Bridging Law, Policy, and People: PhD Student Shalini Matharage’s Northeastern Experience
By Enryka Christopher
Enryka Christopher (EC): Tell me a little bit about your background and how that led you to apply for a PhD at Northeastern:
Shalini Matharage (SM): I’m originally from Sri Lanka, but lived and studied in Japan after falling in love with the Japanese culture. I chose to pursue my Bachelor of Law degree there, at Nagoya University. My mentor, Dr. David Green, graduated from Northeastern in 2011, which inspired me to come here. Seeing the strength of the alumni network, I was drawn to that kind of community. What ultimately led me to Northeastern was the mixture of the strong interdisciplinary education and the experiential approach. 
EC: What are you currently focusing on in your PhD at Northeastern?
SM: I look at state compliance for refugee recognition by collecting information on whether they are provided with three main rights under the international human rights law: the right to seek asylum, to work after resettlement, and to family reunification. I also study internally induced climate migration using case studies of Japan, Australia, and hopefully a developing country, such as my own country of Sri Lanka. I participate in academic conferences and policy forums to share my work.
EC: Why is your PhD research important to the world?
SM: My advisors, Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Aldrich, and I work actively to drive real change. We not only publish our findings but also engage with practitioners and policymakers to foster community-driven solutions. We conduct workshops in middle- to low-income countries that are currently hosting significant numbers of refugees. Recently, we traveled abroad and partnered with a local university for a full-day discussion on refugee integration with various stakeholders. It was an eye-opening experience as refugees shared their journeys—from fleeing persecution to building new lives in their host communities. In both of my fields, I identify gaps, propose solutions, and offer policy recommendations. My goal is to make my research impactful for both the refugee crisis and disaster-related crises.
EC: What has been the most surprising/ unexpected piece about your research process or what you’ve seen from your data analysis (if you’ve reached that point)?
SM: We’ve been doing research to find out whether refugees are given three main rights they are entitled to according to international human rights law: the right to seek asylum, right to work after resettlement, and right to family reunification. What I found most striking is that low- and middle-income countries tend to host over 70% of the world’s refugee population.
My secondary work explores disaster risk reduction. My most recent work investigates Japanese citizens’ knowledge of emerging prevention concepts, such as “social infrastructure,” which emphasizes collaboration in preparedness and recovery, and “green infrastructure,” which leverages the natural environment to enhance resilience against climate change and disasters. Our findings indicate that, despite Japan’s strong institutional emphasis on tangible infrastructure for post-disaster recovery, public awareness and understanding of these mechanisms remain limited, highlighting a critical gap that warrants targeted educational interventions and public engagement strategies.
EC: What has been the most exciting part about doing your PhD at Northeastern?
SM: My research is strongly grounded in community engagement, enabling me to thrive in work that prioritizes lived experience. I aim to generate impact that goes beyond measurement, centering people over data. In this role, I’ve been able to integrate both approaches, and that balance has been profoundly meaningful. 
EC: What do you hope to do once you graduate?
SM: My dream is to work for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and become a practitioner who drives real change in international law. I want to contribute to creating policies that support displaced populations, but my larger goal is to shape global frameworks on migration and disaster-related response. I’m open to work in any NGO, NPO, or IGO that focuses on these issues at the grassroots level. I want to start at the grassroots level, working directly with communities to gain valuable experience as I grow. I also have a strong passion for teaching, which I realized during my PhD. I know educating students and shaping their perspectives when they’re still young is going to help shape the next generation.
EC: What would you say to a potential student who is interested in a PhD program at Northeastern?
SM: Northeastern is a good place because of the two things that are always mentioned: it is experiential, and there is an interdisciplinary approach. The professors here are incredibly supportive and genuinely interested in working with you. There are numerous opportunities to engage with practitioners and make sure that your research goes beyond academia, and so you make a real impact. Graduate students here are open to collaboration and supportive of one another. Additionally, the unique Dialogue of Civilizations culture at Northeastern allows you to expand your cultural connections globally and has been integral to my experience.
EC: Is there anything else you’d like to say regarding your PhD journey at Northeastern?
SM: The PhD journey can be isolating, but reaching out for help and surrounding yourself with the right professors makes all the difference. Now in my fourth year, I’ve reached a point where I’m truly satisfied with my PhD experience. It takes time, but eventually, you come full circle. Overall, Northeastern has been a fantastic place for both my academic and personal growth. I highly recommend applying for a PhD here for those looking to make an impact.
Photos courtesy of Shalini Matharage