Rahul Muralidharan is Program Lead – Research Integrity at WRI India. He works across research programs to strengthen the quality, integrity, and relevance of WRI India’s knowledge products, supporting teams on research design, methods, evidence, analysis, interpretation, and peer review.

Before joining WRI India, Rahul worked across research, teaching, and applied sustainability initiatives, including at the Energy Consortium and the School of Sustainability at IIT Madras. His work has brought together perspectives from the natural and social sciences and has involved collaboration with academic, government, industry, and civil society partners on environmental and sustainability challenges. He has also taught university and executive education courses and mentored students and researchers.

Rahul’s research interests lie broadly in the intersection of people, nature, and sustainability. His work has explored how environmental change, development, institutions, and different forms of knowledge shape relationships between people and their environments, across marine conservation, fisheries, ocean governance, energy transitions, climate change, and sustainability. His engagement spans peer-reviewed research, public writing, teaching, and film.

Rahul holds a PhD in Conservation Science and Sustainability Studies from Manipal Academy of Higher Education. He earned a Master of Science in Marine Studies and Coastal Resources Management and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Madras Christian College, Chennai.

Outside work, Rahul enjoys cycling, football, reading, discovering new music, and spending time at the beach with his family in Chennai.