Dr. Leshma Manogna R. is a dedicated Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics & Finance, BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus. She specializes in Agricultural Commodity Markets and integrates advanced financial econometrics with real-world agribusiness challenges. With a strong foundation in analytics and computer science, she brings an interdisciplinary approach to her teaching and research. Dr. Manogna is passionate about exploring how financialization impacts commodity markets and food security, and she actively mentors students and collaborates internationally.

Online Profiles

Since 2020, Dr. Leshma Manogna R.’s research has garnered significant attention, accumulating a total of 892 citations overall and 888 citations since 2020 alone. Her impactful contributions are reflected in an h-index of 18 and an i10-index of 23, demonstrating both the breadth and quality of her published work in the fields of agricultural economics and financial econometrics. These metrics highlight her growing influence within the academic community.

Education

Dr. Manogna earned her Ph.D. in Agricultural Commodity Markets from BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus in 2021, with a dissertation focusing on market efficiency and the financialization of Indian agricultural commodities. Prior to that, she completed her MBA specializing in Analytics and Finance from NMIMS Mumbai in 2016, graduating with a bronze medal and university third rank. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science & Engineering from BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus in 2013, providing her with a strong technical background for quantitative research.

Research Focus

Her research centers on understanding the intersection of agricultural markets and financial economics, particularly how financial instruments influence commodity price dynamics and market efficiency. She applies cutting-edge techniques such as deep learning, hybrid neural networks, and panel data econometrics to forecast price volatility and analyze policy impacts. Her interests also extend to agribusiness strategies, the role of institutional ownership, and the effects of financialization on food security and sustainability in emerging economies.

Experience

Since May 2021, Dr. Manogna has been an Assistant Professor at BITS Pilani Goa Campus, where she teaches courses on security analysis, portfolio management, and corporate finance. Her previous industry experience includes working as an Analytics Consultant at FICO, Bangalore, where she applied predictive modeling to financial risk management, and as a Consultant Analyst at Meritus Analytics, Bangalore. This blend of academic rigor and practical exposure enables her to bridge theory and application effectively.

Research Timeline & Activities

Her doctoral thesis, defended in July 2021, explored empirical evidence on the financialization and efficiency of Indian agricultural commodity markets. Since then, she has been actively involved in major funded projects, such as the NABARD-sponsored study on farmers’ engagement with e-NAM platforms in Goa and the ICSSR-supported multi-state research on the impact of e-NAM on farmers in Goa and Maharashtra. She regularly publishes in high-impact international journals, serves as a peer reviewer, and presents at leading conferences worldwide, contributing to policy dialogues and academic discourse.

Awards & Honors

Dr. Manogna’s scholarly excellence has been recognized through multiple prestigious awards. In 2025, she received the Directors Young Investigator Award from BITS Pilani and the Young Woman Researcher in Commodity Markets award from the Centre for Women Development. In 2024, she was honored by the Ministry of Education and ICSSR under the ‘Her Research Our Future’ initiative. Earlier accolades include the Young Scientist Award (2021) and a bronze medal in her MBA program, reflecting her consistent academic and research performance.

Top Noted Publication

One of her landmark publications is “Enhancing agricultural commodity price forecasting with deep learning,” featured in Scientific Reports (2025), which has been widely cited for advancing forecasting methodologies using hybrid neural networks. This work offers valuable empirical insights into Indian agricultural markets, demonstrating how innovative AI models can improve price volatility predictions and risk management. It has contributed significantly to both academic literature and practical market applications, influencing subsequent research in commodity economics.

• Forecasting Spot Prices of Agricultural Commodities in India: Application of Deep‐Learning Models
  M RL, AK Mishra
  Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management, 28(1), 72-83 (2021) — 100 citations
• Does Corporate Governance Characteristics Influence Firm Performance in India? Empirical Evidence Using Dynamic Panel Data Analysis
  AK Mishra, S Jain, RL Manogna
  International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, 18(1), 71-82 (2021) — 84 citations
• Price Discovery and Volatility Spillover: An Empirical Evidence from Spot and Futures Agricultural Commodity Markets in India
  M RL, AK Mishra
  Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies, 10(4), 447-473 (2020) — 77 citations
• Does Investment in Innovation Impact Firm Performance in Emerging Economies? An Empirical Investigation of the Indian Food and Agricultural Manufacturing Industry
  M RL, AK Mishra
  International Journal of Innovation Science, 13(2), 233-248 (2021) — 55 citations
• Ownership Structure and Corporate Social Responsibility in India: Empirical Investigation of an Emerging Market
  M RL
  Review of International Business and Strategy, 31(4), 540-555 (2021) — 53 citations

Strengths for the Best Innovator Award

High Research Impact and Citations:
Prof. Leshma Manogna Ramappagari has achieved a remarkable research impact with a total of 892 citations, of which 888 have been earned since 2020. This rapid accumulation of citations underscores the relevance and timeliness of her research in agricultural commodity markets. Her work is consistently referenced by scholars and practitioners alike, highlighting its importance in shaping current understanding and innovations in the field.

Robust Academic Productivity and Quality:
An h-index of 18 and an i10-index of 23 demonstrate that Prof. Manogna’s research output is not only prolific but also highly influential. These metrics reflect a strong record of peer-reviewed publications that have been cited multiple times, indicating that her studies are foundational and frequently used to inform further research, policy-making, and market strategies.

Pioneering Use of Advanced Computational Techniques:
She stands out for her innovative application of cutting-edge methodologies such as deep learning, hybrid neural networks, and panel data econometrics. By integrating these sophisticated techniques into the analysis of commodity price forecasting and market dynamics, she pushes the boundaries of traditional agricultural economics research, introducing novel tools that enhance predictive accuracy and economic insights.

Interdisciplinary Research Approach Enhancing Innovation:
Prof. Manogna’s background in computer science, finance, and economics enables her to adopt an interdisciplinary approach that merges quantitative analytics with real-world agribusiness challenges. This fusion of disciplines fosters creativity and innovation, allowing her to develop comprehensive solutions that address complex issues such as financialization, price volatility, and food security in emerging markets.

Influential and Widely Cited Publications Shaping Policy and Practice:
Her published works, including several high-impact papers with citation counts exceeding 50 to 100, have contributed significantly to both academic literature and practical market applications. For example, her research on deep learning models for forecasting agricultural commodity prices has influenced subsequent studies and has practical implications for risk management and policy formulation, reinforcing her role as a leading innovator in her field.