Anand Rai

Anand Rai is an experienced professional currently serving as an Ambassador at the UN Environment Programme since February 2020. Anand co-founded India Rising in March 2014 and holds the position of General Secretary at Paryatan Mitra since November 2015, while also serving as a Patron for Jan Prahari since April 2015. Anand's academic background includes a Ph.D. in Neurochemistry, Neurobiology, and Behavior from Banaras Hindu University, where research focused on stress and Indian medicine. Previous professional experience includes a role as a researcher in Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine from December 2001 to June 2005, where Anand contributed to NASA's Manned Mars Mission by exploring countermeasures to stress-related decision-making issues for astronauts, as well as conducting research in neuropsychopharmacology at Banaras Hindu University from March 1997 to February 2000. Additionally, Anand holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Yoga, covering its philosophical and physiological aspects.