Research, Collaboration and Innovation

The challenges we face today are complex and multifaceted, and we cannot address them through isolated disciplines alone. These issues demand an interdisciplinary approach – a principle that lies at the core of research at Ashoka. Here, research transcends academic boundaries, thriving in a dynamic ecosystem where cutting-edge labs, interdisciplinary collaborations and impactful publications converge to address pressing global challenges. From groundbreaking faculty studies to innovative undergraduate projects, Ashoka fosters a culture that values rigorous inquiry.

Research is embedded in the fabric of Ashoka, right from the undergraduate level. Students gain crucial research exposure in the early years of their career. This early start sets them apart from most undergraduates in the country. Nandini Krishnan (ASP’ 2024 Economics) is researching how temperature changes during pregnancy impact a child’s educational outcomes in Indonesia. Her research sits at the intersection of economics and biology, offering valuable insights that could inform healthcare policy. Interdisciplinary overlaps like this thrive at Ashoka,  as students are encouraged to engage in various disciplines while pursuing their unique research interests. The Centre for Interdisciplinary Archaeology (CIAR) provides a fertile environment for students to explore diverse research themes – global and local. Aneesh Sriram (UG’ 2025) has undertaken a research project exploring the archaeological landscape of Sonipat district. Using remote sensing and existing data, he identified six partially disturbed archaeological mounds and sites within 20 kilometres of the campus. His research led to field visits revealing material remains ranging from the protohistoric to early historic and medieval periods. His internship at CIAR is a key step toward future research in the field, as he aims to explore past human-environment relationships.

The spirit of collaboration provides opportunities for groundbreaking research for students and faculty. For instance, Soham De (ASP’ 2023) collaborated with over a dozen researchers from around the world to work on ‘Information and Communication Technologies for Development’ (ICT4D). His focus has primarily been on understanding how propaganda and misinformation spread on X (former Twitter). Students are empowered and encouraged to tackle complex real-world issues through their research, giving them a head start as they advance in their professional journeys.  In 2023, Garima Rastogi (ASP’ 2020) and Anisha Sharma (Assistant Professor, Economics) won the prestigious Kuznets Prize for their paper, ‘Unwanted Daughters: The Unintended Consequences of Sex-selective Abortions on the Educational Attainment of Women’. Their collaborative work, inspired by the ripple effects of policies like the ban on prenatal sex determination, examines how such policies influence gender and education. Garima credits Ashoka’s interdisciplinary approach for broadening her perspective, enabling her to explore Economics in the context of History, Political Science and Humanities. 

Ashoka’s dynamic research environment continues to break barriers, blending interdisciplinary thought, the spirit of collaboration and academic rigour. The University provides a platform where curiosity is nurtured, ideas flourish, and meaningful impact is created. This distinctive research ecosystem is a testament to Ashoka’s vision of shaping future leaders who can think critically, act purposefully, and contribute to solving the world’s most pressing problems.