Our Team

Dr. Rajaram S, a seasoned professional with a Ph.D. and M.Phil in Population Studies from the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, has over 28 years of research experience.

Holding an M.Sc. in Demography from the University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Rajaram possesses a robust academic background. His roles as Research Associate at the Population Foundation of India and Research Officer at the Population Research Centre involved monitoring and evaluating projects, crafting proposals, and supervising field staff. As a Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded project, Rajaram ensured
coordinated efforts, provided technical guidance, and managed data analysis. His recent role as a Household Survey Consultant for UNICEF, EAPRO, involved overseeing surveys, collaborating with the
MICS coordinator, and contributing to regional planning. Additionally, Rajaram brings teaching experience and proficiency in statistical packages like SPSS, Stata, and SAS, making him adept at project management and collaborative problem-solving

Arin Kar holds post-graduate degrees in Economics and Population Studies. He has over 15 years of experience in the monitoring and evaluation of public health programs. At KHPT, he supports in the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems for intervention projects. Prior to joining KHPT, he worked with the Technical Support Unit of Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society as Strategic Planning Team Leader and at the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, as a research officer.

Ambuja Kowlgi has a PhD in Anthropology with a Specialization in Medical Anthropology. As an anthropologist, she has been involved in research and analysis and assisted many qualitative studies as an anthropologist and qualitative research consultant, specializing in health, gender and education. She has worked with national and international research teams and organizations, including Sambodhi Research Communications, The Hunger Project, Jeeva- a research initiative,  over the past decade.

Teaching:

International Diploma in Reproductive Health Management, Karnatak University, Dharwad
Transdisciplinary Center for Qualitative Methods, MAHE, Manipal

Publications:

Searching in The backyard: Kunabi Child Care from an Ethnopediatric Perspective Ambuja Kowlgi and C. G. Hussain Khan, Manipal University Press, May 2017
Ethnopediatrics: an emerging field Karnatak University Journal Vol 1Dec 2009
Practices of evil eye in rural Karnataka Eastern Anthropologist 2004
Open courts: Child Labour: Report and a short documentary, UNICEF: 2006
Ethnographic Profile of Sex Workers of Dharwad (Prostitution and Beyond: Sage Publications) 2008

Atreyee Sinha is a social scientist with over 5 years of work experience in health, nutrition, policy evaluation and Tuberculosis in collaboration with international agencies. She has a Doctoral Degree in Population Studies from International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) Mumbai. Skilled in social science research, handling large scale data and scientific writing, Atreyee has presented her works at numerous national/international conferences and has a number of publications to her credit. Her areas of research interest include (but are not limited to) gender studies, sexual & reproductive health and rights, social aspects of TB and HIV/AIDS, and Mental health.

She currently plays the role of Monitoring and Evaluation Lead for the USAID-funded Breaking the Barriers Project at KHPT.

With an M.Phil degree in Biostatistics & Demography, Mani Deep has over five years of experience in implementing and analyzing large-scale surveys. He specializes in designing and implementing Monitoring and Evaluation plans for MNCH projects.

Prior to his current position, Mani Deep worked on the “National Family Health Survey round Five (NFHS-5)” project at the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS). He also served as a Data Analyst for the “National Research Study on Human Trafficking in India” project at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). Additionally, he worked as a Bio-Statistician at YAGNA, where he analyzed various health-related data sets, including HIV Sentinel Surveillance and National Integrated Biological & Behavioural Surveillance, NFHS(Round III & IV), and District Level Household Survey Round IV.

Mani Deep’s contributions have been recognized through publications, awards and presentations. He received the Dr. C. Chandrasekharan Young Scientist Award for his research on handling missing data in large-scale health surveys. He also received the PROF. S N SINGH Best Poster Award for his work on the prevalence of hypertension in the southern Indian population.

Outside of work, Mani Deep actively participates in co-curricular activities and sports. He has been a member of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and has achieved high grades. He has also pursued karate and has reached an advanced level. In addition, he enjoys playing football, skating, and swimming.

Ajit Kumar Kannaujiya holds a PhD and an MPhil in Population Studies from the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai. Before joining KHPT, he worked as a junior research scientist and research analyst on the GENDER project at IIPS. He is interested in family planning, maternal and child health, gender issues, and nutrition. He has been published in several peer-reviewed journals and has specialized skills in handling large-scale survey data, such as the National Family and Health Survey (NFHS).

Ashwini Pujar is a social scientist with eight years of experience in the research field. She holds a PhD in Anthropology, specializing in Biological Anthropology. As an anthropologist, Ashwini has been involved in qualitative studies conducted at KHPT. She has extensive knowledge of the field situation in northern Karnataka and expertise in managing large-scale qualitative studies. Her skills include preparing study tools, training field investigators in qualitative research techniques, data collection, coding, analysis, and scientific writing. In addition to her work at KHPT, Ashwini has collaborated with the Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute in Mysuru. She has numerous publications in international journals.

Dipty Nawal is a Data Scientist with around ten years of experience in predictive modeling, data-centric results, and dissemination. Her expertise includes infographics, design thinking, deep learning, and machine learning. During her eight years with CARE India, she designed and implemented several program initiatives. Dipty is passionate about working with quantitative data and large-scale surveys, applying her technology, data, and research skills to deliver products to end-users. She combines policy and subject matter expertise into product documentation.

Dipty is also the co-founder of Data Science Tribe, which aims to impart data science skills to professionals, training them to understand data-centric results in applied science so businesses can act on information across all leadership levels. She holds an Internal Assessor certification for the National Quality Assurance Standard (NHSRC) and has several peer-reviewed publications in public health. Dipty has a Master’s degree in Social Work from TISS and an MPhil in Population Studies from IIPS.

Apurva, currently works as an M & E officer in the Adolescent Health thematic of KHPT. She has pursued her Master’s in Economics from University of Hyderabad and has over five years of working experience as a researcher in Economics. She enjoys reading non-fiction books and engages with social concerns largely through a structural framework.

Liyakhat Peerjade holds an MBA and a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Application. With over 15 years of experience in the development sector, specializing in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), he excels in designing and implementing M&E frameworks, data analysis, and impact assessment for various development projects. Liyakhat’s expertise lies in ensuring the effective tracking of project outcomes and optimizing program performance.

Sandeep H has over 15 years of experience in the field. He holds a Diploma in IT from Visvesvaraya Technological University and has completed a Certificate Course on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of Health Programs (CCME). His experience includes designing, implementing, and developing assessment tools, concept notes, and training manuals for rural HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs.

Sandeep’s core competencies are developing monitoring and evaluation plans, handling issues related to MIS/CMIS, analyzing data, and strengthening data quality through supportive supervision and monitoring visits. He has implemented screening, mapping, validation, and research surveys among the general, at-risk, and vulnerable populations in urban and rural areas.

Imran D is a self-motivated professional with over 9 years of experience in TB and HIV/AIDS as a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, specializing in Health Research Management. He holds a Master’s degree in Commerce and certifications from St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences and the Public Health Foundation of India. Imran has led monitoring and evaluation efforts in Karnataka for the Vihaan HIV Project. His analytical skills have helped him achieve project goals effectively.