Urmy Shukla is currently a PhD student in sociology at Emory University, where her research focuses on political economy, economic development, human rights, and global health. She has extensive work experience in project management, survey development, policy analysis, stakeholder consultation, and qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Her dissertation looks at the links between water, sanitation, and female empowerment, primarily examining global civil society claims that water is a direct tool for gender equality in the developing world.

Her primary research and community interests have focused on the intersection of rights and development. She seeks multi-faceted, rights-based and results-based approaches to economic development and social change.