Visiting Professor, Bagchi School of Public Health
PhD (University of Delhi)
+91.79.61911000
Research Interests: Nutrition Epidemiology, Policy, Public Health Nutrition, Food Systems, Chronic Diseases
Dr Shweta Khandelwal is an accomplished Public Health Nutrition leader with over 20 years of progressive experience in maternal and child health and nutrition (MCHN), driving policy-relevant research, strategic implementation, and multi-sectoral integration. Currently, as Vice President, IPE Global and former Senior Advisor at Jhpiego and Head of Nutrition Research at PHFI, she leverages deep technical expertise in maternal nutrition and the double burden of malnutrition to strengthen national and regional programmes, overseeing government nutrition initiatives.
A pioneer in public health education, Dr Khandelwal was instrumental in launching the first-of-its-kind Public Health Nutrition (PHN) diploma course in India. This initiative, along with other short courses and her academic engagements, has been critical in strengthening the country's public health nutrition workforce. As a prolific researcher, she has authored over 180 publications, including key contributions to prestigious journals such as The Lancet, BMC Medical, and The Lancet South East Asia. Her research has been influential in shaping policy, particularly through her extensive global collaborations, including Wellcome Trust fellowships.
Her active roles on expert panels (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Food Safety Standards Authority of India, ICMR, NITI Aayog, NHRC) demonstrate a proven ability to influence evidence-based policymaking and mobilise resources for critical interventions such as preconception nutrition, anaemia reduction, and the promotion of sustainable, healthy diets. Uniquely positioned to refine strategic thinking and manage impactful research and policy grants, she has a track record of driving the scale-up of cost-effective maternal and child nutrition interventions and mobilising/redirecting resources towards high impact.
Book Chapters
Nutrition Epidemiology, Nutrition Policy, Climate and Nutrition, Health Promotion, Public Health Nutrition, Research Methods