LSE International Development Announces Two New Faculty Appointments in Development Economics

The Department of International is pleased to announce two new faculty appointments in Development Economics for the 2026/27 academic year.

Dr Danial Lashkari will join the department as Associate Professor in Development Economics, while Dr Niharika Singh has accepted the post of Assistant Professor in Development Economics, with both appointments commencing in September 2026.

Danial joins from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where he is currently a Research Advisor. He holds a PhD in Political Economy & Government from Harvard University and a PhD in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research focuses on the long-term drivers of economic change, making him an exciting addition to the department’s growing expertise in development economics.

Niharika is already part of the department as a Visiting Professor and will transition into her new role in the new academic year. Previously based at University of Notre Dame, she works on labour markets, gender, and collective action. Her recent research examines how information frictions and institutions shape job search and recruitment, how gender norms and policies influence women’s education and employment, and how unions and grassroots organising affect public service delivery and worker welfare. She received her PhD in Public Policy from Harvard University.

These appointments further strengthen the department’s expanding research and teaching profile in development economics, reinforcing LSE International Development’s commitment to world-leading scholarship in the field.