Education

Doctor of Philosophy | Gates Scholar | University of Cambridge (Churchill College)

Thesis title: Contextualising energy justice in poverty

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 is funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

Other affiliated groups: AI for the study of environmental risks (AI4ER), University of Cambridge; Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford; Energy Efficiency and Digitalisation Division, International Energy Agency

Master of Philosophy in Engineering for Sustainable Development | Commonwealth Scholar | University of Cambridge (Girton College)

Dissertation title: 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 of 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 title: Future-proofing rural kitchens in India using building physics and computational fluid dynamics

Here I have explored ways to reduce indoor air pollution in rural kitchens of India with firewood as 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 both affordable and effective in reducing exposure to particulate matters and smoke due to firewood burning. Methodologically it involved rigorous field experimentation, computational fluid dynamic modelling and intervention point identification. This master degree was supported financially through 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 title: Fault detection through vibration sensing using low-cost Arduino sensor

Here I used 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.