Bhavyanshi Sinha（OSIPP Doctral Student）

This time, I had an interview with Bhavyanshi Sinha, a first-year doctoral student. Bhavya is from India and is a MEXT scholarship recipient.

What is your current research topic, and what motivated you to choose it?

I am interested in regional supply chains, particularly those in Asia and developing countries. Currently, I am researching how exchange rate regimes affect intra-African trade. I chose this topic for two main reasons: (1) while there is a substantial body of research on advanced economies, relatively fewer studies focus on developing countries; and (2) especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain challenges in developing countries have drawn greater attention, increasing interest in regional supply chains. For these reasons, I believe this topic is important both academically and practically.
My interest in this area was shaped by my experience studying abroad in Japan during high school. As part of a school field trip, I visited a Japanese automobile manufacturer and had the opportunity to learn about its import policies. That experience sparked my interest in international trade and ultimately led to my current research.

大阪大学豊中キャンパスの景色

Could you tell me about your career path before you began your doctoral studies at OSIPP?

After earning my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics in India, I worked for about two years as a Research Associate at a think tank. My specialization is international trade, and I contributed to research projects that focused on institutional and structural challenges in intra–South Asian trade.
Through this professional experience, my interest in research deepened further, and I decided to pursue a PhD. While exploring potential graduate programs, I learned about Japan’s MEXT scholarship program. In addition, given my experience studying abroad in Japan during high school and the fact that my current supervisor, Professor Hirokazu Ishise, works on research topics closely aligned with my interests, I applied to OSIPP.

I heard you’re planning to pursue an Economics degree through OSIPP’s curriculum. Could you explain how you plan to do that, and why you chose this path?

I am pursuing a PhD in Economics at OSIPP. From my time as a research student (a one-year period of study and preparation before entering the doctoral program) through the first year of the doctoral program, I completed core courses (OSIPP and Graduate School of Economics) and earned several required credits. From the second year onward, I plan to focus fully on my doctoral dissertation, and I look forward to receiving guidance and valuable feedback from the distinguished faculty in this field.

清水寺にて 2025年11月

Do you have a clear picture of your career after graduating from OSIPP? If so, could you describe it?

I am still in the process of considering my future career path, but I hope to work at the World Bank as a researcher (economist), contributing to projects in international trade and international finance.

Bhavya believes that it is important to read books across a wide range of fields. Are there any books you would recommend?

My recommended book is The Future of the Mind by Michio Kaku. It’s a fascinating book that introduces the latest research on the human brain and explains it in a way that is both very easy to understand and enjoyable to read.

Thank you very much for your time today.

（OSIPP博士前期課程　奥野愛理）