My fields of specialization are Applied Microeconomics, Labor and Public Economics. Specifically, I work on exploring the causes, consequences and solutions to the issues of under-representation of women in STEM fields in college, STEM occupations and the gender earnings gap. More broadly, my research interests include handling large datasets and using econometric methods to find causal estimates of the effects of education and related policies as well as studying issues like discrimination in all its forms.

Why should we, as economists, expend time and resources to study the issue of gender gap in STEM? There are several economic consequences of women being under-represented in STEM fields. It contributes to the gender earnings gap. It is economically inefficient. And it implies that scientific inventions may not adequately account for the needs of half of the population.

In graduate school, I evaluated how the 2009 Race to the Top program and the adoption of common K-12 standards - the most-used policy promoted by program - affected students' high school and post-secondary performance and career choices, as well as the gender gaps in these outcomes. In my previous project, I explored how teacher gender affects girls' high school STEM performance and preference.

I received my Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Calcutta in 2014 and my Masters degree in Economics from Jadavpur University in 2016 (both in India). In 2017, I travelled to the United States from India to pursue graduate studies at Purdue University (Indiana). There, I received a second Masters degree in 2018, and completed my doctoral degree in Economics on August 2023.

I have a keen interest in teaching, since I believe my professors (both at Purdue and my undergraduate institutions in India) greatly influenced the course of my academic career through their belief in my capabilities, their patience and their encouragement.