Research Director

Master of Public Policy, University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy

LinkedIn

Starting her career as a legislative assistant at the Indian Parliament, Riddhima observed the need for evidence-backed policies and the existing gaps between research findings and scaled impact. This became the core of her professional and academic careers: scaling research-based, tech-powered interventions that lead to measurable and meaningful outcomes - whether in her home country of India, her neighborhood in Chicago, or across the globe.

Building on her past research experience from UChicago Urban Labs, J-PAL South Asia, and Harvard Kennedy School Evidence for Policy Design, Riddhima now manages research and partner relations for Learning Collider’s impact areas: Housing, Education, and Worforce. She acts as part research project manager, part diplomat, and part analyst. Her in-depth knowledge of both technical facets and relationship-building enables our lab to advance multiple complex projects.

Riddhima’s superpowers include the many organizational aspects of research including prioritizing, planning, and delegation. She is also an active listener, leading to insightful questions that engage partners and researchers.

These superpowers serve her well in work, whether working from India or Illinois, and at home, hosting friends for dinner parties with her husband, exploring the outdoors, and pushing her personal tolerance for Chicago winters.