During 2016-17, he is a visiting assistant professor of economics at the University of Chicago. Born and raised in eastern Uttar Pradesh in India, he earned B.E. in electrical engineering from the National Institute of Technology in Gujarat, an M.A. in international development from the International University of Japan, and a Ph.D. in sustainable development from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. He is a fellow at the Center for Development Economics and Policy, and a research affiliate at the International Growth Centre.