.

Prof. Dr. Janina Isabel Steinert, Principal Investigator
Janina studied Political Science at the University of Konstanz and the Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne and holds a Master´s degree and a DPhil (PhD) from the University of Oxford. Before becoming a Professor of Global Health at the Technical University of Munich, she was a Post-Doc Researcher at the Development Economics Department at the University of Göttingen. Her research primarily explores the intersection of global health and development economics. Her work addresses critical issues such as the complex relationship between poverty and disease, strategies for preventing domestic violence and HIV/AIDS, and the ethical challenges inherent in development research. Her methodological expertise includes conducting randomized controlled trials and designing behavioural experiments in countries across the Global South. Additionally, she has contributed to the field through several systematic reviews and meta-analyses, providing a comprehensive perspective on pressing global challenges.

.

Shruti Shukla, Research Associate
Shruti has a Master's in Biotechnology from the University of Pune in India, a Post graduation diploma in Liberal Arts from Ashoka University in India and a Master's in Global Health from Maastricht University in The Netherlands. With over seven years of multidisciplinary experience in global health research and fieldwork in the Global South, she specializes in gender-transformative interventions and their impact on adolescent, maternal, and child health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Her current research explores the intersections of empowerment strategies, gender norms, maternal health outcomes, and gender-based violence. She is currently finishing her PhD and has been working on the ECOVI project since January 2024. 

fffff

Rucha Vasumathi Satish, Consultant
Rucha is actively engaged in ground-level advocacy and research, with an academic background in Political Science and Social Work. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Garware College, Pune, and a Master of Social Work from the Karve Institute of Social Service, affiliated with UNIPUNE - Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU). She has further expanded her expertise through a course in Gender Studies at KIINS (Pune University). Focused on addressing social issues, Rucha has worked with various NGOs and research projects on themes such as gender and violence, health, rural and marginalized women, caste, women's livelihoods, and structural violence. As a trainer, she conducts gender sensitivity workshops, develops curricula addressing gender discrimination, and engages young boys to foster awareness about gender equality. She has also actively participated in feminist movements and campaigns.

Her research work includes significant projects such as "Save Today, Be Happy Tomorrow" with the University of Göttingen, Germany; "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Gender Inequality in India" as Field Research Project Manager for the Technical University of Munich (TUM); and "Understanding Structural Violence Against Rural Women in the Context of Agrarian Distress in Maharashtra, Telangana, and Punjab." Currently, she is contributing to a project on economic violence in India. Through her academic knowledge, fieldwork, and advocacy, Rucha continues to address systemic challenges and promote gender equality and justice. 

.

Ines Boehret, Research Associate and PhD Student
Ines holds a BA in International Emergency and Disaster Relief from Akkon University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, an MSc in Global Health from the University of Manchester, and an MA in Caritas Science and Value-Based Management from the University of Passau. She has also worked with various NGOs, gaining extensive experience in the health and education sectors. She joined the project in January 2024. Her research focuses on strategies to prevent financial violence and explores the complex intersections between financial violence and women’s reproductive rights and health.

.

Vasanthi Suppramonia Pillai, Research Associate
Vasanthi holds a BA in Economics from Stella Maris College in India and an MSc in Economics from the University of Warwick in the UK. She has previously worked with development research organisations like LEAD at Krea (IFMR) and J-PAL, where she was part of multiple randomised controlled trials studying thematic areas such as poverty and cognition and informal labour markets in India. From May to December 2024, Vasanthi joined the project, bringing her expertise to the team. She has since returned to focusing on her dissertation at the Professorship of Behavioral Science for Disease Prevention and Health Care at the TUM School of Medicine and Health.

.

Anushree Dirangane, Research Associate, MA, MPP, Psychologist (BDP)
Anushree joined the project in November 2024. Her academic journey started with a Master's in Applied Psychology from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, in 2016. Since then, she has worked as a practicing psychologist for eight years, with a focus on supporting individuals and communities affected by gender-based violence, trauma, and mental health challenges. Over the years, she has worked closely with survivors of trafficking, child abuse, and domestic violence, as well as providing trauma care for healthcare workers in Uganda. In 2024, she completed a second Master's in Public Policy at the University of Erfurt, combining her interest in mental health with broader systemic approaches. Her work often blends psychological practice with community and policy-level interventions, aiming to create spaces for long-term resilience and well-being at both individual and structural levels.

Srirupa Biswas, Research Intern
Srirupa is enroute to receiving a BSc in Economics from Calcutta University as well as a diploma in Data Science from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. She has worked with the Government of India on projects researching climatic vulnerabilities faced by people of the Sundarbans region, as well as with other organizations working on women’s participation in the gig economy and vulnerabilities faced by the urban poor in Calcutta. She joined the team in April 2025, and will be starting a Master’s in Economics at Toulouse School of Economics in fall 2025.

Vikas Choudhry, Senior Researcher, MD, PhD
Vikas Choudhry is a medical doctor and social epidemiologist with extensive experience in public health research and implementation, particular focussing on sexual and reproductive health and rights. He was awarded the EU-funded Erasmus Mundus scholarship for his Ph.D. studies at Lund University, Sweden. His work centers on generating and applying evidence on the role of individual agency in shaping effective, gender- and norms-focused social and behavior change (SBC) programming to enhance community health and well-being. Currently, he serves as an Advisor in the Public Health vertical at Sambodhi Research and Communications Pvt. Ltd. Vikas has previously collaborated with a wide range of institutions, including academic organizations, UN agencies, philanthropic foundations, multilateral organizations, national and state governments, and policy think tanks. He is also the author of more than 15 peer-reviewed articles and editorials.

Jithin Jose, Senior Research Manager
Jithin Jose is a seasoned professional with a decade of experience in the fields of public health, financial inclusion, and livelihoods. As a Senior Manager at Sambodhi Research Communication Ltd, Jithin has played a pivotal role in leading research initiatives aimed at strengthening health systems, with a particular focus on health information systems. His expertise spans across program evaluation, data-driven insights, and evidence-based policy recommendations.

Shraddha Upadhyay, Research Manager
Shraddha is a development practitioner with expertise in program implementation, research, and monitoring and evaluation. At Sambodhi, she led the nationwide evaluation of Women and Child Development (WCD) schemes for DMEO–NITI Aayog, managing field operations across 13 states. She also implemented the Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiative’s Gender-Based Violence project in Delhi’s urban slums, leading the Centre for Women, focused on feminist counselling, legal aid, and vocational training for women. Her work spans projects with IFAD, MAVIM, Kudumbashree, Meghalaya SRLM, and The/Nudge Foundation across gender, public health, livelihoods, and social protection. With a Master’s in Sociology, Shraddha brings an inclusive lens to mixed-methods research, MEL systems, and gender-responsive programming.

Aashritha Shrinath, Student Assistant
Aashritha is currently pursuing a M.Sc. in Data and Society at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). She holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi, graduating in 2018. Motivated by a strong interest in the social sector, she began her professional journey as a Program Coordinator at Sunbeam ChildFund Association, an NGO based in Bengaluru, India. Here, her responsibilities included planning and managing activities and events, along with overseeing fundraising efforts and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

Following this, she worked as a mentor and educator for students in the K–12 segment of the Indian education system. Later she joined Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), publisher of the global university ranking, working as a Student Enrolment Advisor in their Student Success team.

Amartya Krishna Roy, Implementation Officer

Amartya is a social impact enthusiast with over 7 years of experience working at the crossroads of strategy consulting, policy advocacy, capacity building, research, MEL, program implementation and data-driven development. He has had the chance to work with a wide range of organizations, from UN bodies and multilateral agencies to central and state government departments, nonprofits, research agencies, CSRs, and global consulting firms.

Amartya brings an interdisciplinary academic foundation — with an undergraduate focus in Physics, Mathematics, and Statistics, followed by two postgraduate degrees: one in Data Analytics from Praxis Tech School, and another in Rural Development Management from NIRD&PR, Hyderabad. This blend of quantitative rigor and on-the-ground development insight fuels his ability to navigate both high-level strategy and grassroots execution. Over the years, he has worked across a wide spectrum — from impact measurement and evidence-based strategy design to capacity building, research, MEL, and large-scale program implementation — often juggling multiple stakeholders and navigating complex environments.

He is especially passionate about using data and evidence to shape better policy and drive meaningful change. Whether it’s leading projects on the ground, building strong teams, or crafting compelling proposals, Amartya enjoys solving complex problems and delivering results that matter.