Shambhavi Naik is the Head of Research and Chairperson of the Advanced Biology Programme at The Takshashila Institution. She is an External Affiliate of the Centre for Open Science and Epistemic Justice. 

Shambhavi’s research covers policies in emerging biotechnologies, with a view to balancing bioeconomy and biosecurity.  She has assisted in analysing and formulating life science-related policies for Indian government agencies and parliamentary committees. She has served as a planning committee member for a project on biotechnology cooperation within iCET organised by the  United States National Academy of Sciences. She is also a member of a global expert panel of the International Science Council to inform on strengthening measures for the Bioweapons Convention. Shambhavi  has previously co-chaired a task force on sustainable development goals for the Think20, an official engagement group of the G20, during India's G20 presidency. Shambhavi has co-authored reports related to adopting the latest biotechnologies across the Indo-Pacific, including exploring possibilities of bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation. 

Shambhavi has a PhD in Cancer Biology from the University of Leicester, UK and over 3 years of experience as a Postdoctoral Fellow at NCBS and InStem, Bangalore. She has a Post Graduate Program in Public Policy from The Takshashila Institution and has been working as policy analyst for over 7 years.