Her research focuses on public goods, their impact on human development, and how political processes influence their provision. She has a particular interest in infrastructure. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Alliance Foundation, the Swedish Research Council, the IGC and 3ie. Originally trained as a civil and environmental engineer, she holds an M.Eng. from Imperial College London, an M.Phil. from the University of Cambridge and a Ph.D. in Sustainable Development from Columbia University.