Shruti Shukla | Social Impact Young Researcher Award| 

Ms. Shruti Shukla | Social Impact |  Young Researcher Award 

Technical University of Munich | Germany

Ms. Shruti Shukla is a dedicated researcher in global health with a strong focus on gender equity, adolescent maternal and child health, and the socio-economic determinants of well-being in low- and middle-income countries. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Global Health at the Technical University of Munich, Germany, where her research examines the impact of gender transformative interventions on adolescent maternal and child health outcomes. She holds an MSc in Global Health from Maastricht University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Liberal Arts from Ashoka University, and an MSc in Biotechnology from Savitribai Phule Pune University. Her extensive professional experience includes research associate roles at TUM and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, contributing to projects on economic violence, intimate partner violence, and the impact of COVID-19 on gender inequities. She has also worked as a project coordinator for community-based health programs in India focusing on pneumonia and anaemia prevention. Her research interests encompass public health policy, gender-based violence prevention, and global health systems. She has delivered lectures on global and maternal health and contributed to several international collaborations. Ms. Shukla continues to pursue evidence-based approaches that promote equity, resilience, and empowerment in global health contexts.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Shukla, S., Shenderovich, Y., Jacobs, C., & Steinert, J. I. (2025). Pedalling progress? Assessing the long-term impact of a bicycle intervention on adolescent maternal and child health in Zambia. Social Science & Medicine.

Shukla, S., Kharade, A., Böhret, I., Jumaniyazova, M., Meyer, S. R., Abejirinde, I.-O. O., Shenderovich, Y., & Steinert, J. (2025). How do gender transformative interventions reduce adolescent pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries: A realist synthesis. Journal of Global Health.

Shukla, S., Mosha, N. R., Meyer, S. R., Harvey, S., Lees, S., Mshana, G., & Stöckl, H. (2025). Women’s informal group participation and intimate partner violence in Mwanza, Tanzania: A longitudinal study. Social Science & Medicine.

Steinert, J. I., Shukla, S., & Satish, R. V. (2024). Navigating distress: Exploring factors affecting adolescent girls’ wellbeing during and after a violence-focused survey in Maharashtra, India. Child Abuse & Neglect.

Shukla, S., Abejirinde, I.-O. O., Meyer, S. R., Shenderovich, Y., & Steinert, J. I. (2024). Mechanisms behind gender transformative approaches targeting adolescent pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries: A realist synthesis protocol. Systematic Reviews.

Shukla, S., Castro Torres, A. F., Satish, R. V., Shenderovich, Y., Abejirinde, I.-O. O., & Steinert, J. I. (2023). Factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in Maharashtra, India: A mixed-methods study. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters.

Meyer, S. R., Hardt, S., Brambilla, R., Shukla, S., & Stöckl, H. (2023). Sociological theories to explain intimate partner violence: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. Advance online publication.

Amon Exavery | Statistical Analysis | Transcontinental Excellence in Research Data Analysis Award

Dr. Amon Exavery | Statistical Analysis | Transcontinental Excellence in Research Data Analysis Award

University of Dodoma | Tanzania

Dr. Amon Exavery is a distinguished statistician and public health researcher with over 15 years of experience in research, evaluation, and learning. He holds a Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of Dodoma, a Master’s degree in Epidemiology from the University of the Witwatersrand, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from the University of Dar es Salaam. Dr. Exavery has led numerous large-scale health and social service research projects, including impactful programs on Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), HIV/AIDS, malaria, WASH, nutrition, reproductive, maternal, and child health, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and sustainable livelihoods. As a Senior Research and Learning Advisor at Pact Tanzania, he has spearheaded multiple secondary data analyses, impact evaluations, and evidence-based program improvements. Previously, he served as a Statistician and Research Scientist at Ifakara Health Institute and Monitoring & Evaluation Officer at Jhpiego, where he applied advanced statistical modeling, multilevel analysis, and predictive analytics to inform policy and practice. A prolific author, Dr. Exavery has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles, presented at international conferences, and contributed to global public health knowledge. Recognized for his strategic leadership, mentorship, and innovative research approaches, he continues to drive evidence-based interventions and strengthen research capacity across Tanzania and the wider region.

Profile : Orcid

Featured Publications

Exavery, A., Kirigiti, P. J., Balan, R. T., & Charles, J. (2026). “Enhancing Longitudinal Impact Evaluation of Non-Experimental Interventions: A Comparative Analysis of Generalized Estimating Equations and Multilevel Models Based on Empirical Evaluation of Temporal Change in Food Security Following an Economic Empowerment Intervention.” Evaluation and Program Planning.

Exavery, A., Kirigiti, P. J., Balan, R. T., & Charles, J. (2025). “Determinants of Participation in WORTH Yetu Economic Empowerment Intervention among Caregivers of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children in Tanzania: A Longitudinal Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis.” Social Sciences & Humanities Open.

Exavery, A., Kirigiti, P. J., Balan, R. T., & Charles, J. (2024). “Longitudinal Evaluation of the Influence of WORTH Yetu on Household Economic Status Based on the Count of Non-Asset Resources for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children’s Well-Being in Tanzania.” Child Indicators Research.

Exavery, A., Katbi, M., Kirigiti, P. J., Balan, R. T., & Charles, J. (2024). “Multivariate Mixed-Effects Ordinal Logistic Regression Models with Difference-in-Differences Estimator of the Impact of WORTH Yetu on Household Hunger and Socioeconomic Status among OVC Caregivers in Tanzania.” PLOS ONE.

Exavery, A., Alam, K., Charles, J., Barankena, A., Bajaria, S., Minja, E., Mulikuza, J., Mbwambo, T., Ally, A., Mseya, R., et al. (2022). “Impact of Household Economic Strengthening Intervention on Food Security among Caregivers of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Tanzania.” PLOS ONE.

Gracia Cristina Villodres | Descriptive Analytics | Best Research Article Award

Mrs. Gracia Cristina Villodres |  Descriptive Analytics | Best Research Article Award

University of Granada | Spain

Gracia Cristina Villodres is a predoctoral fellow at the University of Granada, specializing in physical activity, health, and education. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Primary Education with a specialization in Physical Education (2020), and two Master’s Degrees—one in Research and Innovation in Curriculum and Teacher Training (2021) and another in Physical Activity and Health (2022). Currently completing her PhD (FPU Fellowship 2021–2025) on healthy habits, cognitive function, and academic performance, she is also pursuing a Degree in Psychology. Her research interests focus on physical activity, body image, academic achievement, and mental health in youth populations. She has participated in four competitive research projects, serving as both researcher and principal investigator, and has published over 50 book chapters with ISBN. Her scholarly impact includes an H-index of 4 in Web of Science, 12 in Scopus, and 5 in Google Scholar, with a total of over 55 citations across databases. She has completed a research stay at the University of Bern and received the University of Granada Talent Award (2022). Through her teaching and research, she promotes evidence-based approaches to education and health, aiming to enhance well-being, inclusion, and performance in school and university settings.

Profiles : Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Villodres, G. C., Pérez-Díaz, J.-J., Salas-Montoro, J.-A., & Muros, J. J. (2025). Sex-based differences in lifestyle behaviours, self-esteem, and academic performance: A structural equation model in high-socioeconomic-status school-aged youth from southern Spain. Children.

Villodres, G. C., Rodríguez-Mérida, M., Vizcaíno-Cuenca, R., & Muros, J. J. (2025). Effectiveness of physical education interventions on mental health in children and adolescents: A systematic review of wellbeing and distress across educational levels. Adolescent Research Review.

Villodres, G. C., Campos-Pérez, L. M., Salvador-Pérez, F., Muros, J. J., & Vizcaíno-Cuenca, R. (2025). Relación entre el uso de redes sociales, hábitos saludables y factores psicológicos relacionados con la percepción de la imagen corporal en estudiantado universitario. Retos.

Navidad Cobo, L., Villodres, G. C., & Padial-Ruz, R. (2025). Efecto de un programa de actividad física y educación nutricional para la mejora de hábitos saludables en educación primaria. Retos.

Villodres, G. C., Salvador-Pérez, F., & Muros, J. J. (2024). Factors associated with Mediterranean diet adherence in a sample of high socio-economic status children from southern Spain. Public Health Nutrition.