Kanan Puntambekar provides SEL/MEL support as the Education Practice liaison with CALI’s Strategic Research Evaluation and Learning initiative. In this role, she supports the MERL integration and strategic evaluation learning related activities across the practice.

Additionally, Kanan is part of the newly launched Climate Talent Initiative team supporting the recruitment and climate education components of these programs. She is also part of the Climate Change Initiative and has previously led the design and implementation of the Global Solutions STEM challenge program and supported other virtual exchange programs at IREX.

Prior to joining IREX, Kanan led strategy development and project design for multiple for- and non-profit organizations, including the Asante Africa Foundation and Vivensity. Kanan has over 15 years of technical experience and expertise related to materials science, including consumer electronics, energy storage, and research and development of next generation technologies.

Kanan has a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the University of Minnesota and MSc/BSc in physics from University of Pune, India.