The data experts

Dr. Muhammad Rishad A.P. is a distinguished expert in demography, having earned his Ph.D. (2025), MPhil (2019), and M.P.S (2018) in Population Studies from the Department of Migration Studies at the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai. He also holds an MSc in Geography from the University of Madras (2015). His research interests focus on migration studies and its impact on public health. Dr. Rishad has authored numerous publications in both national and international journals and has presented several research papers at national and international seminars.

Dr. Manikandan A.D completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship from the Department of Mathematical Demography and Statistics at IIPS, Mumbai, in 2020. He earned his Ph.D. in Economics through the ICSSR institutional doctoral fellowship from the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), Hyderabad, and the School of International Relations and Politics (SIRP) at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, in 2017. Dr. Manikandan holds an M.Phil. in Development Economics from the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), Trivandrum, Kerala, completed in 2006. His previous experience includes working as a Junior Research Officer (JRO) and Research Associate (RA) at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR). His research interests include the economics of land degradation, the human health effects of land degradation, land ethics, and issues faced by marginalized communities. He has authored 25 research papers, including two monographs and chapters in edited books. His current work focuses on utilizing large data sets, such as NFHS and DHS, to explore the association between environmental degradation and health outcomes, with a particular focus on marginalized communities in India.

Muhammad Thalil, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Pennsylvania State University. He is also a Postdoctoral affiliate at the Population Research Institute at Penn. His current research focuses on the bio-behavioral processes that mediate the influence of sleep on health outcomes among middle-aged and older adults in the US. Dr. Thalil holds a Ph.D. in Demography and Population Studies from the International Institute for Population Sciences, India. He previously worked as a Senior Project Officer for the WHO-Sage Project at IIPS. He has worked with various large-scale survey data in the South Asian context, focusing on the behavioral and socioeconomic factors contributing to poor health outcomes, such as functional difficulty, pain, sleep problems, depression, and cognitive impairment in older adults.

Dr. Afsal K is an expert in migration studies, having completed his Ph.D. (2023), MPhil (2018), and M.A. (2017) in Population Studies from the Department of Migration Studies at the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai. He has held roles as a Senior Project Officer at IIPS, Mumbai, and as a Research Analyst at the Hadia Centre for Social Excellence, Kerala. Dr. Afsal's research interests lie in migration studies, particularly the intersection of migration, philanthropy, and development. He has published extensively in national and international journals and has presented research papers at various national and international seminars

Vinod Joseph is a Ph.D. candidate at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock, Germany. He holds an MPhil and MSc in Biostatistics and Demography from the International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS) in Mumbai. Vinod has substantial experience working with several renowned organizations, including: The Lancet Citizens' Commission on Reimagining India's Health System, The International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), The Dedicated Commission for Reservation for Backward Class Citizens in Local Bodies of Maharashtra, Government of Maharashtra, The Centre for Economic Data and Analysis, Ashoka University, The Population Council, The National Institute of Medical Statistics (NIMS-ICMR), Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), Government of India, and The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. Vinod has authored numerous research papers published in prestigious national and international journals. Additionally, he has presented his research at various national and international seminars and conferences.

Lekshmi P.R is PhD student in Demography at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She completed her MPS in Population Studies (2023) from IIPS, Mumbai, and an Integrated MSc in Mathematics (2021) from the Central University of Tamil Nadu. She worked as a Project Officer at IIPS, Mumbai (2023-24). Her research encompasses the application of quantitative methods to explore population dynamics, healthy aging, reproductive health, and their policy implications. Lekshmi has contributed significantly to the literature through her publications in national and international journals.

Dr. Dany completed his Ph.D. in Demography from the University of Kerala in 2022. He also holds an M.Phil. in Population Studies from Annamalai University (2011), an MSc in Demography from the University of Kerala (2009), and an M.A. in Sociology from Annamalai University (2021). Dr. Dany is a versatile professional with a broad range of experience, having worked as a Junior Research Officer, Research Assistant, Lecturer, Demographer, Project Fellow, Research Supervisor, and Field/Research Investigator. His research interests encompass migration studies, demography, health and nutrition, and the sociological aspects of Indian development. He has published extensively in both national and international journals and has presented research papers at various national and international conferences. He is an experienced researcher with extensive field expertise in handling large datasets, including NFHS, DHS, and LASI, over several years.

Aparna is an expert in field studies and social work. She completed her M.A. in Social Work in 2016 from the Sree sankaracharya university of sankrit kalady, regional centre payyanur. Currently, she is working as a Junior Research Officer (JRO) with the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) at IIPS, Mumbai since 2023. She has been working in various social, demographic and health issues since 2015.

Muhammad Shafi is pursuing his Ph.D in Computational Linguistics from the University of Kerala. He holds an M.Phil. in Computer Science and a Master's degree in Computer Applications (MCA). Shafi is a multifaceted professional with expertise in administration, training, web design, web services, software development, and marketing. His technical skills are complemented by a strong ability to foster and maintain collaborative relationships with support and development teams. He has spent several years field working with large datasets, including NFHS.

Muhammed Shafeeque K.M. holds an MS in Electrical Engineering from UAE University and is currently a researcher in the Remote Sensing Lab within the Electrical Engineering Department at UAE University. Specializing in soil characterization analysis, his work leverages advanced microwave techniques and data analysis to explore material properties. With extensive experience in microwave characterization, electromagnetic shielding, and composite materials, Muhammed has authored several publications, including in Frontiers in Materials and Polymers. His expertise spans dielectric property extraction, MATLAB-based data analysis, and antenna design using HFSS. Previously, he served as an Assistant Researcher at UAE University, contributing to projects on functionalized carbon nanotubes, and as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, supporting academic and administrative precision. A Golden Visa holder in the UAE and recipient of the Best Student Paper Award at ICECTA 2022, Muhammed brings a meticulous and analytical approach to solving complex data challenges.

Akhil is a Data Collection Specialist with an MSc in Demography from the University of Kerala. He has significant experience in the field, having worked as the State Demographer for Kerala & Lakshadweep during the NFHS Survey – Phase 6, a project under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, IIPS Mumbai, and the Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM), New Delhi. Akhil has also contributed as a District Coordinator and Field Supervisor in NFHS-4.