Aromal J R

Research Assistant , School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University

New Delhi, Delhi

A public policy analyst with a background in commerce and administration, exploring the intersection of technology and governance to bridge policy gaps and drive impactful solutions.

Contact Aromal J R
Area of Expertise:
  • Environment, Climate, Energy, Water, Sanitation
  • Government/Governance, Reforms, Corruption
  • Human Rights, Law, Migration, Conflicts, Justice
  • Monitoring, Evaluation, Policy, Research
  • Social, Gender, Education, Youth, Child
Professional Experience:

I am a public policy professional with diverse field and research experience across key governance institutions, focusing on policy design, research, and grassroots implementation. My work spans electoral reform, local governance, civic innovation, and institutional analysis, supported by strong analytical skills and a commitment to evidence-based policy making.

Currently, I serve as a Research Assistant at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University (September 2024 – Present), where I am engaged in a comparative study of bureaucratic recruitment processes across Indian states specifically Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Kerala. My responsibilities include RTI-based data collection, archival research, and the analysis of administrative structures, offering insights into state-specific governance models and historical evolution in public administration.

Previously, as a Public Policy Research Intern at the State Election Commission, Kerala (April 2024 – June 2024), I authored a comprehensive 50-page policy document titled “Policy Recommendations for Adoption and Integration of Advanced Technologies in LSGI Election Management System in Kerala.” This document addressed systemic modernization of EVMs and process digitization to enhance electoral efficiency and voter turnout. I presented these recommendations directly to State Election Commissioner and senior officials, marking a high-impact contribution to Kerala’s election governance reforms.

At the Civic Innovation Foundation (October 2023 – January 2024), I worked as a Policy Intern, where I supported pre-legislative consultation processes (PLCP). My role involved analyzing dense policy drafts, producing simplified policy briefs, and synthesizing stakeholder inputs to inform public-facing legislation. This experience enhanced my ability to navigate policy communication and inclusive governance mechanisms.

Earlier, during my internship at the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (March 2023 – May 2023), I contributed to SDG localization at the panchayat level, coordinated training for young elected representatives under the Chief Minister’s Youth Leadership Development Scheme, and participated in tribal consultations in Attapadi, Kerala, focused on sustainable and inclusive tribal development. These engagements deepened my understanding of bottom-up governance and the operationalisation of development goals at the grassroots level.

Collectively, these roles have equipped me with a robust set of skills in policy research, stakeholder engagement, field coordination, and institutional analysis. My work reflects a sustained commitment to integrating technology, sustainability, and inclusive development into the policy making process, bridging academic insight with real-world impact.

Education:

I hold an interdisciplinary academic background rooted in public policy, administration, commerce, and international accounting, with a strong focus on governance, technology, and development. I have completed a Master’s in Public Policy from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai (2023–2025), where my academic and research interests centered on inclusive technology access, digital governance, and sustainable policy implementation.

My Master’s dissertation, titled “Exploring Barriers to Educational Technology Access for Learners from Disadvantaged Groups in Kerala: Implications for the National Education Policy 2020,” examined structural and infrastructural barriers to ed-tech accessibility in rural Kerala through a mixed-method approach. The study assessed the policy implications of the NEP 2020 and proposed recommendations for more equitable implementation of digital learning initiatives.

During this program, I also interned with the State Election Commission of Kerala, where I contributed to the project “Policy Recommendations for Adoption and Integration of Advanced Technologies in LSGI Election Management System in Kerala.” This involved a policy-oriented assessment of technological interventions in electoral processes and their integration into local governance institutions, reflecting my interest in tech-driven public sector reform.

In parallel, I have completed a Master’s in Public Administration from Indira Gandhi National Open University (2020–2022), where I explored core concepts in governance, development administration, and policy implementation. This program provided me with an in-depth understanding of public institutional functioning across union, state, and local levels in India.

Additionally, I hold a Diploma in Accounting and Business from ACCA UK (2021), which provided a global grounding in financial systems, business law, and ethics skills that have been instrumental in analyzing public finance and corporate policy intersections in my work.

My academic foundation was laid with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Kerala (2017–2020), which built my quantitative, analytical, and economic reasoning capabilities, aligning well with my later pursuits in policy research and institutional governance.

Through these diverse yet interlinked academic pathways, I have developed a research-driven and solution-oriented approach to policy challenges, especially in the domains of digital inclusion, election reform, local governance, and education policy.

Affiliations and Achievements:

Microsoft Office Specialist (Excel 2019 Associate), Introductory R programming

Available for:

  • Consulting assignments
  • Job opportunities
  • Internships / Fellowships

Years of Experience:

0-2 years

Highest Qualification:

Masters

Languages:

English, Hindi, Malayalam, Hindi, Malayalam

Nationality:

Indian

LinkedIn Profile:

www.linkedin.com/in/aromaljr

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