Varun Thotli
New York,NY
Summary
Master of International Affairs at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs( May '26). Specializes in International Security Policy, with focused expertise in International Conflict Resolution, Econometrics and Data Analytics/Quantitative Analysis.
Experience in policy research and quantitative methods, complemented by a strong background in federal advocacy, legislative analysis, economic policy, and multilateral engagement.
Adept at transforming complex data into actionable insights that empower decision-makers in government, academia, and international organizations.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduate Consultant
United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM)
11.2025 - Current
- Serving as the quantitative lead for an economic investment initiative aimed at strengthening U.S. strategic influence in the Indian Ocean region, guiding the analytical framework for project decision-making.
- Compiling and analyzing macroeconomic, financial, and regulatory indicators across 12 Indo-Pacific countries to develop an iterative, data-driven methodology for identifying priority countries and sectors for defense-aligned investment.
- Applied statistical analysis techniques to break down information and assess trends.
Economic Affairs Intern
United Nations Office of the High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS (UN-OHRLLS)
02.2025 - 07.2025
- Constructed detailed statistical annex and crafted seven data visualizations for annual secretary-general’s report on execution of Doha Programme of Action (DPOA) for least developed countries making direct contributions to prominent UN publication.
- Refined procurement planning strategy for upcoming ldc conferences by establishing thorough budget outline that shortened projected timelines by six months.
- Analyzed problems and worked with teams to develop solutions.
Graduate Research Assistant
Initiative for Policy Dialogue (IPD), Columbia University
10.2024 - 05.2025
- Supported postdoctoral researchers by compiling complex datasets and producing clear, policy-relevant visualizations for ongoing research projects.
- Curated and organized a comprehensive collection of more than 200 works by Dr. Joseph P. Stiglitz—including academic publications, policy papers, and media articles—for inclusion in bound archival volumes.
- Conducted weekly research on global political and economic developments, producing concise news summaries on key countries, high-level officials, and emerging policy issues.
- Participated in IPD conferences and forums on global public finance reform, taking detailed notes, synthesizing discussions, and engaging with researchers on current economic policy debates.
- Recorded data and maintained source documentation following good documentation practices.
- Completed administrative and research duties per professor request.
Legal Extern to Justice Michael P. Donnelly
The Supreme Court of Ohio
01.2024 - 05.2024
- Collected and analyzed case data from the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts database, focusing on felony sexual assault charges pled down to misdemeanors or unrelated offenses, contributing to the Justice’s work on plea-bargaining patterns.
- Observed and supported Justice Donnelly’s deliberative process for 2–3 oral arguments per month, assisting with preparation for meetings with legal advocates and contributing to research on sentencing disparities across demographic groups.
- Researched five active cases before the Court, evaluating legal arguments, procedural histories, and potential implications, and discussed case merits with the Justice’s chambers to inform deliberations.
- Reviewed legal information and proofed documentation for errors.
- Attended depositions and court proceedings and prepared summaries on cases.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
The Ohio State University — Department of Political Science
02.2023 - 05.2024
- Authored, defended, and published a 2024 undergraduate thesis analyzing disparities between issues raised in hundreds of DOJ writ-of-certiorari petitions and the issues ultimately granted review by the U.S. Supreme Court, contributing original research to the field of judicial agenda-setting.
- Applied R and Python to scrape, clean, and compile large datasets examining correlations between demographic characteristics of U.S. elected officials and their voting behavior on international trade policy.
- Conducted quantitative analysis evaluating protectionist tendencies in congressional trade votes across multiple demographic variables, contributing to a broader research project on legislative behavior.
- Built, organized, and documented more than ten datasets on roll-call votes related to major trade agreements from the 110th through the 115th Congress, ensuring accuracy and reproducibility for future research.
- Used Python to collect and standardize demographic data for all U.S. representatives within the study period, integrating it into a comprehensive dataset for statistical analysis.
Research Intern
The Supreme Court of Ohio — Criminal Sentencing Commission
05.2023 - 08.2023
- Conducted a comprehensive, 50-state review of recently enacted legislation related to voting rights, record expungement, collateral employment consequences, and sentencing classifications, updating the Commission’s national policy summaries.
- Supported a major research initiative for the Commission’s biannual HB1 impact report by collecting, organizing, and analyzing data in Excel across three key statutory factors.
- Contributed to the Commission’s annual report by reviewing other states’ sentencing commission publications, performing comparative data analysis, and presenting synthesized findings to staff.
- Evaluated recommendations from the statewide sentencing roundtable of leading legal professionals, identifying which proposals were viable for quantitative analysis and future Commission research.
Legislative Intern — Office of Rep. Dani Isaacsohn (D-24)
Ohio House of Representatives
01.2023 - 05.2023
- Managed and organized a high volume of constituent communications — including emails, phone calls, and formal correspondence — ensuring timely responses and accurate issue tracking for the representative.
- Conducted in-depth policy research on state finance and education legislation, providing analysis that informed the representative’s committee preparation and legislative strategy.
- Coordinated and facilitated meetings with lobbyists, advocacy groups, and stakeholder organizations, serving as the primary point of contact and ensuring productive engagement.
- Collaborated with the legislative team to review, synthesize, and summarize committee and subcommittee notes for internal use.
- Drafted polished correspondence on behalf of the representative, including commendations, condolence letters, and internal memos.
- Produced comprehensive policy briefings on criminal justice, housing, and primary education issues to support legislative decision-making and public-facing events.
Communications & Legislative Affairs Intern
Caucus Office
08.2022 - 12.2022
- Drafted issue briefings, event backgrounders, and messaging materials for representatives participating in public events, conferences, and stakeholder meetings.
- Monitored congressional committee hearings and prepared comprehensive briefings for caucus leadership, synthesizing witness testimonies, policy implications, and proposed legislative amendments.
- Produced a suite of branded Canva templates that became the standard format for caucus press releases and external communications.
- Cultivated and maintained strong relationships with Statehouse reporters, communications directors, and media partners to support proactive press outreach.
- Conducted a full audit and modernization of the caucus press contact database, updating district-level information and improving its usability for rapid communications needs.
Education
Master of International Affairs - International Security Policy
Columbia University – School of International And Public Affairs (SIPA)
New York, NY05-2026
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science; Economics Minors: History; Legal Foundations of Society
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH05-2024
Skills
- Research & Policy Analysis
- Data Collection & Quantitative Analysis
- Federal Advocacy & Legislative Experience
- International Affairs & Multilateral Engagement
- Communications & Writing Skills
- Client-Facing & Stakeholder Engagement
- R, STATA, Python
- Fluent in Spanish & Telugu
- Project Planning, Leadership & Organizational Management
Timeline
Graduate Consultant
United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM)
11.2025 - Current
Economic Affairs Intern
United Nations Office of the High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS (UN-OHRLLS)
02.2025 - 07.2025
Graduate Research Assistant
Initiative for Policy Dialogue (IPD), Columbia University
10.2024 - 05.2025
Legal Extern to Justice Michael P. Donnelly
The Supreme Court of Ohio
01.2024 - 05.2024
Research Intern
The Supreme Court of Ohio — Criminal Sentencing Commission
05.2023 - 08.2023
Undergraduate Research Assistant
The Ohio State University — Department of Political Science
02.2023 - 05.2024
Legislative Intern — Office of Rep. Dani Isaacsohn (D-24)
Ohio House of Representatives
01.2023 - 05.2023
Communications & Legislative Affairs Intern
Caucus Office
08.2022 - 12.2022
Master of International Affairs - International Security Policy
Columbia University – School of International And Public Affairs (SIPA)
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science; Economics Minors: History; Legal Foundations of Society
The Ohio State University