Punam Yadav looking directly at the camera with a smile. This week we chat to Dr Punam Yadav, Associate Professor and Director of UCL Humanitarian Institute, about her work on gender and disaster, mentoring global Early Career Researchers, and a new international writing project.
What is your role and what does it involve?
I am an Associate Professor in Humanitarian Studies at the Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction. I am also the Director of UCL Humanitarian Institute and Co-Director of the Centre for Gender and Disaster. I am an interdisciplinary scholar, contributing to Gender, Peace and Conflict, Disaster and Humanitarian Studies. One of my most impactful interventions has been to bridge the gap between conflict and disaster scholarship by framing gender discrimination, conflict, and disaster as a continuum, rather than isolated events. Among my many publications, an article entitled Can women benefit from war?Women’s agency in conflict and post-conflict contexts (Journal of Peace Research, 2020), stands out for its impact. My academic monograph, Social Transformation in Post-conflict Nepal: A Gender Perspective (Routledge, 2016), has received international recognition with publication in two languages: English and Chinese.
How long have you been at UCL and what was your previous role?
I joined UCL in 2018. Prior to that, I was a Research Fellow and a Teaching Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). I completed my PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney, an MSc in Gender and Development Studies at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand, and an MEd in Mathematics at the Tribhuvan University in Nepal. Before entering academia, I worked for over a decade as a development practitioner in Nepal, engaging with a range of international and national NGOs.
What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?
There are many achievements that make me feel proud, but one that stands out is being able to support Early Career Researchers (ECRs) from different parts of the world through initiatives such as mentoring and creating platforms to showcase their work. I have helped many ECRs and aspiring researchers achieve their academic career goals. I often wish I had received that kind of support when I needed it, so now that I am in a position to help, I am committed to supporting as many as I can.
Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list
I’m currently working on several projects, but one I am particularly excited about is the British Academy International Writing Grant that we have just been awarded. I am collaborating with scholars from Brazil, South Africa, Ecuador, the Netherlands, and Sweden. As part of this grant, we will be working closely with 20 Early Career Researchers from the Global South. The writing workshop will take place in Rio de Janeiro, and we have an ambitious and inspiring programme planned. There’s a lot in the pipeline, including several publications from this project - so watch this space!
What is your favourite album, film and novel?
I was born in Nepal, but I grew up immersed in Bollywood music, films, and novels. I still have a love for Hindustani music - both classical music and Bollywood hits. One recent Bollywood film that really moved me was Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies, 2024). The story felt incredibly real - it reflects the experiences of so many girls in South Asia, especially in India and Nepal.
What is your favourite joke (pre-watershed)?
This is a difficult question for an academic ha ha!
Who would be your dream dinner guests?
Would it be acceptable to say, with female heads of state from different countries, including future female Prime Ministers of the UK and future female Secretary-Generals of the United Nations?
What advice would you give your younger self?
Dream big, believe in yourself, and never forget - anything is possible.
What would it surprise people to know about you?
I was married into a small village at a young age. Because I was an educated woman - educated being a relative term, as I had only completed secondary school, which was still above average for girls my age - people in the village assumed I would be a rule breaker. But I did the opposite. I followed the social rules and cultural practices. By choosing not to defy those norms, but instead to respect them, I sent a different kind of message - one that created space for change from within. Slowly, the village began to see education differently. Girls were encouraged to stay in school. Education even became a desirable trait when looking for a daughter-in-law. Today, many girls - both daughters and daughters-in-law - are pursuing higher education. That’s why I believe subversion, done thoughtfully and with purpose, is a powerful tool for transformation.
What is your favourite place?
There is a small town in Nepal called Siraha, where I was born. I love that place, and it will always be my favourite.
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