Dr. Abhishek Sharma

Academic Biography

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Ladakh with over eight years of experience in teaching, research, project management, and capacity building. I hold a Ph.D., M.Sc. (Hons.), and B.Sc. (Hons.) in Anthropology from Panjab University, Chandigarh, where I specialized in Medical Anthropology, qualitative research, and indigenous knowledge systems. My academic and research interests include research methodology, qualitative and quantitative research methods, medical anthropology, public health, tribal health, traditional medicine, ethnography, and interdisciplinary social science research. As a faculty member, I teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses, supervise student research and dissertations, develop curricula, and actively engage in research that addresses contemporary social and public health challenges. Before joining the University of Ladakh, I worked with several leading institutions, including the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, HelpAge India, MAMTA Health Institute for Mother and Child, and Panjab University. These roles provided me with extensive experience in designing and implementing research studies, managing multidisciplinary projects, conducting qualitative and mixed-method research, and organizing capacity-building programmes for healthcare professionals, researchers, and government stakeholders. I have considerable expertise in research design, monitoring and evaluation, data management, and qualitative data analysis using NVivo, along with proficiency in SPSS and Atlas.ti. Throughout my career, I have led and contributed to research projects focusing on substance use, stillbirth surveillance, urban health vulnerabilities, vaccine hesitancy, non-communicable diseases, traditional medicine, and ethics in biomedical research. My work has contributed to evidence-based policy development, programme implementation, and public health interventions, particularly in underserved and tribal communities. I have also secured research funding and coordinated collaborative projects involving universities, government agencies, and international organizations. I have published several research papers in reputed national and international journals and edited volumes. My research primarily explores medical anthropology, public health, traditional healing systems, qualitative methodologies, and health equity, with a particular focus on the Himalayan region. Through my teaching, research, and professional engagements, I remain committed to promoting high-quality, interdisciplinary, and socially relevant research. I regularly conduct workshops and training programmes on research design, analytical methods, academic writing, qualitative data analysis, and the application of artificial intelligence in social science and health research, with the aim of strengthening research capacity among students, faculty members, and professionals.