Dr. N. (Nihit) Goyal

Dr. N. (Nihit) Goyal

Contact

Room: 31.B2.300

Profile

Biography

I am an Assistant Professor of Policy Innovation at the faculty of Technology, Policy and Management. I have a Master in Public Affairs from Sciences Po (2012), and a Master in Public Policy (2012) and PhD in Public Policy (2020) from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. Previously, I was a software engineer at Philips (2006-10), a research scientist at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (2012-15), a Fox International Fellow at Yale University (2018-19), and a postdoctoral fellow at the Yale-NUS College (2019-20).


Expertise

I focus on understanding, explaining, and promoting policy innovation in complex sociotechnical systems in order to catalyse transitions to a more sustainable future.

Sustainability transitions require not only technological development and behavioural change, but also policy innovation. While there are different perspectives on policy innovation – spanning policy change or invention, policy diffusion or transfer, and policy evaluation or success – all of them highlight the need to go beyond policy analysis and mobilise relevant knowledge in policy processes. Although traditional 'lenses' in policy studies can be useful for this purpose, they do not account for complexities of sociotechnical systems, such as economy-energy-environment nexus, multilevel governance, technological disruption, and trans-nationalisation. 

My work sheds light on policy innovation through: (i) an interdisciplinary approach synthesising research in policy studies with behavioural studies, international relations, and science & technology studies; (ii) the use of multiple –and mixed – methods spanning computational text analysis, econometrics, and qualitative techniques; and (iii) an application to novel cases with high policy relevance, such as those in the Global South. I study the policy process, policy design, and policy outcomes empirically, primarily in the context of the sustainable energy transition.


Projects

Adaptable Design Pathway Transitions (ADEPT)

Decision-making framework and processes for holistic evaluation of environmental and climate policies (DECIPHER)

Enabling Positive Tipping Points towards clean-energy transitions in Coal and Carbon Intensive Regions (TIPPING+)


Awards

Runner-up for the Wang Gungwu Medal and Prize for the best PhD thesis in the Social Sciences and Humanities, National University of Singapore (2020)

Fox International Fellowship, The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies, Yale University (2018)

Graduate Research Scholarship, National University of Singapore (2015) 

International Visitor Leadership Program on Climate Change and Environmental Pollution Control, Department of State, United States of America [Declined] (2015) 

Inaugural Merit Award, Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (2014) 

Dean’s List, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore (2011) 

Eiffel Excellence Scholarship, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France (2010) 

Master of Public Affairs Tuition Award, Sciences Po Paris (2010)

Individual Contribution Award, Philips Electronics India Ltd. (2010)

Team Contribution Award, Philips Electronics India Ltd. (2009)

Runner-up for the Employee of the Month, Philips Electronics India Ltd. (2008)

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Expertise

Publications

Courses 2024

Courses 2023

Ancillary activities

Contact

Room: 31.B2.300