Nayantara Biswas, Ph.D.

Summary

Welcome! I am an applied microeconomist specializing in econometric impact evaluations of social policies and health interventions, with a particular focus on historically minoritized communities. Specifically, I investigate how local and global programs interact with different cultural contexts to shape household choices and resource allocation. In my research, I employ quasi-experimental methods using large-scale household surveys and administrative data to empirically and causally validate existing theoretical models in the behavioral sciences. In my current role, I am undergoing postdoctoral training in experimental design, implementation science, mixed-methods analysis, biostatistics, and epidemiology.

Research Interests

Education

Academic Positions

Publications

• Quiros, S., & Biswas, N. (2025). Citizenship status and race/ethnicity: Inequities in access to paid family and medical leave and workplace flexibility. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-025-02321-z
• Stanton, E., Woods, B., Stasio, T., Burt, J., Garraway, D., Biswas, N., & Shute, A. (2024). Illinois adult use cannabis industry disparity study. Nerevu Group, LLC. [Report prepared for the Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office]
• Biswas, N., & Borges, M. (2023). Discrimination in loan denials: Evidence from the housing market in Massachusetts. Applied Economics Clinic Blog Series.
• Biswas, N. (2023). Disproportionate impacts of abortion access. Applied Economics Clinic Blog Series.
• O'Donoghue, A., Biswas, N., Dechen, T., Anderson, T., Talmor, N., Punnamaraju, A., & Stevens, J. (2021). Trends in filled naloxone prescriptions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. JAMA Health Forum, 2(5), e210393. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2021.0393
• Biswas, N. (2017). Inclusive growth: A myth or reality? Veritas, 2016-17, 41–45. [Academic Essay for Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune, India]
• Biswas, N., Mukherjee, B., Dhamangamwala, J., & Basu, T. (2013). Health insurance: An asset or a liability. Impact of reforms on Indian insurance sector. In M. Naskar (Ed.), Impact of reforms on Indian insurance sector (pp. 221–229). Manav Prakashan Publisher. [ISBN: 978-93-80332-45-1]

Teaching Experience

Works in Progress

• Biswas, N., & Adkins, S. Do public daycares affect maternal employment? Evidence from India.
• Biswas, N., Warner, G., Naumowicz, M., Diaz, A., Hannibal, K., Kasper, J., Katz, J., & Molina, R. A qualified multilingual assessment program pilot for medical students.
• Warner, G., Biswas, N., Naumowicz, M., Diaz, A., Hannibal, K., Kasper, J., Katz, J., & Molina, R. Language proficiency improvements after longitudinal vs. intensive medical Spanish courses.
• Reyes, D., Biswas, N., Hacker, M., Kaimal, A., Gold-Gomez, S., Guise, J.-M., & Molina, R. Interpreter insights for building clinician-patient trust during pregnancy care: A qualitative study.

• Biswas, N. Can community health workers affect reproductive health outcomes? Evidence from India.
• Biswas, N. Hospitals or nurses: Which matters more for child health investments? Evidence from India.
• Eliakimu, E., Biswas, N., Clarke-Deelder, E., Mbatia, R., Zuakulu, M., Bukuku, A., Moshi, S., Cohen, J., & Larson, E. Basic accountability to stop ill-treatment (BASI): Results from a cluster randomized controlled trial in rural Tanzania.
• Musabeyezu, J., Myrick, J., Biswas, N., Gebel, C., Royce, C., Farolfi, G., & Larson, E. Patient preferences when choosing a birth doula: Results from a discrete choice experiment.

• Biswas, N., & Hazra, D. Do female community health workers affect gender-based violence? Evidence from India.
• Biswas, N., & Tsaneva, M. Temperature shocks and child marriage in India.
• Biswas, N., & Quiros, S. The effect of paid family leave on the health of immigrant parents and their children in the United States.
• Biswas, N., Gold-Gomez, S., Pelkey, K., Pearlman, L., Molina, R., & Fernández, L. Perceived accuracy and acceptability of a qualified multilingual assessment program for physicians.
• Biswas, N., Larson, E., Fernández, L., & Molina, R. When to request a professional medical interpreter: A discrete choice experiment.
• Biswas, N., & Larson, E. Association between patient experience and mental health in older adults: Evidence from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India.
• Lugala, S., Sharma, V., Ngbadurezere, W., Scott, J., Biswas, N., Patrick, E., Hanania, D., & Larson, E. Adapting the gender-based violence pocket guide for low-literacy contexts: Implementation lessons from South Sudan.

Research Experience

Awards and Honors

Professional Service

Journal Reviewer (2021–Present)

Feminist Economics, Population Research and Policy Review, PLOS ONE, Development Policy Review, Scientific Reports, Poverty and Public Policy, Healthcare, European Journal of Epidemiology (Ad hoc), New England Journal of Medicine (Ad hoc)

Conference Discussant (2021–Present)

Western Economic Association International (2024), Eastern Economic Association (2023–2024), Southern Economic Association (2020–2024), Canadian Economic Association (2022), American Society of Health Economists (2021)

Skills

Technical

Software: Stata, R, Python, ArcGIS, GeoDa, Sawtooth, Microsoft Office, LaTeX, REDCap, Dedoose, Epic Systems, CSPro

Languages

Fluent: English | Native: Bengali, Hindi | Basic: Spanish

Competencies

Analytical Thinking, Communication, Organization, Creative Problem-Solving, Adaptability, Qualitative Research Methods, Quantitative Analysis, Program Evaluation