NISHA MALHOTRA

PERSONAL PROFILE: 15+ years experience as an economics professor. Expert in research design, policy analysis & quantitative studies with a strong publication record. Distinguished educator, mentor, & effective communicator. Track record guiding teams & collaborating with community-based organizations.

nishamalhot@gmail.com    nisha.malhotra@ubc.ca

EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Economics,  University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, US ( May 2004)

Master in Economics, University of Delhi, School of Economics, New Delhi, India (June 1995)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, UBC, Vancouver, BC

   Senior Research Associate, Birthplace Lab, (2021- Present)

    • Provided leadership and technical expertise in research planning, development, and evaluation.
    • Partnered with senior leadership to drive strategic initiatives, inform decision-making, and align research.
    • Mentored & supervised early-career scholars, technicians, community researchers, and trainees in research design, regression methodology, data analysis, and integrated knowledge translation (iKT) activities.
    • Oversaw projects, ensuring compliance with ethical standards, ORS, OCAP, and equity principles.
    • Presented & communicated complex research findings to diverse audiences, fostering clarity, engagement, and actionable insights. (summaries for knowledge users and policy  reports)
    • Developed training manuals for BPL’s internal program, enhancing research capacity.
    • Directed quantitative and mixed-methods studies in intersectional analysis, program evaluation, instrument development, and psychometric analysis of large datasets.

Vancouver School Of Economics, Faculty of Arts, UBC, Vancouver, BC

    Associate Professor of Teaching (Tenured) (2015-2021)

    • Advanced curriculum to foster student scholarship & engagement.
    • Supported & mentored early-career faculty with co-curricular activities.
    • Incorporated community engagement in seminar course curricula.
    • Developed online open education resources in economics, Research Methods, Econometrics, & statistical computing skills.
    • Developed, Evaluated, and implemented Curricula
    • Workshops for faculty on Instructional design
    • Program on Research Methodology and teaching of Statistical Software

    Assistant Professor of Teaching (tenure track) (2010 – 2015)

    Acting Director, Undergraduate Majors Programme, ( 2011 )

PRIOR EXPERIENCE

  •       UBC, Postdoctorate & Sessional Lecturer, Economics, Vancouver, BC
  •       Regionomics, Consultant (Data Analysis of Urban Systems), Toronto, Canada
  •       World Bank, Consultant, Development Economics Research Group, Washington DC, USA
  •       World Bank, Consultant, Operations Evaluation Department (OED), Washington DC, USA
  •       Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, New Delhi, India

PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES

Public Health & Perinatal Research

  • Malhotra, N., Jevitt, C.M., Stoll, K., Vedam, S., & RESPCCT study team. (2024). Weight-based disparities in perinatal care: Quantitative findings of respect, autonomy, mistreatment, and body mass index in a national Canadian survey. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 24(737).
  • Taiwo, T.K., Goode, K., Niles, P.M., Stoll, K., Malhotra, N., & Vedam, S. (2023). Perinatal mood and anxiety disorder and reproductive justice: Examining unmet needs for mental health and social services in a national cohort. Health Equity, 7(1).
  • Niles, P.M., Baumont, M., Malhotra, N., Stoll, K., Strauss, N., Lyndon, A., & Vedam, S. (2023). Examining respect, autonomy, and mistreatment in childbirth in the US: Do provider type and place of birth matter? Reproductive Health, 20(1).
  • Logan, R.G., McLemore, M.R., Julian, Z., Stoll, K., Malhotra, N., Steering Council, & Vedam, S. (2022). Coercion and non-consent during birth and newborn care in the United States. Birth, 49(4).
  • Malhotra, N., & Choy, N. (2014). The role of maternal diet and iron-folic acid supplements in influencing birth weight: Evidence from India’s National Family Health Survey. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, 60(6).
  • Malhotra, N., & Upadhyay, R. (2013). Why are there delays in seeking treatment for childhood diarrhea in India? Acta Pediatrica, 102(9).
  • Malhotra, N. (2012). Inadequate feeding of infants and young children in India: Lack of nutritional information or food affordability? Public Health Nutrition, 16(10).
  • Eswaran, M., & Malhotra, N. (2011). Domestic violence and women’s autonomy in developing countries: Theory and evidence. Canadian Journal of Economics, 44(4).
  • Malhotra, N., & Yang, J. (2011). Risky behaviour and HIV prevalence among Zambian men. Journal of Biosocial Science, 43(2).
    Boudarbat, B., & Malhotra, N. (2008). The hazard of starting the smoking habit among the Canadian population. International Journal of Economic Perspectives, 3(2).

Public Policy & Economic Research

  • Malhotra, N., & Gulati, S. (2009). The users of lumber and the US-Canada softwood lumber agreement: An event study. Contemporary Economic Policy.
  • Malhotra, N., & Rus, H. (2009). Effectiveness of the Canadian antidumping regime. Canadian Public Policy, 35(2).
  • Malhotra, N., & Malhotra, S. (2008). Liberalization and protection: Antidumping duties in the Indian pharmaceutical industry. Journal of Economic Policy Reform.
  • Malhotra, N. (2008). Signaling costs: Why don’t more firms petition for protection? Business and Politics, 10(1).
  • Malhotra, N., & Malhotra, S. (2007). Investing in an emerging market: Evidence from US firms investing in India. Competitiveness Review, 17(1).
  • Malhotra, N., & Gulati, S. (2006). Estimating export response in Canadian provinces to the US-Canada softwood lumber agreement. Canadian Public Policy, 32(2).

PUBLICATIONS

Book Chapters & Edited Volumes

  • Malhotra, N. (2019). Child malnutrition, infant feeding practices, and nutrition information: Evidence from India. In A Human Rights-Based Approach to Development in India. UBC Press.

Other Academic Publications

  • Malhotra, N. (2013). Seminars in applied research methods: Designing instructional strategies for a seminar course. Syllabus Journal.

Selected Magazine & General Articles

  • Av-Shalom, I., Malhotra, N., & Tatum, A. (2023, October). Bridging the gap: Overcoming barriers in higher ed for students with disabilities, including neurodivergent learners. Faculty Focus.
  • Malhotra, N. (2020, July). Violence against women escalates as we flatten the curve for the COVID-19 pandemic. Women’s Health Research Cluster, Women’s Health Research Network, UBC.
  • Malhotra, N. (2019, November 27). Implementing active learning and student-centred pedagogy in large classes, blended & flipped learning. Faculty Focus.
  • Malhotra, N. (2012, October 8). Child malnutrition: Why wealth is not the only problem. LiveMint & The Wall Street Journal.
  • Malhotra, N. (2012, October 9). Nutrition education is needed to combat child malnutrition in India. Kaiser Global Health Update.
  • Malhotra, N., & Hammond, G. (1998). West Virginia economic outlook for Preston County. Bureau of Business and Economic Research, College of Business and Economics, West Virginia University. Available at Preston WV.

SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES (SELECT)

WORKSHOPS & PRESENTATIONS

  • Evidence of Disparities in Respectful Maternity Care in Canada. Canadian Perinatal Child Health Research Meetings, Vancouver, Canada, June (2024)
  • STATA Conference Co-Host & Scientific Committee Member, Community Engagement Activity. Description. Toronto, Canada, July (2023). Expertise in research evaluation, event organization, and advisory roles within the academic community.
  • Examining equity, safety, and justice in perinatal services across Canada. Canadian Association of Midwives Annual General Meeting, Plenary Session,  (2022), Virtual.
  • Domestic Violence Against Women in Pakistan. Webinar Series on population and health research, IBA, KARACHI, Pakistan (2022)
  • Using Social Media to Engage Students and Humanize Online Teaching The online teaching program series is at the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT), UBC. (2021)
  • Intergenerational Transmission of Domestic Violence and Gender: Walking in Their Footsteps.UBC Women’s Health Cluster. Working series that provides multidisciplinary training and mentorship across a broad range of women’s health research topics, Vancouver, Canada (2021)
  • International Development Research Center (IDRC) – Invited to participate in the Asian Regional Consultation for Social and Economic Development Programs Jakarta, Indonesia, 2014

Student/Postdoctoral Supervision

  • Jaskarn Dhaliwal, Bachelor’s Honours, UBC Okanagan (Aug 2021 – Apr 2022) – Co-SupervisorThesis: Intimate Partner Violence-Related Brain Injury in South Asian Women in Canada | Present: Graduate
  • Muhammad Shahid Waheed, Master’s Equivalent, IBA Karachi (May 2022) – Co-SupervisorThesis: Acceptance of Wife Beating in Pakistan | Present: Graduate
  • Safyer McKenzie, Doctorate, UCSF (June 2022) – Academic AdvisorThesis: Nativity & MADM, MORi, Mistreatment, Perceptions of Racism Among Black People | Present: Graduate
  • Alice Story, Doctorate, University of Louisville (Jan – May 2022) – Academic Advisor Thesis: Factors Influencing Mode of Delivery in Black Women – Race, Cultural Concordance, Patient-Centered Decision-Making, Racism in Perinatal Care | Present: Postgraduate
  • Katelyn Yoder, Postdoctorate, UCSF (Feb 2022) – Co-Supervisor Thesis: Experiences of People Transferring from Community to Hospital | Present: Postgraduate

Services

  • Arts Curriculum Committee – Voting member of UBC Senate Curriculum Committee for Faculty of Arts, UBC, 2017 to 2019.
  • Co-operative Work Program – Promotion and Outreach, which saw a 90% increase in economics student enrollment in 2013.
  • UBC Learning Exchange – Presenter at “Livability in Vancouver” conference for the communities of Vancouver Downtown Eastside neighbourhoods, 2013.
  • The UBC Mixer – Interdisciplinary partnerships between courses, instructors and students, 2011.
  • Research Fellow – Graduate Student Training, Canadian Agricultural Trade Policy Research Network, 2009.
  • Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada – Analyzing the effects of Canada’s preferential trade agreements and proposing future strategies, 2007.
  • Committee work – Served on various committees: Instructor Recruiting, Promotion/Merit Review, Communications, Alumni Relations, SHHRC Arts Co-op, VSE Program Review & UBC CBL community-based learning.
  • Journal Review – Reviewed papers for Public Health and Nutrition, PLOS ONE, Journal of Human Development, Maternal and Child Health Journal, Canadian Public Policy, and Contemporary Economic Policy.

VOLUNTEER SERVICE & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
  • DREAM IT BE IT: Academic Career for High School Girls. Career Conference for High School Girls, Soroptimist International, Vancouver, Canada https://soroptimistvancouver.org/dream-it-be-it/2020/mentors.php, Canada (2020).
  • Recognized for adapting a “pedagogical approach in partnering with diverse community organizations and enabling students to engage in community-based projects” in undergrad Econ 490. Director, UBC-Community Learning Initiative (UBC-CLI).
  • Curriculum Consultation: St. Regis Secondary School, Independent High School, Vancouver. Assisting in developing a 12th-year economic course, which focuses on student engagement and community-based learning, within the ‘BC Ministry of Education’s guidelines, 16 March-31 May 2021.
  • University of Management & Technology, Conference Advisory and Technical Board member reviewing proposed papers for presentation, 2017 to Present.
  • Vancouver Rent Bank, NICCS. Member of the advisory board from 2012 to 2015; Designed the client survey for the organization; Program Analysis & Survey Review, 2014-2015; Evaluation Report of the Vancouver Rent Bank (2015); Program Analysis & Survey Review, 2020-2021; Evaluation Report of the Vancouver Rent Bank (Ongoing).
  • Member of the advisory board from 2012 to 2015; Designed the client survey for 2014-2015; Evaluation Report of the Vancouver Rent Bank (2015); Program Analysis & Survey Review, 2020-2021; Evaluation Report of the Vancouver Rent Bank (Ongoing).

Higher Education Leadership