Sayantika Sen

Sayantika Sen (She/Her) is a social work professional, passionate researcher, and educator from India. Her PhD thesis is dedicated to advancing gender justice, social inclusion, and health equity.

Sayantika earned her Bachelor's degree in Economics and her Master's in Social Welfare (MSW) from the University of Calcutta. She was awarded the Gold Medal for academic excellence in her Master's by the University of Calcutta. She subsequently completed her Ph.D. in Social Work from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. During her doctoral journey, she was a recipient of the "Junior Research Fellowship" and was selected for the "Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) Full-Term Doctoral Fellowship."

Her research interests span gender and sexuality, LGBTQIA+ rights, public health, mental health, social policy, and community-based interventions. Sayantika finds joy in connecting with people from diverse backgrounds, learning about different cultures, and building meaningful relationships.

Sayantika's spouse, Binayak Sarkar, has completed his PhD in Cell Biology from the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India. He is currently pursuing a Postdoctorate at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Both Binayak and Sayantika value opportunities to learn from others, try out different cuisines, and celebrate the richness of diverse perspectives.