Niraj Kumar Singh.

Niraj Kumar Singh, M.S.Ed., M.S.W.

Doctoral Student

Pronouns
He / Him
College
Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (FAHSS)
Department
School of Education
Office
Coburn G56 - Desk C
Email
NirajKumar_Singh@student.uml.edu
Links

Expertise

Multilingual Education | Teacher Education | Youth Development | Higher Education | Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education

Research Interests

His research focuses on U.S.-born multilingual youth, multilingual education, and educational equity. He is particularly interested in how educational systems can better recognize and support multilingual learners.

Education

  • Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.), International Educational Development – University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
  • Master of Social Work (M.S.W.), Social Work (Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) - USA Accredited) – Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Chennai, India
  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Science – Jai Prakash University, Saran, India
  • Diploma, Youth Leadership and Social Change – Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India

Biosketch

Niraj Kumar Singh is a doctoral student in Leadership in Education at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. His research focuses on multilingual education, teacher education, youth development, first-generation learners, higher education, and AI in education. His scholarly work examines how educational systems and emerging technologies can advance equitable learning opportunities for multilingual and historically underserved learners.

Before beginning his doctoral studies, Niraj worked for more than 10 years in India, with additional professional experience across Southeast Asia. His professional background includes education, international development, learning design, mentoring, youth programs, and community-based initiatives. He has collaborated with government departments, nonprofits, UN agencies, and international development organizations.

Niraj has presented his work at academic conferences, including the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), the Ethnography in Education Research Forum at the University of Pennsylvania, Teachers College, Columbia University, and The New School. He has also authored book chapters on digital access, technology, tribal youth, and social justice.

His work connects research, mentorship, and practice with a commitment to advancing equitable and inclusive education. He is particularly interested in connecting research with educational practice and exploring innovative approaches to supporting multilingual and historically underserved learners.

Selected Awards and Honors

  • Merit Scholarship – University of Pennsylvania, USA
  • Think Big Scholarship – University of Bristol, United Kingdom
  • National Youth Volunteer – Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India
  • National Pride Award – Samachar Kyari Hindi News, India

Selected Publications

Selected Presentations

  • Singh, N. K. (2026, April 29–May 1). Digital transnationalism and youth mobility: Case studies of learning networks between Bihar and the Indian diaspora [Paper presentation]. Management and Social Justice Conference, The New School, New York City, New York, United States.
  • Singh, N. K. (2026, April 29–May 1). Bridging the policy–practice divide: A qualitative exploration of tribal youth experiences with educational inclusion in Odisha [Paper presentation]. Management and Social Justice Conference, The New School, New York City, New York, United States.
  • Singh, N. K. (2026, February 20–21). Educational inequality in conflict-affected regions: A convergent mixed-methods study of youth agency and institutional barriers in rural Bihar, India [Paper presentation]. National Conference on “Bridging the Digital-Social Divide: A Policy Framework for Youth Empowerment,” Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, India.
  • Singh, N. K. (2026, February 6–7). Becoming global: Youth voices in the study abroad journey to the United States: An ethnographic exploration of the lived experiences of socioeconomically marginalized international students [Paper presentation]. Ethnography in Education Research Forum, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States.
  • Singh, N. K. (2025, October 10–11). Crossing worlds: Indigenous youth, educational innovation, and the future of comparative anthropology in rural India [Paper presentation]. 5th Biennial Conference on Anthropology and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City, New York, United States.
  • Singh, N. K. (2025, March 22–26). Transforming education: Empowering digital literacy of rural youth from Bihar, India [Poster presentation]. Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) 2025 Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
  • Singh, N. K. (2025, March 6–8). Empowering tribal youth: Bridging educational gaps through technology and social justice in Jharkhand, India [Paper presentation]. Management and Social Justice Conference, The New School, New York City, New York, United States.
  • Singh, N. K. (2020, October). Education and technology summit: The role of education and technology in youth development [Presentation]. YICS 2020, AJAP Nigeria (Virtual).
  • Singh, N. K. (2018, December 14–15). Social work intervention with slum dwellers in Kodambakkam, Chennai toward improving their quality of life [Paper presentation]. ZOHAR 2018 International Conference on Disaster Management Strategies for Professional Intervention and Method for Risk Reduction, Don Bosco College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
  • Singh, N. K. (2018, July 25–27). Social work intervention with truck drivers on the National Highway at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu [Paper presentation]. International Conference on Achieving Youth-Specific SDGs: Key Challenges & Policy Responses, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, India.
  • Singh, N. K. (2018, March 8–9). Social work intervention in women's empowerment [Poster presentation]. International Women's Day & National Conference on Gender Development, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.