Durba Biswas is an environmental economist with a Ph.D. focused on estimating the economic value of canal irrigation water in North Karnataka. In recent years, she has embraced an increasingly interdisciplinary research approach, concentrating on water and sanitation (WASH) issues in India.

Her current research broadly explores the integration of gender and minority perspectives into national and state-level sanitation and water policies. A key focus of her work is examining the relationship between gendered agency and access to water and sanitation. Durba collaborates with national and international universities, NGOs, and research organizations on various projects. Her recent research is rooted in urban and peri-urban slums and villages in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, addressing critical challenges in water and sanitation for marginalized communities.