-the largest subsidy program in India-on poverty rates in the states of Bihar and Tamil Nadu. Since graduating from Oberlin last year, she has interned at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. as a research assistant, and worked at the World Family Organization in Curitiba, Brazil as an international relations advisor. Prerna is currently a Research Associate in a tri-state project studying the impact of index-based rainfall insurance.
Projjal Saha
Projjal holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the Department of Social Work under Netaji Open University, Kolkata. With a background in Economics (H), Statistics and Mathematics, he has over 10 years of experience in the field of planning, executing, upgrading quality of data collection, social mapping, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, coding planning, data validation, sampling, digitization of maps and MIS management. He has worked on a number of projects involving population studies, micro finance, health, family planning, nutrition, women and children. Projjal joined CMF in September 2007 as an Eastern Zone Field Executive, coordinating and imparting power to projects. He is currently a Regional Field Manager.
Rupika Singh
Rupika holds a B.Tech in Computer Science from Mody Institute of Technology and Science, Rajasthan. After working for a year with IBM , she went on to do Masters in Rural Management from Xavier's Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar. During her Internship with FINO , she studied their EBT Channel for the disbursement of NREGA funds in state of UP and suggested a few improvements in the existing process. She has also done a small project with RRA (Revitalizing Rainfed Agriculture) in Jharkhand to understand the dynamics of seed Industry and identify viable measures to promote ‘Traditional Seed’ conservation in the community. She's an active sports person and loves to play Basket Ball and Badminton. Rupika joined CMF on 1st April 2013 as a Research Associate for the Price Information project in Karnataka.
Samik Adhikari
Samik graduated from Saint Peter’s College in 2011 with a bachelors degree in Economics and Mathematics. Before joining CMF in 2011, he worked in a summer research team at UCLA and helped build algorithms to assist LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) in figuring out missing suspects in gang-related crime records. Samik’s academic interests include development economics, game theory, and fair division. For his senior thesis, Samik used Theory of Moves to calculate dynamic equilibria in conflict scenarios in politics and trade. He is currently working as a Research Associate on a futures prices study in Gujarat. In his free time, Samik likes to watch soccer and read sports blogs!
Projjal holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the Department of Social Work under Netaji Open University, Kolkata. With a background in Economics (H), Statistics and Mathematics, he has over 10 years of experience in the field of planning, executing, upgrading quality of data collection, social mapping, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, coding planning, data validation, sampling, digitization of maps and MIS management. He has worked on a number of projects involving population studies, micro finance, health, family planning, nutrition, women and children. Projjal joined CMF in September 2007 as an Eastern Zone Field Executive, coordinating and imparting power to projects. He is currently a Regional Field Manager.
Rupika holds a B.Tech in Computer Science from Mody Institute of Technology and Science, Rajasthan. After working for a year with IBM , she went on to do Masters in Rural Management from Xavier's Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar. During her Internship with FINO , she studied their EBT Channel for the disbursement of NREGA funds in state of UP and suggested a few improvements in the existing process. She has also done a small project with RRA (Revitalizing Rainfed Agriculture) in Jharkhand to understand the dynamics of seed Industry and identify viable measures to promote ‘Traditional Seed’ conservation in the community. She's an active sports person and loves to play Basket Ball and Badminton. Rupika joined CMF on 1st April 2013 as a Research Associate for the Price Information project in Karnataka.
Samik Adhikari
Samik graduated from Saint Peter’s College in 2011 with a bachelors degree in Economics and Mathematics. Before joining CMF in 2011, he worked in a summer research team at UCLA and helped build algorithms to assist LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) in figuring out missing suspects in gang-related crime records. Samik’s academic interests include development economics, game theory, and fair division. For his senior thesis, Samik used Theory of Moves to calculate dynamic equilibria in conflict scenarios in politics and trade. He is currently working as a Research Associate on a futures prices study in Gujarat. In his free time, Samik likes to watch soccer and read sports blogs!
Samyuktha Kannan
Samyuktha Kannan (Sam) has an Integrated Master's in Economics from IIT Madras with a minor in Development studies. Her interests are in Agriculture Economics and Rural Development, but mainly she hopes to be a farmer someday. She has had experience working on agriculture trade policy and price distortions and has performed extensive rural fieldwork prior to joining CMF. She is currently working as an RA on the KGFS Evaluation project at Thanjavur. She also loves her plants, her dogs and her Liverpool FC.
Samyuktha Kannan (Sam) has an Integrated Master's in Economics from IIT Madras with a minor in Development studies. Her interests are in Agriculture Economics and Rural Development, but mainly she hopes to be a farmer someday. She has had experience working on agriculture trade policy and price distortions and has performed extensive rural fieldwork prior to joining CMF. She is currently working as an RA on the KGFS Evaluation project at Thanjavur. She also loves her plants, her dogs and her Liverpool FC.
Shahid holds a Masters degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, where he focused on social development in South Asia. His thesis, which explored investment options for improving sanitation in flood prone areas, was used as part of the technical assistance provided by The World Bank to the Govt of Bangladesh. He also brings with him substantial experience from the non-profit sector in the United States. At Teach for America, Shahid was responsible for developing the organization’s long term growth plan. Shahid holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from Ohio Wesleyan University. He joined CMF in October, 2010 as a Programme Head.
Shannon specializes in evaluation research techniques and mixed method research designs for programmes affecting women and children. She has worked on projects for the U.S. military, State of California and several NGOs and municipalities in the United States. Her previous work includes designing and implementing evaluation plans for public-private partnerships in education, conducting a needs assessment to prioritize spending on children’s health and well-being, reviewing the internal evaluation efforts of a large NGO and assessing impact evaluations of children’s health programmes for inclusion in the Promising Practices Network.
Shannon’s substantive research interests include health care quality and delivery of health services to women and children, youth development and well-being, and the intersection of mental health, economic mobility and empowerment. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of California, Los Angeles and is a PhD candidate of Policy Analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School.
Sirisha holds a bachelor’s degree in Neurobiology from Northwestern University, Chicago. Her experience includes working on a multi-country study aimed at improving tuberculosis treatment rates in East Africa; and piloting an agricultural loan program within Meheba Refugee Settlement, Zambia in collaboration with UNHCR and NGO/government partners. She also worked for the Clinton Foundation prior to joining CMF in 2012. Her interests broadly include agricultural development, income security, and initiatives that aim to improve the quality and financing of healthcare services within India.
Sneha Stephen
Sneha holds a BA in Economics from Pune University and an MA in Economics and Politics from the Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Germany. After completing her MA she worked as a Research and Teaching Assistant at the Department for Economic Policy Research in the Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg. In March 2011, she moved back to India to get field experience in the development sector. She worked as a Consultant with The Livelihood School on a World Bank project which involved writing case studies about World Bank supported Rural Livelihood Programmes in 4 states of India. In April 2012, Sneha joined CMF as a Research Associate and is based in Hyderabad.
Surabhi graduated from Emory University with a B.A. in International Relation (High Honors). She continued her studies at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, obtaining a MLitt in Peace and Conflict Studies within the International Relations school. In India, she has previously worked in rural Rajasthan in financial literacy and solar energy and in western Uttar Pradesh researching local village council’s relation to economic development and conflict mitigation. She has also done research in Rwanda and Uganda concerning the effect of social financing, such as with microfinance, on conflict resolution. Her research interests broadly include rural development, rural-urban migration and labour markets, conflict resolution, and alternative energy. She joined CMF in September 2011.
Tetyana Zelenska
After receiving her Ph.D. in Economics from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, Tetyana worked as a Project Associate at the Innovation for Poverty Action, where she contributed to various research projects, including studies on seasonal migration study, index-based insurance, and sanitation; she also co-authored a chapter on household risk management in developing countries for the World Development Report. Prior to joining J-PAL and the Center for Microfinance at IFRM as a Project Head, Tetyana also worked at CARE USA in the Economic Development Unit, focusing on issues of women empowerment and value chain analysis. Her research interests revolve around economic development, microfinance, corruption and labor markets.
Vaishnavi Prathap
Vaishnavi was a TIP/FD intern in 2009 and returned to join CMF as a Research Associate in December 2011. She works as a Data Analyst on multiple projects, including the Tamilnadu Socioeconomic Mobility Panel Survey. She graduated from Madras School of Economics where she studied actuarial science and econometrics. Prior to joining CMF, she was working with Citibank’s Advanced Analytical Solutions team at Bangalore.
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