Contact Info

Dr. Sailaja Nandigama

Associate Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus
Education
Ph.D in Development Studies (2009) from International Institute of Social Studies (part of Erasmus University of Rotterdam), The Hague, The Netherlands.
M.Phil in Political Science (2002) from University of Hyderabad, India, Division: First (64%).
MA in Political Science (1997) from University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India, Division: First (64%).
BA in Political Science, History and English Literature (1995) from Osmania University College for Women, Hyderabad, India, Division: First (70%).
Pilani Campus

I am an international academic researcher and an ethnographer, with research, teaching & training experience at the tertiary level. I have a PhD in Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies (part of Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands) and I have successfully completed two Post-doc assignments (for a total of 5 (2+3) years in UK and the Netherlands). I am engaged in research and teaching & extension activities with several Indian and international higher education Institutions from the Netherlands, UK, USA, Australia and Japan in various academic teaching and research related projects.

I am interested in bridging the gap between policy and practice of Development; in understanding dynamics of social processes that lead to success and failure of development interventions; in devising ways of making technology socially relevant; and in understanding natural resource management and gender dynamics in social policy and practice through ethnographic mixed methods.

My research domains include Political Science and Political Ideologies; Human Rights, Social Justice and Public Policy; Ethnography, mixed methods and qualitative research; Public Policy Analysis; Gender and Development; Knowledge, Performance and Power in Natural Resource Management; Governance & Participation, Rural Development; Actor-Network Theory; Science and Technology Studies, Interpretative Policy Analysis; Sustainability Research and Environmental Education.

  

I am also active in institution building and administrative work at BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus in the following roles-

  • Non-resident Warden (Meera Bhavan)
  • Member of Cell for Kashmiri Students at BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus
  • Convener, International Academia and Research Committee (IARC)- Dept. of HSS

 

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY (starting from the most recent)

  • Associate Professor (Development Studies and Political Science) at BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus from 30th June 2021 to present.
  • Assistant Professor (Development Studies and Political Science) at BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus from 2nd July 2014 to 29th June 2021.
  • Visiting Faculty (Assistant Professor) at TATA Institiute of Social Sciences (TISS), Hyderabad Campus, Jan 2014 to June 2014.
  • Guest Post-Doc Researcher at Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group (FNP), Wageningen University, the Netherlands, Feb 2013 to Dec 2013.
  • Post-Doc Researcher at the Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group (FNP), Wageningen University, the Netherlands, Feb 2010 to Jan 2013.
  • Research Associate at the Department of Town and Regional Planning, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom, Jan 2008 to Jan 2010.
  • Researcher (M&E) in Centre for Media Studies (CMS), Saket, New Delhi, India, 2002.
  • Lecturer (Political Science), Holy Cross Degree College for Women- BHEL, Hyderabad, India, 97-98 & 98-99.