Dr. Shalini Gakhar is a Data Scientist - Interoperability and Data Science Life Cycle at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), with over a decade of experience in data science and digital agriculture research across India and Southeast Asia. Her research focuses on AI-driven advisory systems, precision nutrient management, digital interoperability, UAV-based monitoring and sensing, and hyperspectral spectroscopy for agri-food systems.

She currently co-leads the CGIAR Digital Transformation Accelerator's Action Lab (Area of Work) and serves as Centre Focal Person for digital initiatives across IRRI. Her work spans the design and deployment of AI-based tools and frameworks such as advisory systems, alongside contributions to multiple digital innovations across the institute's research portfolio.

Before her current role, Dr. Gakhar served at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, where she developed and deployed machine learning–based models for crop monitoring and nutrient management for multitude of crops, applying data-driven approaches to precision agriculture.

Dr. Gakhar has authored and co-authored more than 20 scientific publications, technical manuals, and working papers on digital and precision agriculture. She holds a PhD in Information Technology from Delhi Technological University (DTU), India where her doctoral research focused on hyperspectral detection and identification of engineered objects using remote sensing data.