Lab Alumni
Featured
PhD Candidate (co-advised w Prof. Masaru Yarime)
Ian Varela Soares is a PhD candidate in the Division of Public Policy. His research interests are in sustainability and technology, specifically in the interplay between digitalization and decarbonization. Ian holds a Bachelor degree in International Relations from Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro and an LLM in Energy and Climate Law from the University of Groningen.
Research Associate
Arati is a Research Associate with the Division of Public Policy. Her research interests include climate and renewable Energy policy, just transition, and interdisciplinary climate change issues. Through her research, policy interventions, and activism, Arati actively advocates for climate justice issues locally and globally. Prior to HKUST, Arati was a Senior Research Officer at Digo Bikas Institute, a research think tank in Nepal. During COP 27 and COP 28, she presented at UNFCCC side events and spoke at various national and international platforms. Additionally, Arati serves as an advisor to an established youth network in Nepal, Nepalese Youth for Climate Action.
Research Associate
Swathi Akella is a Research Associate with the Division of Public Policy. Prior to this, she worked as a Senior Consultant with FTI Consulting, Inc. in India, where she was responsible for conducting research supporting strategic solutions for investment, policy implementation and development, governance compliance and risk mitigation. She has also worked as a journalist reporting on policy and socio-economic developments in India. Swathi holds a postgraduate degree in Public Policy from HKUST and a postgraduate diploma in Journalism from Asian College of Journalism, India.