Praharsh M. Patel

I am a Mathematician by training, a Data Analyst by practice, and a Policy Researcher by profession, but an Environmentalist by Passion.

I am pursuing a Ph.D. in Energy, Environmental, and Food Economics at Pennsylvania State University, specializing in Environment and Natural Resources. My research focuses on environmental policies' intended/unintended consequences on sustainable development in resource-crunched economies. I am interested in water resources and their impact on socioeconomic development, especially groundwater. Before joining Ph.D., I worked as a Pre-Doctoral Fellow with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). I hold a Bachelor's degree in Physical Sciences from St. Stephen's College and a Master's in Mathematics from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. I served as a member on a university-wide inter/trans-disciplinary water research consortium, Water Council (2022-'23) and will be serving as a Graduate Student Engagement Committee of Association of Environment and Resource Economists (AERE, 2024-'25). 

Work/Research Experience

Ph.D. Student | Penn State University                           

[Dec 2020 - present]

Advisory Committee: Dr. Daniel Brent (Chair), Dr. Karen Fisher-Vanden, Dr. Emily Pakhtigian, Dr. Chris Scott

Exploring research interests in the domain of intended and unintended consequences of resource management. Currently working in the intersection of environmental and developmental policies to explore the Water-Energy-Food Nexus challenges and solutions.

·       Leading a study to estimate the causal impact of groundwater conservation policy in Punjab and Haryana states of India on agriculture stubble burning and air pollution using satellite & in-situ data.

·       Working on Institutes of Energy and Environment funded seed grant on “Analyzing the adoption of solar irrigation pumps in India within the food-energy-water: implications for climate change and groundwater depletion.” Designed and implemented fieldwork and data collection of more than 3000 farmers in the state of Gujarat, India.

·       Member of Water Council (2022-2023), Water Council engages hundreds of faculty, staff, and students from across the university, representing more than 10 colleges and institutes and more than a dozen campuses and extension offices across the Commonwealth.  The Water Council defines and advances university-wide water-related priorities in research, education, and outreach and partnership engagement

 

Pre-doctoral Fellow | International Water Management Institute (IWMI)-Tata Water Policy Program

[Aug 2018 - Dec 2020]

Advisor: Prof. Tushaar Shah

·       Evaluating Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) developed by NITI Aayog.

·       Designed and implemented impact analysis of decentralized groundwater recharge activities.

·       Developed research theme on groundwater and agriculture development in an arid region of Kachchh.

·       Started "Prayaas: Movement for Grassroot Changes", a non-profit dedicated for working with horticulture farmers of the Kachchh region to improve market access and market-oriented food processing capabilities.

 

Sr Business Analyst (BigData Analytics) | Optum Global Solution (A UnitedHealth Group Company)

[Jun 2017 - Jul 2018]

·       Worked for the BigData business analytics team on HealthCare provider datasets.

·       Manage and analyze voluminous data to provide recommendations using statistical tools and techniques.



Selected Honors & Awards

Thomas C. And Jackie M. Floore Memorial Scholarship In Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology

[2023-2024]

The College of Agricultural Sciences awards the one-year scholarship for achieving superior academic records or showing promise of academic success in Agriculture Economics and Rural Sociology. 


National Youth Award [Ministry of Youth Affairs|Govt. of India]

[2019, Presented: August, 2021]

Recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Govt. of India for grassroots work in the domains of education, skill development, health, and agriculture through NGO, “Prayaas” and water resources & agriculture-related research in the Kachchh region of India. (Includes cash reward of INR 100,000)

 

Outstanding Performance                                                         

[2018]

For achieving high performance and contribution in projects at Optum Global Solutions.

 

Mukarji Memorial Prize                                                            

[2015]

Awarded for regular work and quality of Perseverance, Industry, and Plain Living at St. Stephen’s College

 

INSPIRE Scholarship                                                   

[2012-2017]

Awarded by Dept. of Science and Technology, Govt. of India to pursue education in science. (INR 60,000/Year)

 

Dhirubhai Ambani Foundation Scholarship               

[2012-2015]

Awarded to pursue bachelor’s degree in science. (INR 15,000/Year) (2012-2017)

Curriculum Vitae

Master_CV_Praharsh_Patel_08_23.pdf