Sayed Arshad

Economics and policy graduate with an interdisciplinary background spanning civil engineering and economics, with a focus on infrastructure investment, development economics, sustainability policy and the economics of technological change. Experienced in applied econometrics and impact evaluation using large scale administrative and geo-spatial datasets, with research engagement across energy systems, climate resilience, and sustainable development. Committed to producing empirically rigorous, policy relevant research.

Economics & Public Policy Researcher (Master's Thesis) at Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) (2024-03 – 2025-04)

Master's Thesis: Dams and Local Economic Transformation: Evidence from the Narmada Basin

• Designed and estimated Difference-in-Differences and Triple-DiD panel models in Stata across 14,936 villages spanning four census rounds, identifying causal effects of large dam infrastructure on rural structural transformation.
• Constructed village level panel datasets by integrating SHRUG, Economic Census, Population Census, and India-WRIS geospatial data handling, merging, de duplication, and consistency checks across heterogeneous sources.
• Conducted parallel placebo, robustness checks and spatial heterogeneity analysis across 0–5km, 5–10km, and 10–20km distance bands
• Translated econometric outputs into coefficient plots and policy-oriented reports for academic and non specialist audiences.

Energy Policy Research Associate (Intern) at Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) (2024-05 – 2024-07)

• Analysed electricity market structures, pricing frameworks, and renewable transition policies in Kerala.
• Reviewed the Electricity Act (2003) and state level regulations to assess institutional and market reform implications.
• Conducted structured economic analysis of regulatory and governance frameworks affecting energy markets.
• Contributed to policy briefs and presentations aimed at stakeholder and advisory audiences.

Sustainable Development Associate (Part-time) at Kiran C. Patel Center for Sustainable Development (KPCSD), IITGN (2023-08 – 2024-04)

• Supported research across multiple verticals - Climate change & disaster resilience, Sustainable waste management, Ecosystem governance, Water andEnergy transitions.
• Contributed to institutional outputs including the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024, annual report, and newsletters, strengthening the Centre's research visibility.
• Organized academic seminars and research events, conducted data collection, literature reviews, and prepared reports on energy, climate change, and sustainable development.

Master of Arts in Society & Culture in Economics & Public Policy – Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) (2023 – 2025)

Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering – Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) (2018 – 2022)