Biography

Dr. Harleen Kaur is currently an Assistant Professor at the Jindal School of Psychology and Counselling, O. P. Jindal Global University. A recipient of multiple prestigious international fellowships and awards, she brings rich interdisciplinary experience that includes research, teaching, training, policy advocacy, and cross-cultural psychological practice. Her scholarly and professional journey bridges academia, grassroots engagement, and global dialogues in psychology and human rights. She is serving as a co-chair for the 19th Annual Psychology Day at the United Nations. She was an Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) Doctoral Fellow by the Ministry of Education. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Banaras Hindu University, where her research focused on the intersectionality and lived experiences of Indian transgender persons. Her academic background includes postgraduate qualifications in community mental health (NIMHANS), counselling, and psychological interventions. Her research lens is informed by her strong commitment to social justice, particularly in areas concerning gender and sexual minorities, mental health equity, and culturally inclusive public health. Her major areas of interest are global public health, cross-cultural psychology, vulnerable population and human rights with a strong focus on inclusivity and diversity.

Dr. Kaur has over 6 years of research experience, complemented by a few years of teaching and administration in Indian higher education institutions. She is a ‘Visiting Fellow’ at the Herbert Simon Research Institute (The Netherlands), and has participated in multiple global conferences, such as the International Political Science Association (Republic of Korea), European Congress of Psychology (United Kingdom), ICPS (Belgium & France), IAIR (Switzerland), and the International Association of Applied Psychology (United Kingdom). She was also a “Rising Star” at ICPS Paris and an “Emerging Psychologist” by the International Union of Psychological Sciences. She has been the Young Indian Ambassador by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports,Government of India. Her scholarship has been published extensively in reputed SCOPUS and ABDC-indexed journals, alongside book chapters and edited volumes by global publishers like Springer, Routledge, and Palgrave Macmillan. She is the sole author of a forthcoming Springer Nature book on psychological research among transgender individuals in India. She is editing a book on Global Queerness published by Palgrave Macmillan. She also serves as a peer reviewer for various indexed journals.

Dr. Kaur’s expertise has been acknowledged by policy-level engagements, including invitations as an expert for consultations by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and AIIMS on transgender healthcare. She is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of several global forums. Her training portfolio includes over 30 national and international workshops and capacity-building programs across India, Europe, and neighboring countries, focusing on qualitative research, mental health, and cross-cultural psychology. She is presently involved in multiple multi-country and interdisciplinary research projects funded by organizations such as the Economic and Social Research Council (United Kingdom). Dr. Kaur’s passion for inclusive health, cross-cultural understanding, and arches of social justice continues to shape her contributions to academia, global policy, and community-based advocacy.