Apprentices
Palasha Tuladhar
Jr. Research Analyst
Palasha recently earned her master's degree in International Development from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh. Previously, she worked with trainees and workers from 19 different countries as an International Program Assistant at the YMCA of the Rockies. Additionally, in her role as an Enrollment Coordinator at Literacy Pittsburgh, she managed citizenship classes and directly assisted refugees and migrants from diverse backgrounds. This hands-on experience and her background in research has provided her with invaluable insight into the complexities of migration.
Aakriti Kafle
Jr. Research Analyst
Ms. Aakriti Kafle is an enthusiastic Agricultural Economics student with experience in both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Her research interests focus on inclusive agricultural development, evidence-based policy making, and linking grassroots data with broader development goals. She has conducted research supported by the USAID Livestock Systems Innovation Lab (LSIL) grant, exploring opportunities and barriers for women’s participation in the dairy value chain in Nawalparasi East district. In addition, she has contributed to impact assessments of SwissContact’s agricultural interventions across various districts in Koshi Province. She is also a published researcher, with her work focused on agricultural value chains and crop management practices. She is passionate about addressing socioeconomic issues, gender equity, social inclusion, and economic prosperity through evidence-based research, policy advocacy, and inclusive development.
Ashila Gurung
Jr. Operation Analyst
Ashila Gurung is a Junior Operation Analyst at the Institute for Integrated Development Studies
(IIDS). She holds a Master’s in Business Administration and has experience in operations,
stakeholder engagement, administrative coordination, and project management. Her interests
include development operations, institutional management, and evidence-based policy. In her free
time, she enjoys spending time in nature and engaging in community activities
Shakshyam Kafle
Jr. Research Assistant
Shakshyam Kafle is a civil engineer with a passion for sustainable infrastructure, urban water management, and transportation systems. A graduate of Pulchowk Campus, he has conducted research on waste management in Kathmandu. Shakshyam brings hands-on experience in field engineering and has contributed to the detailed design of key transportation projects. With a strong foundation in environmental and transportation engineering, he is committed to building resilient infrastructure through global collaboration, research, and lifelong learning.
Anjali Sapkota
Jr. Research Assistant
Anjali Sapkota is a Computer Engineering graduate with a growing portfolio in data science, analytics, and AI. She has contributed to educational and environmental research through the development of a climate data analysis project focused on Nepal. She is interested in problem-solving and applying data analysis and research to meaningful, real-world challenges.
Shriju Thapa
Jr. Research Assistant
Shriju Thapa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and has been working in the education sector since 2021. She brings experience in curriculum development, program management, and research support, with strong skills in data analysis and documentation. Her interests lie in advancing education and community-based learning.
Karan Mahato
Jr. Research Assistant
Karan Mahato is a recent graduate from DePauw University, Indiana, USA with a double major in Economics and Anthropology and a minor in Political Science. He has conducted a wide range of research, from analyzing trade patterns in the SAARC region to exploring urban development in Kathmandu and the effects of the U.S.-China trade conflict on Vietnam. With experience in policy research, he is passionate about evidence-based policymaking that addresses development challenges. Karan aims to contribute his analytical skills and learn from the IIDS’s expertise while furthering his long-term goal of engaging in inclusive economic development and policymaking in Nepal.
Amesh Pandey
Jr. Research Assistant
Amesh Pandey is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a degree in Business Administration. He previously worked on Nepal’s energy transition and hydropower strategy as a Summer Intern at IIDS. He has also studied at Kathmandu University School of Management and at Palacký University in Olomouc, Czechia, where he focused on European political history, World War II, and the Soviet era. His current interests lie in development economics, international trade, energy, and geopolitics.
Aadya Maya Aryal
Jr. Research Assistant
Aadya recently completed her Bachelor’s degree in International Social and Public Policy & Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She has gained hands-on experience in policy research in both Kathmandu and London, particularly in the fields of youth unemployment, education, and democracy. She is deeply passionate about bettering the institutions and systems that shape people’s lives in Nepal.
Summer Interns
Shashwat Pokharel
Summer Intern
Shashwat Pokharel completed his undergraduate degree with a triple major in Economics, Psychology and Sociology from Christ University, Bangalore, and has recently finished the first year of his Master’s in Applied Economics at the same institution. He is currently working on his dissertation on the trends and determinants of electric vehicle (EV) adoption in India, focusing on policy, economic factors and consumer behavior.
He is interested in working with data and understanding how economic decisions and trends work in practice.
Arnav Pokharel
Summer Intern
Arnav Pokharel is an intern at the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS). He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Applied Economics and completed his undergraduate studies in Sociology, Psychology, and Economics at Christ University, Bangalore. His interests lie in macroeconomic research, development issues, and public policy, with a focus on understanding broader socio-economic dynamics.