I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. My research examines how public policies can drive sustainable transformations by addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and inequality. I use computational and data-driven approaches to investigate how large-scale policy interventions can advance equitable and climate-resilient transformations in lower- and middle-income countries. I hold a Ph.D. (Environment and Sustainability) from the University of Michigan, along with advanced training in analytics and management from the Indian School of Business (ISB) and the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM-C). I also participated in the Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP 2023) at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria.
An interdisciplinary approach is central to my work, integrating theories and emerging methods from geography, public policy, sustainability science, applied econometrics, and data science to evaluate how policy instruments address contemporary sustainability challenges. My research draws on diverse datasets from remote sensing, household surveys, and national censuses, spanning broad spatial and temporal scales. It is organized into three clusters: (1) AI and Sustainability, (2) Environmental Change, and (3) Safety Net for People and Planet.
1. Climate Change, Inequality, and Health
This study examines how temperature anomalies and socioeconomic inequality jointly shape childhood stunting across African countries. Using multi-country survey data linked with climate change attribution datasets, the paper identifies the socioeconomic pathways through which anthropogenic climate change impacts child health. The analysis provides policy-relevant evidence on how inequality mediates the impacts of climate change on child health and human development.
2. Climate Change, Inequality, and Conflicts
This study examines how climate change influences conflict dynamics across African countries. By integrating data on climate change, socioeconomic inequality, and local conflict events, the work seeks to understand the socioeconomic pathways through which environmental stress can intensify risks of violence. The goal is to generate policy-relevant insights that inform strategies for promoting peace and resilience in a warming world.
3. Public Works Programs and Food Security
This research examines how Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) shapes the relationship between wealth inequality and food insecurity. Using longitudinal household data, the study investigates how large-scale public works programs can promote equity, strengthen food security, and enhance climate resilience in lower- and middle-income countries.
4. Public Works Programs and Multiple Sustainability Outcomes
This study investigates how India’s Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the world’s largest public works program, influences economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability. Drawing on a decade of nationally representative data covering more than 800 million public works projects, the research explores how large-scale social assistance programs can contribute to transformative and climate-resilient development in lower- and middle-income countries.
This study examines how temperature anomalies and socioeconomic inequality jointly shape childhood stunting across African countries. Using multi-country survey data linked with climate change attribution datasets, the paper identifies the socioeconomic pathways through which anthropogenic climate change impacts child health. The analysis provides policy-relevant evidence on how inequality mediates the impacts of climate change on child health and human development.
2. Climate Change, Inequality, and Conflicts
This study examines how climate change influences conflict dynamics across African countries. By integrating data on climate change, socioeconomic inequality, and local conflict events, the work seeks to understand the socioeconomic pathways through which environmental stress can intensify risks of violence. The goal is to generate policy-relevant insights that inform strategies for promoting peace and resilience in a warming world.
3. Public Works Programs and Food Security
This research examines how Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) shapes the relationship between wealth inequality and food insecurity. Using longitudinal household data, the study investigates how large-scale public works programs can promote equity, strengthen food security, and enhance climate resilience in lower- and middle-income countries.
4. Public Works Programs and Multiple Sustainability Outcomes
This study investigates how India’s Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the world’s largest public works program, influences economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability. Drawing on a decade of nationally representative data covering more than 800 million public works projects, the research explores how large-scale social assistance programs can contribute to transformative and climate-resilient development in lower- and middle-income countries.
6. Pradhan, N., Agrawal, A., Mapping fine-scale socioeconomic inequality using machine learning and remotely sensed data, PNAS Nexus, 2025;, pgaf040, https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf040
5. Fischer, H.W., Chhatre, A., Duddu, A., Pradhan, N., Agrawal, A., 2023. Community forest governance and synergies among carbon, biodiversity and livelihoods. Nat. Clim. Chang. 13, 1340–1347. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01863-6
4. Agrawal, A., Erbaugh, J., Pradhan, N., 2023. The Commons. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 48, 531–558. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-112320-113509
3. Agrawal, A., Brandhorst, S., Jain, M., Liao, C., Pradhan, N., Solomon, D., 2022. From environmental governance to governance for sustainability. One Earth 5, 615–621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.05.014
2. Erbaugh, J.T., Pradhan, N., Adams, J., Oldekop, J.A., Agrawal, A., Brockington, D., Pritchard, R., Chhatre, A., 2020. Global forest restoration and the importance of prioritizing local communities. Nat Ecol Evol 4, 1472–1476. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-01282-2
1. Davis, K.F., Chhatre, A., Rao, N.D., Singh, D., Ghosh-Jerath, S., Mridul, A., Poblete-Cazenave, M., Pradhan, N., DeFries, R., 2019. Assessing the sustainability of post-Green Revolution cereals in India. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 116, 25034–25041. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1910935116
5. Fischer, H.W., Chhatre, A., Duddu, A., Pradhan, N., Agrawal, A., 2023. Community forest governance and synergies among carbon, biodiversity and livelihoods. Nat. Clim. Chang. 13, 1340–1347. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01863-6
4. Agrawal, A., Erbaugh, J., Pradhan, N., 2023. The Commons. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 48, 531–558. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-112320-113509
3. Agrawal, A., Brandhorst, S., Jain, M., Liao, C., Pradhan, N., Solomon, D., 2022. From environmental governance to governance for sustainability. One Earth 5, 615–621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.05.014
2. Erbaugh, J.T., Pradhan, N., Adams, J., Oldekop, J.A., Agrawal, A., Brockington, D., Pritchard, R., Chhatre, A., 2020. Global forest restoration and the importance of prioritizing local communities. Nat Ecol Evol 4, 1472–1476. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-01282-2
1. Davis, K.F., Chhatre, A., Rao, N.D., Singh, D., Ghosh-Jerath, S., Mridul, A., Poblete-Cazenave, M., Pradhan, N., DeFries, R., 2019. Assessing the sustainability of post-Green Revolution cereals in India. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 116, 25034–25041. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1910935116
I am committed to creating an inclusive learning environment that fosters critical thinking, strengthens analytical skills, and equips students to address real-world sustainability challenges. At the School for Environment and Sustainability, I have served as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) for three courses.
Natural Resource Statistics
This course covers applied introductory statistics. It focuses on when and why different statistical techniques should be used to analyze different datasets, rather than deriving the mathematical underpinnings of these techniques. Through this course, the students are introduced to one of the most common statistical programming languages.
Introduction to R
The course focuses on the basic concepts of R programming language and how to analyze data using R. This class was open to anyone interested in learning the basics of using R. The course covered basic concepts of R, writing a function, importing a dataset, creating summary statistics, and basic data visualization techniques.
Climate Adaptation
The seminar focuses on the specifics of climate change adaptation activities taking place internationally and in the USA in different regions and at different scales. Emphasis is given to understanding the different components of climate change adaptation and resilience and how stakeholders at the international, national, state, local, private, and nongovernmental levels are taking action to address existing and projected climate impacts with a focus on equity and justice.
Natural Resource Statistics
This course covers applied introductory statistics. It focuses on when and why different statistical techniques should be used to analyze different datasets, rather than deriving the mathematical underpinnings of these techniques. Through this course, the students are introduced to one of the most common statistical programming languages.
Introduction to R
The course focuses on the basic concepts of R programming language and how to analyze data using R. This class was open to anyone interested in learning the basics of using R. The course covered basic concepts of R, writing a function, importing a dataset, creating summary statistics, and basic data visualization techniques.
Climate Adaptation
The seminar focuses on the specifics of climate change adaptation activities taking place internationally and in the USA in different regions and at different scales. Emphasis is given to understanding the different components of climate change adaptation and resilience and how stakeholders at the international, national, state, local, private, and nongovernmental levels are taking action to address existing and projected climate impacts with a focus on equity and justice.
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Dana Building
440 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Email: nabin[at]umich[dot]edu
Dana Building
440 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Email: nabin[at]umich[dot]edu
