Apprentices

Aakriti Kafle

Jr. Research Analyst

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

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

Anjali Sapkota

Jr. Research Assistant

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

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

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

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 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.

Rukesh Paudel

Jr. Research Assistant

Rukesh Paudel

Jr. Research Assistant

Rukesh is a Computer Science and Information Technology graduate with a background spanning software engineering, AI research, and qualitative data analysis. He has contributed to meaningful research work, including a formative study on Child Trafficking in Nepal, bringing both technical rigor and social awareness to his projects. Passionate about responsible AI, he is driven by the belief that technology should be built thoughtfully — with people and real-world impact at its center.

Dibya Karki

Jr. Research Assistant

Dibya Karki

Jr. Research Assistant

Dibya Karki is an aspiring development enthusiast from Nepal with interests in sustainability, tourism, youth participation, and social impact studies. She actively engages in academic research, policy discussions, and youth-led initiatives that focus on creating meaningful change in society. With strong communication and analytical skills, she is passionate about contributing to innovative ideas, interdisciplinary learning, and community-oriented development.

Suchita Khadka

Jr. Research Assistant

Suchita Khadka

Jr. Research Assistant

Suchita Khadka is a master’s student in Media Studies at Kathmandu University School of Arts. After teaching primary school children in rural Dolakha, she developed a strong interest in educational accessibility and in strengthening public education across the country. Her work is further informed by her dissertation research on Media and Information Literacy (MIL), which underscores the need to focus on nurturing critical thinking from early education in an increasingly digitised, information-saturated world.

Summer Interns

Shashwat Pokharel

Summer Intern

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

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.

Muskan Agrawal

Summer Intern

Muskan Agrawal

Summer Intern

Muskan Agrawal is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Economics at the University of Texas at Arlington, United States, with a minor in Mathematics. Her academic interests include econometrics, financial economics, policy research, institutional performance, and the fragility of economic and financial systems. She is currently co-authoring a faculty-led finance research project on Business Development Companies (BDCs), which operate within the estimated $1.7 trillion global private credit market. Her work examines how governance structures shape BDC market valuation, including NAV discounts across externally and internally managed firms. Through this research, she studies a consequential asset class reshaping capital allocation, corporate financing, and the governance of modern financial markets.

Ava Guenthner

Summer Intern

Ava Guenthner

Summer Intern

Ms. Ava Guenthner is an Intern at the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS). She is an undergraduate student at Duke Kunshan University, majoring in Public Policy. Her academic interests include environmental governance, sustainable development, gender policy, and international relations, with a particular focus on China–South Asia cooperation. At IIDS, she contributes to research and policy analysis on development and environmental issues, including climate-reading technology and regional environmental collaboration. As an American student studying in China, Ms. Guenthner is especially interested in cross-cultural exchange and evidence-based policymaking. She is passionate about exploring practical solutions to environmental and social challenges through research, policy engagement, and international cooperation.

Archita Pokhrel

Summer Intern

Archita Pokhrel

Summer Intern

I am Archita Pokhrel. I study Economics at Lewis & Clark College in Oregon, USA. I am a confident and aspiring young professional with a passion for learning and development. I am eager to leverage education and training in policy making and research analysis to support the growth and the success of a high-performing organization. I am committed to continuous improvement and driving team success. I am enthusiastic about economics as a tool to comprehend and explain the decision-making of individuals and industries and how it affects different sectors of the world by combining both the social and mathematical aspects.

Aasutosh Bhattarai

Summer Intern

Aasutosh Bhattarai

Summer Intern

Aasutosh is an Economics undergraduate at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi. He is deeply interested in understanding how public policy, economic research, and evidence-based decision-making can contribute to inclusive and sustainable development. Over the years, Aasutosh has actively engaged in community service, youth leadership, and civic initiatives. He has been associated with American Corner Surkhet since a young age, where he has contributed to organizing educational programs, public discussions, leadership workshops, and community outreach activities. His experiences have allowed him to work with diverse groups of people, fostering meaningful conversations on social issues, education, and youth empowerment. Alongside his academic pursuits, he has participated in various fellowships, training programs, and conferences related to digital rights, public policy, and social inclusion. He is particularly interested in development economics, climate finance, public policy, and the role of research in addressing real-world challenges.

Bayne Nobili

Summer Intern

Bayne Nobili

Summer Intern

Bayne Nobili is a rising Senior at the college of William & Mary pursuing a double major In International Relations and Economics. As an undergraduate, Bayne has conducted a diverse range of research. He currently serves as a Senior Game Designer with the student-led William & Mary Wargaming Lab, has recently produced econometric analysis on financial incentives for US clinicians as a Schroeder Center for Health Policy Research Affiliate, and has developed novel bibliometric techniques on the war in Ukraine for Senior leadership at the US Army War College.

Anuva Shrestha

Summer Intern

Anuva Shrestha

Summer Intern

Anuva Shrestha is a sophomore at Marist College, New York, double majoring in Applied Mathematics and Business with a Data Science minor. Originally from Kathmandu, she has prior experience in market research and data analysis at DataHub Nepal. She is passionate about evidence-based policymaking that addresses development challenges in Nepal and is particularly interested in leveraging data and technology to strengthen the IT sector and drive sustainable growth. She is excited to contribute to IIDS's research initiatives this summer.

Bishal Panthi

Summer Intern

Bishal Panthi

Summer Intern

Bishal is a rising senior at Amherst College majoring in Economics and Mathematics. He is interested in development economics, trade and evidence-based policymaking. Besides academics, he also has keen interest in biking, hiking and other adventurous activities.

Jeffrey Ren

Summer Intern

Jeffrey Ren

Summer Intern

Jeffrey Ren is a 2026 Summer Research Intern under the Center for Economic Policy at IIDS. He is a student at Swarthmore College pursuing a major in Economics and Psychology; his academic interests focus on behavioral economics, market regulation, and public policy. Jeffrey accumulated diverse analytical and leadership experience: he conducted neuro-cognition laboratory research, managed fiscal allocations as a Budget Lead for campus initiatives, and accelerated his technical toolkit in data analytics software. At IIDS, he leverages this blend of empirical rigor and social advocacy to support new policy projects and evaluate the economic potential in Nepal.

Erik Fagerstrom

Summer Intern

Erik Fagerstrom

Summer Intern

Erik is a rising senior at Haverford College, double majoring in Political Science and Sociology. His focus in political science is international security with specific attention to mass violence and non-state actor violence. In sociology he focuses on crime, culture, and drivers of inequality. At IIDS he brings strong analytical skills and nuanced theoretical grounding to his research. He is driven by a passion for finding practical ways of preventing and reducing mass sources of harm and suffering.

Nina Appicello

Summer Intern

Nina Appicello

Summer Intern

Nina Appicello is a recent graduate of the College of William & Mary, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations. Currently, she serves as a summer intern at the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS). Her academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of technology diplomacy, economic development, AI, and policy-making. At IIDS this summer, Nina supports the organization's IT 2.0 initiative while pursuing a personal research project that analyzes and compares Nepal's historical and contemporary budget allocations.

Volunteers

Shreya Gorkhali

Volunteer

Shreya Gorkhali

Volunteer

Shreya Gorkhali is a fourth-year undergraduate Economics student at Kathmandu University School of Arts. She is interested in development economics and public policy, particularly in the context of Nepal’s socio-economic challenges. She has experience working with quantitative and econometric methods to study issues such as climate change, labor markets, and inequality. She is interested in how data-driven research and policy can work together to address inequality, expand opportunities, and support more inclusive and sustainable development.

Sineria Regmi

Volunteer

Sineria Regmi

Volunteer

Sineria Regmi is an intern at the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS), contributing to Project Gyan, an initiative focused on strengthening the STEM pipeline. She completed her higher secondary education and has demonstrated a strong commitment to education through her volunteer teaching experience at NGO Ketaaketi, where she worked with underprivileged children in the Pashupati area. With a passion for mathematics and teaching, she brings both academic enthusiasm and hands-on community experience to her work in STEM outreach. Sineria will be furthering her academic journey by pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering in the United States.

Apprentices

Apprentices

Aakriti Kafle

Ashila Gurung

Anjali Sapkota

Shriju Thapa

Karan Mahato

Amesh Pandey

Aadya Maya Aryal

Rukesh Paudel

Dibya Karki

Suchita Khadka

Summer Interns

Shashwat Pokharel

Arnav Pokharel

Muskan Agrawal

Ava Guenthner

Archita Pokhrel

Aasutosh Bhattarai

Bayne Nobili

Anuva Shrestha

Bishal Panthi

Jeffrey Ren

Erik Fagerstrom

Nina Appicello

Volunteers

Shreya Gorkhali

Sineria Regmi

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