Mr. Akash Krishali is an emerging epidemiologist and public health researcher with a demonstrated commitment to research excellence, outbreak investigation, and evidence-based public health interventions. He is currently serving as Research Scholar pursuing a PhD in Epidemiology at Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun (2024–Present), where he is actively engaged in original research on dietary interventions for chronic disease management in rural populations.

Previously, Mr. Krishali held positions as Research Assistant at Swami Rama Himalayan University (July 2024–Present), where he has undertaken data compilation, cleaning, analysis, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. He also served as Field Investigator at Swami Rama Himalayan University (April 2024–July 2025) and Research Assistant at All India Institute of Medical Sciences Rishikesh (February–March 2024), gaining hands-on experience in field data collection, community engagement and research implementation. Additionally, he completed an assignment as External Monitor for the MDA Programme for Filariasis in District Gonda, Uttar Pradesh (August 2023), demonstrating competence in programme monitoring and field-level problem evaluation.

Research & Publications

Mr. Krishali has established a strong publication record with 16 peer-reviewed journal articles spanning epidemiology, public health, community medicine and health sciences. His published works include research on vaccine acceptance, artificial intelligence in early childhood development, indoor air pollution, water quality assessment, workplace violence against doctors, nutritional status in vulnerable populations, musculoskeletal disorders, and occupational health. Beyond journal articles, he has contributed 3 book chapters to the IAPSM's Textbook on National Health Programs and Policies of India, addressing topics including the National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN 2.0), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, and schemes for intellectual disability. Additionally, he has 4 submissions under review, demonstrating sustained research productivity across epidemiological and public health domains.

Research Projects & Funding

Mr. Krishali has actively participated in 3 extramural research projects funded by national agencies. These include the Epidemiology of Chronic Respiratory Illness in Selected Population Groups in India (CRISPI) project funded by ICMR, New Delhi with a budget of ₹1,23,00,000, where he currently serves as Research Assistant; a multicentric mixed-method study on evaluation of Comprehensive Primary Health Care services at Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres funded by ICSSR, New Delhi (budget: ₹17,04,000) where he contributed for 4 months; and an assessment of Maternal and Child Health under government schemes funded by Wipro Health Care. This involvement demonstrates his capacity to contribute to large-scale, externally-funded research initiatives.

Conference Presentations & Academic Dissemination

Mr. Krishali has presented his research findings at national conferences, including an oral presentation on psychological morbidity among hypertensive adults in rural Dehradun at NCI CON 2026 (GDMC Dehradun) and poster presentations on the impact of oat β-glucan on gut microbiota at SRHU and on musculoskeletal disorders among clerical staff at EFICON 2022 (AIIMS Patna), demonstrating his engagement with the academic community and capacity for scientific communication.

Professional Training & Development

Mr. Krishali has actively pursued formal training and professional development, including a Basic Course in Biomedical Research from Swayam NPTEL (2023) and an advanced course on Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Writing from CliMed Research and CTRI (2025). He has completed an internship at the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi (2022) and received specialized training at the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), Dehradun (2023). He has additionally attended 12 workshops spanning data analysis, statistical methods, research protocol development, scientific writing and publication practices, underscoring his commitment to continuous skill enhancement.

Technical Skills & Competencies

Mr. Krishali possesses advanced proficiency in statistical analysis and epidemiological research methods. His technical competencies include advanced expertise in IBM SPSS for multivariate analyses, prevalence estimation and regression modeling; proficiency in R and Python for data analysis; competence in GIS mapping and spatial epidemiology using Google My Maps and GIS-based tools; and expertise in field survey design using digital platforms such as Epicollect5, KoboToolbox and Google Forms. He demonstrates hands-on proficiency with AI tools including ChatGPT, Gemini, Deepseek, Claude and AI-based data summarization tools for enhancing research efficiency. Additional competencies include familiarity with infectious disease modeling (SIR, SEIR frameworks), proficiency in LaTeX for academic manuscript preparation, expertise in health education and IEC material development, and practical experience with design tools such as Canva. He is also competent in managing academic databases including PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus and reference management software such as Mendeley and Zotero.

Awards, Honours & Professional Memberships

Mr. Krishali's contributions have been recognized through multiple awards and honours. He received the 3rd Prize in InnoSpark 2026 Ideathon organized by the School of Science & Technology at SRHU for innovation and creative problem-solving. He was honoured by the Consortium against Rabies for a national-level video contest addressing dog bite management, and received the Best Facilitator Award from the Association of Family Physicians of India at the 6th National Conference of Family Medicine & Primary Care (2024), AIIMS Rishikesh. Additionally, he contributed to the preparation of an educational short film on menstrual hygiene management produced in collaboration with the Rural Development Institute and screened during School MM Summit 2023. Professionally, he holds membership in Epidemiology Foundation of India (EFI; Member ID: 02975) and the International Social Epidemiology Society (I-SES), positioning him within the global epidemiological research community.

Leadership & Institutional Contributions

Beyond his research and teaching roles, Mr. Krishali actively contributes to academic leadership and institutional advancement. He serves in editorial roles for multiple peer-reviewed journals, including positions as Journal Manager for the Indian Journal of Community Health (IJCH) under the Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine, and Production Editor roles for the Journal of Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics (JVI) and the Journal of Parenting & Child Development (JPCD) under the Foundation of People-centric Health System. He has served as a member of the organizing committee for multiple national conferences and workshops, including the State-level Workshop on Research Protocol Development and Grant Readiness, the 6th National Conference of Family Medicine & Primary Care (2024), the National Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (2024), and the National Workshop on Qualitative Methods in Health Research (2023), demonstrating his engagement in advancing the discipline and supporting professional networks.

Eligibility for Young Researcher Award

Mr. Akash Krishali demonstrates the key hallmarks of an emerging young researcher. His 16 published peer-reviewed articles, 3 book chapters, active participation in 3 major funded research projects, conference presentations, advanced technical competencies in epidemiological and statistical methods, professional memberships in national and international societies, and recognition through multiple awards collectively demonstrate substantial and sustained contribution to epidemiological research and public health science during the early phase of his career. His research spans diverse and relevant public health domains including vaccine hesitancy, occupational health, nutritional epidemiology, environmental health and emerging technologies in public health, reflecting intellectual breadth and practical relevance. His engagement in journal editorial work, conference organization and capacity-building activities further demonstrates his commitment to advancing the discipline beyond individual research contributions.

Based on the achievements, research output, technical competencies, professional recognition and institutional contributions demonstrated, Mr. Akash Krishali is eligible for consideration for the Young Researcher Award in Scientific Laurels, particularly in recognition of his emerging contributions to epidemiological research, evidence generation for public health, and scholarly engagement with the broader scientific community.