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VISION & MISSION

Implementation science is a collaborative and multidisciplinary field that draws upon and applies knowledge from disciplines such as public health, psychology and behavioral sciences, education, sociology, anthropology, economics, and policy studies. It seeks to bridge the gap between research and practice by developing and evaluating strategies that ensure the effective adoption, integration, and sustainability of evidence-based interventions across diverse contexts.

Vision

To advance a collaborative and multidisciplinary field that develops and disseminates evidence-based practices across diverse intervention contexts, ensuring sustainable and impactful outcomes for individuals, communities, and society. Our research will lead the way in translating knowledge into action, fostering continuous improvement, innovation, and scalability in implementation strategies.

Mission

Our mission is to develop and apply theoretical models and frameworks that guide implementation processes, understand influencing factors, and tailor interventions to specific contexts and populations. We aim to assess whether interventions are delivered as intended and remain effective over time, measuring their fidelity, sustainability, and impact on key outcomes. By exploring and evaluating techniques for adopting and integrating evidence-based interventions in real-world settings, we seek to enhance their effectiveness, reach, and long-term viability.

We will develop and leverage AI and digital tools to enhance the efficiency, adaptability, and scalability of implementation efforts. Through human-centered design, we will ensure that interventions are created with end-users in mind, improving adoption and usability. Our work will also integrate participatory and community-led approaches, fostering local engagement and co-design methodologies to enhance intervention uptake and long-term sustainability. Finally, we will develop and strengthen strategies for research communication, dissemination, and scalable sustainability to ensure that evidence-based practices reach and influence stakeholders, policymakers, practitioners, and the public, driving meaningful and lasting change.

Thematic Areas

TEAM Members

Dr. Srividya Sheshadri
Tag Lead
Associate Director, Center for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality
Research Interests: Implementation Science for Community Development, Education, and Empowerment; Vocational Education and Life Skills Training; Exploring Applications of Social Data Science
srividyasheshadri@am.amrita.edu

Dr. Christopher Coley
Social Sciences Research Lead, Amrita Institute for Advanced Research, Chicago, USA
Assistant Professor, School of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Research Interests: Anti-Poverty Interventions; Women’s Empowerment; Environmental Ethics; Vulnerability & Risk; Communities of Practice; Computerized Vocational Education and Training; Life Enrichment Education
christopher@am.amrita.edu

⁠Kripa Gressel
Research Associate
Research Interests: Gender Studies, Personal & Social Values, Sustainable Development & Gender
kripag@am.amrita.edu

Aswathi P.
Research Associate
Research Interests: Data Strategies and Tools; Computational Social Science; Data Value Chains; Knowledge Systems; Data Science; Machine Learning
aswathip@am.amrita.edu

Bhanu V. R.
Research Associate
Research Interests: Community Development Implementation Sciences, Data Science, Mental and Community Health, Self-Help Groups
bhanu.vr@ammachilabs.org

⁠Reshma Ramesh
Vice Chair of the Department of Social Sciences
Research Interests: Water Resource Management, Public Health, Community Development, Environmental Sustainability, Policy and Intervention Design
reshmar@am.amrita.edu

Dr. Padma Rao Sahib
Associate Professor, University of Groningen, Netherlands
Research Interests: Strategy; International Business; Sustainable Development; Mergers and Acquisition Process; Organizational Learning
p.rao.sahib@rug.nl

Dr. Ram Fishman
Department of Public Policy, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Research Interests: Sustainable Development; Food; Water; Energy; Technology Adoption; Climate Change; Agriculture
ramf@tauex.tau.ac.il

⁠Dr. Bhavani R. Rao
Dean
School of Social and Behavioural Sciences,
Director of AMMACHI Labs and the Center for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality
Research Interests: Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality; Learning Technologies; Vocational and Educational Training; AI and Robotics for Social Good; Disaster Risk Management
bhavani@am.amrita.edu

Dr. Drishti Marwaha
Postdoctoral Researcher, Center for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.
Research Interests: Women’s empowerment, women and healthcare, health economics, gender economics
drishti.marwaha@ammachilabs.org

Dr. Malini Frey
Professor
Research Interests: Reducing Mental Illness and Distress, Increasing Mental Resiliency/Strength, Training in Understanding Positive Mental Health and Mental Disorders, Suicide Prevention and Reduction
lisamfrey@am.amrita.edu

⁠Dr. Victoria Ustenko
Associate Professor, School of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Research Interests: Economic Development, Economics and Culture, Public Administration and Civil Service, Ethical Systems, Participatory Governance, Impact Evaluation
victoria.ustenko@am.amrita.edu

Dr. Nimita Pandey
Assistant Professor,
Social Data Science & Policy Dept, SSBS, Faridabad
Research Interests: Innovation Studies; Science & Technology Policy, Emerging Technologies & Sustainable Development; Feminist Science
nimitapandey@dl.amrita.edu

Funded Projects

Publications 2022 – 2025

  • Sheshadri, S., Radhakrishnan, U., Padmavilochanan, A., Coley, C., & Bhavani, R. R. (2025, January 16–19). Generative AI for analyzing participatory rural appraisal data: An exploratory case study in gender research [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Gomez, M. B., Coley, C. L., Arlikatti, S., & Sahib, P. R. (2025, January 16–19). Examining the digital gender divide: A case study of teachers and students in a rural village, North India [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Gressel, C. M., & Anil, A. (2025, January 16–19). The future of gender data: Navigating ethical frontiers in the age of AI and big data [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Bhanu, V. R., Marwaha, D., Nayar, N., Nandha, S., & Philip, A. (2025, January 16–19). Development of a life enrichment education curriculum for rural women in India [Poster presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Bhanu, V. R., Nayar, N., Ramesh, R., Padmavilochan, A., Natarajan, A., & Sheshadri, S. (2025, January 16–19). Blended learning for women’s business development in rural India: Enhancing technology adoption and bridging the gender digital divide [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Marwaha, D., Bhanu, V. R., Sayujya, R. S., & Nair, S. (2025, January 16–19). Development of a digital literacy curriculum for rural women in India [Poster presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Sithara, G. S., Ramesh, R., Bhanu, V. R., Nayar, N., & Sheshadri, S. (2025, January 16–19). Inclusive learning model for technology-enhanced vocational education through culturally responsive pedagogy [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Mbye, F., Badjie, O., Coley, C. L., & Simmons, W. P. (2025, January 16–19). A systematic literature review on digital activism: Empowering women through technology in developing countries [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Yeboah, G., Pandey, P., Gomez, M. B., & Coley, C. (2025, January 16–19). Exploring gender influences on perceptions of sustainable development education among future educators in Ghana [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Yeboah, G., Pandey, P., Gomez, M. B., & Coley, C. (2025, January 16–19). Gender inclusivity in technology-enhanced teacher education in Ghana [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Nedumaran, S. P., Padmavilochanan, A., & Bakiras, S. (2025, January 16–19). Empowering social interventions: An adaptive monitoring solution with integrated NLP analytics [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Gender and Technology, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Ustenko, V., Ryf, B. E., Subramonian, V., & Rao, B. R. (2024, December 13–15). Building resilience in the face of natural disasters: The impact of AmritaSREE self-help groups on psychosocial well-being in Kerala, India [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Tsunami Risk Reduction and Resilience, Amritapuri, India. 
  • Anitha, P., Shekar, L., Bhanu, V. R., Nayar, N., Menon, B. M., Padmavilochanan, A., & Sheshadri, S. (2023, November 24-26). ICT based reporting and monitoring for TVET: Effective adoption strategies [Conference presentation]. In 2023 IEEE Tenth International Conference on Technology for Education (T4E), Bombay, India. 
  • Bhanu, V. R., Nayar, N., Natarajan, A., Ramesh, R., Padmavilochanan, A., & Sheshadri, S. (2023, November 24-26). Blended learning for women’s business development in rural India: Enhancing technology adoption and bridging the gender digital divide [Conference presentation]. In 2023 IEEE Tenth International Conference on Technology for Education (T4E), Bombay, India. 
  • Sithara, G. S., Bhanu, V. R., Nayar, N., & Sheshadri, S. (2023, November 24-26). Inclusive learning model for technology-enhanced vocational education through culturally responsive pedagogy [Conference presentation]. In 2023 IEEE Tenth International Conference on Technology for Education (T4E), Bombay, India. 
  • Amritha, N., Marwaha, D., Bhanu, V. R., Singh, V., & Bhavani, R. R. (2024, September). Empowering rural women in India: SHG formation and training for social change using humanitarian technology. In 2024 IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS) (pp. 1-7). IEEE. https://doi.org/0.1109/ISTAS61960.2024.10732061  
  • Marwaha, D., Bhanu, V. R., Amritha, N., Kuttan, A., Harikumar, G., & Sheshadri, S. (2024, September). Evaluation of factors influencing the implementation of a government vocational training program for women in Ernakulam, Kerala, India: A principal implementers’ perspective. In 2024 IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS) (pp. 1-6). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISTAS61960.2024.10732850 
  • Ramesh, R., Sithara, G. S., Gireesh, G. S., Nair, R. R., Ajay, A., Von Lieries, J. S., & Bhavani, R. R. (2024, October). Training of rural women to monitor the water quality at the point of use to increase WASH empowerment in rural India. In 2024 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC) (pp. 332-339). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC62424.2024.10771543  
  • Ramesh, R., Sithara, G. S., Nair, R. R., Gireesh, G. S., Ajay, A., Von Lieries, J. S., & Bhavani, R. R. (2024, October). Enablers and barriers to improved drinking water sources and safe water practices in rural India. In 2024 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC) (pp. 358-363). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC62424.2024.10771572  
  • Padmavilochanan, A., Anitha, P., Suresh, A. K., Refoulouma, S., Saravanakumaran, S., Sheshadri, S., & Rao, B. R. (2024, September). Tech for all: Innovating inclusive adoption measurement. In 2024 IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS) (pp. 1-8). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISTAS61960.2024.10732464 
  • Padmavilochanan, A., Natarajan, A., Shekhar, L., Sheshadri, S., Parameswari, A., & Bhavani R. R. (2023, October). ICT significance for community engagement during COVID in rural India: An application suite. In 2023 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC) (pp. 203-210). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC56179.2023.10354703 
  • Ramesh, R., Mohan, A., Nasliya, N., von Lieres, J. S., & Bhavani R. R. (2023, October). Exploring the role of women in technology driven water quality monitoring using a participatory approach. In 2023 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC) (pp. 211-216). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC56179.2023.10354718 
  • Ramesh, R., Nasliya, N., Mohan, A., von Lieres, J. S., & Bhavani R. R. (2023, October). Enablers of rural women’s adoption of water quality monitoring technologies for ensuring clean and safe drinking water. In 2023 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC) (pp. 196-202). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC56179.2023.10354560 
  • Coley, C., Gressel, C., Dhillon, A., Shukla, T., Sheshadri, S., Pandey, N., Kumar, G., & Bhavani, R. R. (2022). A braided river. The universe of Indian women in science. UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000380700
  • Freire, I. T., Løvschal, M., Bollen, J., Carugati, F., Ndzenyuiy, M. N., Page, S. E., Rao, B. R., & Tylén, K. (2025). How do we collaborate?. In P. F. M. J. Verschure (Ed.), The nature and dynamics of collaboration (pp. 317-333). The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/15533.003.0024 
  • McLain, M. L., Suresh, V., Sankaranarayanan, K., & Rao, B. R. (2025). Structure of collaboration in women’s self-help groups. In P. F. M. J. Verschure (Ed.), The nature and dynamics of collaboration (pp. 113-123). The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/15533.003.0012 
  • Kurbanova, A. T., Tolmachev, A. V., Patsyuk, E. V., & Ustenko, V. S. (2024). Digital inclusiveness for sustainable development. In E. G. Popkova (Ed.), Digital inclusiveness: Bridging the divide in the digital economy (pp. 111-123). World Scientific. https://doi.org/10.1142/13264
  • Ustenko, V. S., & Bobodzhonova, E. M. (2024). Addressing global challenges through innovation and structural policy: Identification of early technological developments. In M. P. Eshov, G. K. Abdurakhmanova, A. U. Burkhanov, N. B. Abdusalomova, & S. T. Ergasheva (Eds.), Advanced series in management: Vol. 33A. Development of international entrepreneurship based on corporate accounting and reporting according to IFRS (pp. 127-135). Emerald. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1877-63612024000033A015
  • Pandey, N., & Midha, N. (2024). Gender mainstreaming and the nexus. In Z. Adeel & B. Böer (eds), The water, energy, and food security nexus in Asia and the Pacific. Water security in a new world (pp. 141–155). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-29035-0_7
  • Popkova, E. G., Ustenko, V. S., Petrenko, Y. S. & Bratukhina, E. A. (2024). Environmental friendliness of products as a measure of quality: Management from the position of sustainable development. International Journal for Quality Research, 18(4), 1159-1170. 
  • Ramesh, R., Frank, E., Padmavilochanan, A., Barda, Y., Eldar, I., Wolf, H., Pras, A., Pousty, D., Anita, P., Shekar, L., von Lieres, J. S., Rao, R. B., Mamane, H., & Fishman, R. (2024). Reliable water quality monitoring by women in low-resource communities. ACS ES&T Water, 4(9), 3832-3841. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.4c00164  
  • Ajith, V., Fishman, R., Yosef, E., Edris, S., Ramesh, R., Suresh, R. A., Pras, A., Rahim, V., Rajendran, S., Yanko, M., Amit, A., Bhavani, R. R., Ramesh, M. V., & Mamane, H. (2023). An integrated methodology for assessment of drinking-water quality in low-income settings. Environmental Development, 100862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2023.100862 
  • Coley, C., Sheshadri, S. & Devanathan, S. (2023). Men’s experience of women’s empowerment and gender equality: A phenomenological study in Kerala, India. Global Social Welfare, 10, 105-115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-022-00262-7 
  • Coley, C., Sheshadri, S., Devanathan, S., & Bhavani, R. R. (2023). Contextualizing women’s empowerment frameworks with an emphasis on social support: A study in rural, South India. Community, Work, & Family, 26(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/13668803.2021.1879021 
  • Haidegger, T., Mai, V., Mörch, C. M., Boesl, D. O., Jacobs, A., Rao, B. R., Khamis, A., Lach, L., & Vanderborght, B. (2023). Robotics: Enabler and inhibitor of the sustainable development goals. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 43, 422-434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2023.11.011  
  • Sheshadri, S., Coley, C., Devanathan, S., & Rao, R. B. (2023). Towards synergistic women’s empowerment-transformative learning framework for TVET in rural India. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 75 (2), 255-277. https://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2020.1834438 
  • Suresh, V., Fishman, R., von Lieres, J. S. and Rao, B. R. (2022). Impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the economic situation and food security of rural households in India. Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies. 12(3), 491-509. https://doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-07-2021-0177 
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