Research Faculty

SENIOR FELLOW
	SANJAY GUPTA
Shri Sanjay Gupta has over two decades of senior-level experience in strategy advice and policy advocacy in the areas of green growth, climate resilience, blue economy, water governance, gender, and rural livelihoods across Asia, Europe and the USA. He has worked for the World Bank, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Asian Development Bank, the United States House of Representatives, Malmö University, international NGOs, and the private sector. He has also been a member of the Track 2 dialogue on Indus River cooperation between India and Pakistan. The key outcomes have been several policy changes from multi-country to the national level, such as the new National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management Policy in India, transboundary river cruises between Bangladesh and India, creation of a global initiative on environmental education, development of the first hydro-diplomacy curriculum in South Asia, multi-fold increase in the participation of women in livelihood programs in select states of India, incorporation of multi-stakeholder communication and inclusive governance approach in WASH across South Asia, and establishment of the bipartisan Caucus on India and Indian-Americans in the US Congress. Sanjay has a master’s degree in Communication for Development from Malmö University, Sweden; a Master of Science in Marine Environmental Sciences from the University at Stony Brook, New York, USA; and a B.Sc. (Honors) in Physics from St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, India.
SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW
	SUDESHNA
Sudeshna is a transformative leader with over 22 years of expertise in policy advocacy, strategic communication, capacity building, and program management. Her work has consistently driven impactful change across social, economic, and environmental sectors. Her core strengths lie in market-driven growth, where she develops inclusive strategies focused on innovation and sustainable economic development. She also brings deep experience in designing integrated responses to systemic challenges in education, climate change, gender equity, and water, strengthening resilience at both community and policy levels. As a committed climate champion, Sudeshna leads adaptation strategies to mitigate the evolving risks of a changing climate. With a sharp understanding of narrative and influence, she crafts compelling messaging that informs policy, mobilizes stakeholders, and drives collective action. Passionate about building just and resilient systems, Sudeshna leverages collaboration and innovation as key instruments for change.
RESEARCH FELLOWS
	DR MOHMAD WASEEM MALLA
Dr. Mohmad Waseem Malla is a Research Fellow at the International Centre for Peace Studies (ICPS), New Delhi, where he also serves as Assistant Editor of its quarterly peer-reviewed publication, Journal of Peace Studies (JPS). He holds a PhD in International Studies, with a specialization in Media and West Asian (Middle Eastern) Studies, from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. His doctoral research examines the intersections of media and foreign policy, offering a media-centric perspective on Saudi-Iranian relations within the broader framework of political and global communication. Dr. Malla’s research interests include political communication in Middle Eastern and South Asian contexts, geopolitics, media-state relations, and the evolving dynamics of populism and digital authoritarianism in South Asia. His academic work has appeared in journals such as Middle East Policy, Journal of Media and Communication Studies, and Springer publications, while his commentaries have been featured on platforms like East Asia Forum, Asia Times, The Indian Express, and the Middle East Policy Council. Moreover, he is the founder of Middle East Outlook (MEO), an online platform that aims to provide research-driven analysis of events in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region. At ICPS, Dr. Malla monitors geopolitical developments in the Middle East and South Asia, with a particular focus on Bangladesh, Pakistan and the strategic implications of China’s regional rise. He also explores themes related to extremism and peace discourses in digital spaces.
	DR SYED EESAR MEHDI
Dr Syed Eesar Mehdi is a Research Fellow at the International Centre for Peace Studies (ICPS), New Delhi. He was previously affiliated with the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), New Delhi, as a Research Assistant. He holds a PhD in International Relations from South Asian University, New Delhi. Dr. Mehdi’s research explores the complexities of identity politics, with a particular focus on Kashmir. He has published extensively in reputed journals such as EPW, India Quarterly, International Studies, Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs (JASIA), Journal of Borderlands Studies, and Strategic Analysis. His broader research interests include peacebuilding, counterterrorism, and international relations theory, with a particular emphasis on non-Western epistemologies and their practical applications.
	DR ANKITA SANYAL
Dr Ankita Sanyal is a Research Fellow at the International Centre for Peace Studies (ICPS), New Delhi. She holds a Ph.D. in International Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where she also earned her M.Phil. and Master’s degrees from the School of International Studies (SIS). She completed her undergraduate studies in Political Science (Honours) at St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata. Dr. Sanyal has contributed chapters to edited volumes and published articles in peer-reviewed journals. Her research interests span minority studies, gender studies, cultural studies, education, peace and conflict studies, counterterrorism, and non-traditional security issues. She has undertaken fieldwork and academic visits to Iran, Indonesia, and Bangladesh as part of her research engagements. At ICPS, her work focuses on South Asian geopolitics, with a particular emphasis on Bangladesh.
ASSOCIATE RESEARCH FELLOWS
	DR IMRAN KHURSHID
Dr. Imran Khurshid is an Associate Research Fellow at the International Centre for Peace Studies (ICPS), New Delhi. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Kashmir, with a specialization in Indo-Pacific studies and South Asian security. His research primarily explores India–US strategic relations and the evolving geopolitical dynamics of the region. Dr. Khurshid has published his work in several reputed academic journals, contributing to scholarly discourse on regional security and international strategy.
	RUCHI SHARMA
Ruchi Sharma is an Associate Research Fellow at the International Centre for Peace Studies (ICPS), New Delhi. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the Centre for West Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where her research focuses on gender politics and women’s participation in the public sphere in Iran. She holds a Master’s degree in Politics with a specialization in International Relations from JNU and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Delhi. Her areas of interest include women’s movements, postcolonial theory, and cultural studies, with a particular focus on West Asia and South Asia.