Education

Doctor of Philosophy  | Gates Scholar | University of Cambridge 

Thesis title: Contextualising energy justice in low-income built environment

Methodological focus: Computational Social Science

Thesis link: https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.78443 

During my PhD as a Gates Scholar, I was a member of the Energy Policy Research Group at Cambridge Judge Business School and Behaviour and Building Performance Group at the Martin Centre: Sustainable buildings and cities, Department of Architecture. My research explored what causes distributive injustices in slums of India, Brazil, and Nigeria concerning access to clean and affordable energy.  I used a computational social science approach building on the theories of distributive energy justice, practice-based approaches and energy cultures. The computational part was driven by natural language processing (NLP), structural equation modelling and machine learning. A critical outcome of my thesis is a novel methodology called 'deep-narrative analysis' that uses a nested application of NLP and grounded theory to reduce directional bias in narrative analysis. This PhD was funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through the Gates-Cambridge Scholarship. 

Master of Philosophy in Engineering for Sustainable Development | Commonwealth Scholar | University of Cambridge

Dissertation: Energy use, health and well-being in slum rehabilitation housing using a backcasting approach

In my MPhil in Engineering, I worked on identifying the determinants of discomfort and distress in slum rehabilitation housing in India using a backcasting approach. The main question was why occupants abandon social housing (slum rehabilitation housing) and rebound to informal settlements in Mumbai. A critical outcome of my dissertation was the identification of pinch points for policy interventions that can promote a better quality of life in such settlements. This MPhil was funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and Cambridge Trust through the Commonwealth-Shared Scholarship.

Master of Technology in Technology and Development | Ministry Scholar | Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Dissertation: Future-proofing rural kitchens in India using computational fluid dynamics 

Here I have explored ways to reduce indoor air pollution in rural kitchens of India with firewood as the primary cooking fuel using building physics and airflow modelling. The primary outcome of this research was a kitchen design that can support a high rate of air exchanges through natural ventilation, which is affordable and effective in reducing exposure to particulate matter and smoke due to firewood burning. Methodologically it involved rigorous field experimentation, computational fluid dynamic modelling and intervention point identification.  This master's degree was supported financially through the GATE scholarship by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. 

Bachelor of Technology in Electrical and Electronics Engineering | School of Engineering and Technology, SU

Dissertation: Fault detection through ultra-sonic vibration sensing using low-cost Arduino sensor

Here I designed a low-cost vibration sensor using Arduino and a mini gyroscope for fault detection through motor vibration. Methodologically it involved designing the sensor and its testing on household appliances with large motors like desert coolers, ceiling fans, and agricultural pumps. Fast-Fourier transform was used for data analysis and peak detection of the vibration signals.