PhD (Anthropology) from Hyderabad Central University; Masters (gold medalist) and M.Phil in anthropology also conferred by the same university. She was awarded NCERT Doctoral Fellowship for her PhD work on anthropology of education. Her PhD research work specifically was in the area of school culture and education.

Prior to joining NUEPA, she was working at Centre for Public Policy, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore in various research projects. She was also involved in co-ordinating the Mid-Career Training Programme for IFS officers.

She has published articles in journals and presented papers in national and international conferences. Her research interests include privatization of school education, school culture, educational management, gender and development, and education of the disadvantaged.