Supraja Sudharsan

Supraja Sudharsan is a PhD Student studying climate change governance in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology. In her research, she studies the role of cities and city networks in combating climate change focusing on cities from developing countries in particular. Her previous studies include a Master’s degree in Operations Research (financial engineering major) from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Technology in Engineering from India. 

In addition to her research, Supraja is also active in sustainability-related initiatives. She served as a member of Georgia Tech's Sustainability Student Advisory Committee. In this capacity, she reviewed the Institute’s plan to incorporate sustainable community practices in learning curriculum. She also served as a trainer for the Office of Serve-Learn-Sustain and expanded her engagement through a fellowship with their food, energy and water systems program.

Through summer fellowships with the Environmental Defense Fund, Supraja worked in both the public and private sectors on renewable energy and energy efficiency related projects, delving into technical, economic and policy challenges related to clean energy transitions in the United States. Before coming to Georgia Tech, Supraja enjoyed a brief stint as a lead investment banking analyst in India, managing engagements with oil and gas and renewable energy companies. 

In addition to climate change governance, her other areas of interest include comparative renewable energy technologies and policies, energy security, and economic geography of energy transitions.