Namaste! I am an educator and researcher deeply committed to understanding talent development and social-emotional learning. Currently, I serve as an Associate Research Scientist at Yale University, where I explore how young minds develop emotional intelligence. Before joining Yale, I was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, studying ways to bridge social divides and foster connection. I hold a Ph.D. in Educational Studies from Purdue University, USA, and my work is driven by a passion for creating meaningful learning experiences that empower individuals and communities.
My research and practice focus on how educators can maximize human potential through education. Typically, I focus on student populations from middle and high schools. I mainly interact with students from India and the U.S.
I became interested in teaching when I was 17. Since then, I have been involved in various educational programs within and outside of school settings. I have been a coach, teacher, and mentor for students since 2007.
I have a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Information Technology from Vishwakarma Institute of Technology. After working as a Software Engineer at TIBCO Inc. for two years, I formally moved into the education sector in 2013.
I could not find a calling in the corporate job, which is when I started searching for something more meaningful. I tried to recap and find out the most satisfying moments of my life so far. The results of this litmus test were crystal clear–I enjoyed being with students the most. I decided to make a career shift in 2015.
I earned a Master’s degree in Education from Azim Premji University, where I specialized in Curriculum and Teaching. In those two years, I traveled across the country, touching all four corners of India. I conducted science camps in remote villages on India-China and India-Pakistan borders and involved myself in research studies in three different states.
With foundation training in educational theories and a vivid travel experience, I joined Jnana Prabodhini’s Institute of Psychology as the Assistant Professor of Education. I worked as a faculty member in India’s first-ever diploma course in gifted education. These three years in academia propelled me to take a step further in higher education.
In 2018, I moved to the USA to pursue a Ph.D. in Educational Studies at Purdue University. I coordinated Summer Youth Programs at Purdue University’s Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute. And I earned a specialization in quantitative and qualitative educational research methods.
For my dissertation, I studied how adolescents can develop a concern for others through practicing empathy, compassion, and prosocial behavior. In addition, I developed an interest in transformational giftedness, positive creativity, and inequities in gifted education.
At UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, I focused on developing and assessing bridge-building interventions that can help foster social connection and counter the rising polarization in the world.
Now at Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, I support research initiatives focused on the development and validation of assessments, conducting implementation and efficacy trials of RULER–a globally acknowledged approach to social and emotional learning, and analyzing data from the RULER metrics database.
Service
I started volunteering with a non-profit organization called Jnana Prabodhini where I served as a youth program leader from 2007 to 2018. Besides, I have been involved in science popularization and talent development initiatives in remote rural regions of India.
Now, I volunteer with the Jnana Prabodhini Foundation, a non-profit organization I co-founded in the U.S. In my role as the Communications and Networking head, I enjoy networking with people across the globe. I have been a part of four major projects and fundraising campaigns dedicated to the causes of education and COVID-19 pandemic relief.
Feel free to contact me at chowkase (dot) aakash (at) gmail (dot) com, or use the contact form on this website.
Aakash Chowkase 