Manaswini Rao joined J-PAL South Asia in August 2010 as a Research Associate. She is working on a social networks project in Southern Karnataka that studies diffusion of micro-finance take-up rates in small societies. Manaswini completed her Master in Public Policy from Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California at Berkeley in May 2010. Prior to that, she worked on urban governance issues with Janaagraha - a non-profit organization based in Bangalore, India. Her interests include economic development and regional cooperation in South Asia.