An interdisciplinary approach is central to my work, integrating theories and emerging methods from geography, 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.
 Environmental Change
My research examines the complex interactions between human and natural systems that shape environmental challenges, focusing on patterns of change and the factors and processes that drive them. Using a data-driven approach, my work addresses the three grand challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, and inequality.
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 SafetyNet for People and Planet
Existing studies on social assistance have primarily focused on well-being and environmental outcomes, generally assessing them as positive. My research assesses the synergies and trade-offs of public works programs on economic, environmental, and social outcomes in lower- and middle-income countries (L&MICs).
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Published:
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
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
