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Megha Thakur

Megha Thakur

Senior Research Associate

CEH, PHFI

 

Megha earned her Doctorate in Public Health from the Care and Public Health Research Institute at Maastricht University, Netherlands. Her academic journey began with a Dental degree, followed by a Master’s in Public Health. Her doctoral dissertation, entitled “Low-Smoke Chulha and Health Consequences in Indian Slums,” was supported by the Technology Foundation STW, which is part of NWO (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research). This research, conducted as a randomized controlled trial, evaluated the effects of low-smoke chulhas on air pollution exposure and respiratory health among women and children in Indian slums.

In addition to her academic and research credentials, Megha is an alumna of the Young Expert Programmes (YEP), a prestigious initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands Water Partnership, the Food & Business Knowledge Platform, and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. She has also served as an SDG Impact Analyst for FairClimateFund, a Dutch social enterprise focused on carbon financing.

At PHFI, Megha is actively involved in research and capacity-building efforts focused on the intersection of climate change and public health.

  • Health impacts of Air pollution
  1. Thakur M, Boudewijns EA, Babu GR, et al. Cooking microenvironment and health: A cross-sectional study of solid fuel users in urban slums in India. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research 2022;12(8).
  2. Thakur M, Boudewijns EA, Babu GR, et al. Biomass use and COVID-19: A novel concern. Environ Res 2020;186.
  3. Thakur M, Boudewijns EA, van Schayck OC. Improved cookstoves in low-resource settings: a spur to successful implementation strategies. Npj Prim Care Respir Med 2019;29(36).
  4. Thakur M, Nuyts PA, Boudewijns EA, et al. Impact of improved cookstoves on women’s and child health in low and middle income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Thorax 2018;73(11).
  5. Thakur M, Boudewijns EA, Babu GR, et al. Low-smoke chulha in Indian slums: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMC Public Health 2017;17(1).
  6. Checkley W, Pollard SL, Thakur M, et al. Managing threats to respiratory health in urban slums. Lancet Resp Med 2016;4(11).