This month the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability and James E. Rogers Energy Access Project at Duke University welcomed Sandeep Pai as an executive in residence and senior lead for international energy transitions.
Pai has more than a decade of leadership experience at the intersection of research, program strategy and policy. He has advised the Asian Development Bank and worked at leading policy organizations, including the Center for Strategic & International Studies and Swaniti Global. Pai is a cofounder of the Council for Critical Minerals Development in the Global South, a joint initiative between the United Nations’ SEforAll; University of California, Davis; and Swaniti Global.
"Energy transitions aren’t only about technology; they’re about people’s livelihoods, local institutions and building the trust needed to drive durable change," said Jonathan Phillips, director of the Energy Access Project. "Sandeep has led that work, and we’re excited to bring his vision and leadership to our Duke community and partners."
"Sandeep has been a valued collaborator and partner for years, and we’re thrilled he’s joining the Duke community," added Jackson Ewing, director of energy and climate policy for the Nicholas Institute. "He has been working on energy transitions since before the term became commonplace, and offers a rare combination of rigorous scholarship, policy fluency and on-the-ground experience in the Global South that aligns perfectly with Duke’s ambitions."
Pai’s portfolio of projects at Duke will tap into his expertise on four timely topics:
- Methane reduction in the fossil fuel sector;
- Diversification into clean energy for major state-owned enterprises in developing countries, including India, Indonesia, and South Africa;
- Ways to help ensure transitions to clean energy are just, protecting workers and others who could suffer negative consequences; and
- How Global South countries can gain more societal value from critical mineral reserves.
"I’m excited to join the Duke University Nicholas Institute at a moment when global energy transitions require not just strong research, but meaningful engagement and practical solutions," Pai said. "Duke’s collaborative culture and deep commitment to climate action make it a place where I’m excited to contribute work that can have real-world impact"
Prior to Pai’s career in research and policy, he worked as an investigative journalist for leading Indian newspapers, reporting on rural development, energy transition, and political corruption across South Asia.
In 2016, Pai was honored with India’s most prestigious journalism award—the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism award—for his series of stories on corruption in state-owned enterprises. In 2018, he published his first book, Total Transition: The Human Side of the Renewable Energy Revolution.
Pai’s commentary and analysis appear regularly in global media outlets including The Guardian, Times of India, and CNN.
Pai holds a Ph.D. in resources, environment, and sustainability from the University of British Columbia. He also holds a M.Sc. in environmental sciences, policy, and management from the European Commission’s MESPOM program, jointly taught by Lund University, Central European University, and the University of the Aegean. He earned a B. Tech. in computer science and engineering from Cochin University of Science and Technology.
