معرفی
Dr Manu Savani is a Senior Lecturer in Behavioural Public Policy at Brunel University London, affiliated with the Department of Politics and History within the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences. His research integrates experimental methods to examine health and political behaviours, with a focus on nudges, commitment devices, and public policy design.
Dr Savani earned his PhD in Political Science from University College London (UCL) in 2017, where his dissertation won the 'Best Dissertation' prize. He holds a First in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from the University of Oxford and an MSc in Development Economics from Magdalen College, Oxford.
His research interests lie at the intersection of behavioural science and public policy. He investigates how behavioural interventions can improve health outcomes—particularly around obesity and vaccination—and how voters respond to political misconduct and digital voting. His work employs mixed-method field and survey experiments, often in collaboration with public and non-governmental organisations.
His recent publications reveal a strong focus on public responses to nudges during the COVID-19 pandemic, the effectiveness of commitment devices in health contexts, and the conditions under which citizens support soft versus hard policy instruments. His studies span the G7 nations and involve large-scale survey experiments, demonstrating international relevance and methodological rigour.
Dr Savani has received research funding from the British Academy, British Council, and Brunel Research Development Fund. He has served as a Global Impact Evaluation Adviser for Oxfam GB and contributed to policy evaluations in Bangladesh and the UK.
- Best Dissertation Prize, UCL Department of Political Science
He supervises PhD students and teaches undergraduate Public Policy and postgraduate International Development modules. He is Associate Editor for Political Studies Review and Senior Tutor for Politics and History at Brunel.
Dr Savani is actively involved in policy outreach, advising the Trussell Trust on hunger in the UK and contributing to parliamentary and UN inquiries on food security. He promotes open science and pre-registration of research, having created educational materials on the subject.
