Priyanka Brunese
Scientific Research Manager
Dr. Priyanka Brunese is a Scientific Research Manager. She conducts LASER PULSE’s internal research agenda, coordinates the review process for research products produced across all awards and buy-ins, and manages USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance buy-in. She is the lead research scientist for USAID’s Private Sector Engagement Hub’s Process Analysis Research project. Prior to this role, she was the M&E Lead at Purdue Center for Regional Development and Purdue Extension. She also has several years of experience working in the private sector where she worked on information technology change management and organizational effectiveness. She has a PhD in Organizational Leadership & Innovation and an MS in Computer & Information Technology from Purdue University.
Pallavi Gupta
Program Director
For past 14 years Pallavi has worked across engineering, management consulting, social entrepreneurship and international development with public, private and academic institutions. She has significant experience working with R&D, tech and non-tech solutions for global development challenges via co-creation, cross-sector partnerships and other such collaborative approaches. Pallavi has led and managed projects in R&D translation for socio-economic impact both in US and internationally in 17+ countries. Previously, she has also worked as a software engineer with IBM Software Labs in India, Autodesk in Singapore and as a management consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in London. Pallavi is an Ashoka Fellow and has published on development and public policy as well as holds a patent in database technology. Pallavi has a M.A. in International Development from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, US, a M.S. in Management Information Systems from the London School of Economics, UK and has a bachelor’s degree in computer science engineering.
