Rudra is a third-culture kid, who collected a variety of stomping grounds across three continents. On her travels, she keenly observed the continual decline of some of her favorite wild spaces and became a passionate advocate for their protection. However, it was during memorable field trips orchestrated by her D.C.-area high school that Rudra’s love for nature and science was cemented—from White Sands National Park in New Mexico to the Marine Science Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

She continued her path in the natural sciences at Scotland’s University of Edinburgh, where her undergraduate ecosystems research included collaborations with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) and the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. During Rudra’s graduate studies at Imperial College London, she further explored the human impacts on Earth’s biogeochemical cycles. This led her to work for a research team focused on energy systems and innovation at the University of Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute.

After three years in Oxford, Rudra returned to the University of Edinburgh for an interdisciplinary Ph.D., where her work integrated Geosciences and International Relations. Her doctoral studies focused on carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) technology development, and its potential for technology transfer through wider international climate frameworks. More specifically, Rudra studied the politics of CCUS development in vulnerable emerging economies--such as India.

Following her doctoral research, Rudra applied her unique skillset to support political campaigns and policy outreach for U.S. presidential, congressional, and state-level campaigns. Also, she is the Co-Chair for the Climate Change Working Group at Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security (WCAPS), a non-profit organization committed to promoting diverse perspectives from WoC leaders within foreign policy and national security.

Rudra joins Third Way’s Climate and Energy Program as Senior Policy Advisor for Carbon Management, advocating for policies to put the United States on the fastest and fairest path to net-zero emissions by 2050. When not working, she escapes to a galaxy far, far away, with The Mandalorian and their child, Grogu. Once the post-Covid renaissance begins, Rudra looks forward to returning to her natural habitat: the pub.