Esha Chatterjee

Dr. Esha Chatterjee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK). She earned her PhD from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2020. Her expertise lies in demography, gender studies, and the intersection of work and family, with a focus on India.

Education:

• PhD, University of Maryland, College Park, 2020

Research Interests:

Dr. Chatterjee's research delves into critical issues at the nexus of demography, gender, and social policy. Her ongoing projects explore the intricate relationships between women's employment and education, fertility intentions and behavior, maternal health outcomes, unmet contraceptive needs, and internal migration patterns in India. Her work is characterized by a commitment to understanding how structural and cultural factors shape women's life choices and health outcomes.

Publications & Research Trends:

Her recent publications span high-impact journals such as Sexuality Research and Social Policy, Population and Development Review, and Demographic Research. The thematic focus of her work consistently addresses reproductive health, gender disparities, and social determinants of health. A notable trend in her research is the integration of qualitative and quantitative methods to provide nuanced insights into population dynamics and policy implications.

Scientific Awards & Fellowships:

• Travel Award - International Development Research Centre (2019)
• Policy Communication Fellowship - Population Reference Bureau & African Institute for Development Policy (2018-2019)
• Editor’s Choice Award - Demographic Research
• Harriet B. Presser Fellowship (2016-2017)
• William Form Summer Fellowship - University of Maryland (2015)

Professional Experience & Grants:

Dr. Chatterjee has held research positions at the University of Maryland and Purdue University. She has consulted for the World Bank Group on projects related to aging cities, demographic trends, and urban development. Her work has been supported by grants from the Maryland Population Research Center and the Asia Research Institute.

Labs & Teams:

Her affiliations include collaborative work with the India Human Development Survey Group and interdisciplinary teams focused on demographic analysis and policy-oriented research.