Mrs. Rachana Shrestha holds a Master’s in International Health from the University of Bergen, Norway (July 2015). With nearly a decade of experience at the Public Health and Environment Research Center (PERC), Ms. Shrestha has established herself as a seasoned researcher with a robust background in public health studies. She has worked on a diverse range of research initiatives in collaboration with both national and international organizations, addressing critical public health issues such as gender-based violence, mental health, WaSH, tuberculosis, HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and immunization.

Ms. Shrestha’s roles encompass the full management of research projects—from protocol development and tool creation to implementation and human resource coordination—giving her a comprehensive understanding of each stage of the research lifecycle. Her responsibilities have deepened her expertise and allowed her to refine her research skills across all project phases.

Her methodological expertise includes qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method approaches, as well as randomized trials. From planning to execution, Ms. Shrestha demonstrates an analytical and strategic approach to research, continually enhancing her problem-solving abilities.

She has received scholarships and presented her scientific work at prestigious conferences, including the International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science. In 2016, she received the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT) Scholarship, managed by The Union, South-East Asia Regional Office.