PhD Student Lunch Talk: Research Opportunities at Data, Policy and Innovation Centre, India

Boxed lunches will be provided.

Please join us for a lunch talk by Dr Urmila Chatterjee, Executive Director, Data, Policy & Innovation Centre (DPIC), on Monday, May 5th, 2025.

DPIC is a one-of-a-kind partnership between the University of Chicago and the Odisha state government in India. The Centre aims to be a modern data analytics and research hub to advance evidence-driven governance in Odisha.

Odisha is home to 47 million Indians – a population size comparable to Kenya. The state has undergone rapid transformation in the last decade, emerging as one of India’s fastest-growing states. With rich natural resources, ethnic and geographical diversity, climate and poverty challenges, and an evolving labor landscape, the state offers a compelling setting for development research and innovative data-driven solutions.

DPIC’s work is structured around three pillars: (i) curating high-quality administrative datasets; (ii) conducting data analytics and rigorous research; and (iii) training of government officials in data capabilities. At present, DPIC has active projects in skilling, agriculture, migration, health, pollution and public administration.

The Centre, located in the state capital, Bhubaneswar, with funding from the state government, provides faculty and students at the University of Chicago a platform to engage in policy-oriented research with access to curated administrative datasets and a skilled team of economists, data analysts and research associates at Bhubaneswar. This embedded structure and a broad mandate to work across development themes creates a unique opportunity for researchers to co-create research projects alongside policy makers and link academic work to address real-world development challenges.

Please join us for lunch to learn more about DPIC exciting work and explore opportunities for engagement. We look forward to seeing you there!

This event is open to PhD students in Economics, Booth, and Harris. Please RSVP below to confirm your attendance.

If you have any questions, please reach out to bfi-events@uchicago.edu.