Biography
Priya Saikumar is a DPhil student in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, supervised by Professor Paulo Savaget.
Priya holds a BE in Industrial Engineering & Management from Visvesvaraya Technological University, India, an MSc in Production Management from the Technical University of Hamburg, Germany, and an MBA in Energy & Environment from the University of Cambridge, UK. Prior to academia, Priya spent over a decade leading program and portfolio management teams, with a strong focus on technology and sustainability. A certified Agile and Design Thinking coach, she brings a unique perspective to her interdisciplinary research.
Her passion for community development extends to her continued engagement with NGOs in Kayole, Nairobi, where she was engaged in the role of a community development portfolio manager. This dedication informs her exploration of just transition pathways for vulnerable communities involved in the WEEE value chain, ensuring her work has both academic and societal impact.
Research
Priya researches circular economy within the Electrical and Electronics Equipment (EEE) sector. Her research seeks to understand how actors and their interventions drive transition toward high-R circular economy pathways, focusing on resource and energy efficiency. By addressing innovation in product design, business models, frugal innovation, and grassroots ecosystems, she explores the lifecycle extension of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and its implications for policy and market responses.
