Varun Kshirsagar is an independent consultant with over 15 years of post-PhD experience applying econometrics, machine learning, and geospatial analysis to examine markets, risk, and localized and systemic economic disruption in data-constrained environments. His work for organizations such as the World Bank, NASA, and Booz Allen Hamilton involves designing and implementing end-to-end analytical workflows—from problem formulation through programming, modeling, and delivery. He builds reproducible pipelines that convert noisy administrative and remote-sensing data into interpretable, decision-ready signals used for prioritization and strategic planning in high-stakes contexts. His research has been published in leading applied journals such as the World Bank Economic Review, World Development, and Global Environmental Change, and he is a recipient of a Best Paper Award at a NeurIPS workshop. He holds a PhD in economics from North Carolina State University.