Dr. Vartika Saman is a Research Scientist at the CUNY Remote Sensing Earth System Institute (CREST), where she leads interdisciplinary efforts in research, education, workforce development, and international collaboration. She joined CREST in July 2024, bringing with her a global perspective and a strong commitment to integrating social sciences into engineering and environmental applications.
Her research focuses on climate and environmental disaster management, with an emphasis on combining technical approaches with social science methodologies to address real-world challenges. She contributes to data collection design and analysis, organizes workshops and focus groups, and mentors students in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of policy, society, and science.
Prior to joining CREST, Dr. Saman served as a faculty member at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Rohtak, where she designed and taught courses that blended social science perspectives with business and management education. She emphasized innovative and accessible strategies to help students apply theoretical concepts to practical problems.
Dr. Saman also worked as a Junior Research Officer at the National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, and held a postdoctoral research position at Johns Hopkins University. These roles strengthened her expertise in interdisciplinary collaboration and research design, while furthering her commitment to bridging gaps between academic disciplines.
She earned her Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Philosophy in European Studies/Civilization from Jawaharlal Nehru University, India, in 2019 and 2013, respectively. Her doctoral dissertation, Gender Quotas in Norwegian Public Limited Companies, 2003–2015, reflects her interest in global governance, gender equity, and international policy.
At CREST, Dr. Saman is focused on advancing impactful research through grant development, fostering cross-sector partnerships, and contributing to a collaborative, inclusive environment that prepares students to tackle complex environmental and societal issues.