For nearly two decades Dr Pallavi Nalawde Jambhale has been associated with the K. J. Somaiya Centre for Buddhist Studies, Mumbai and is currently engaged as an assistant professor involved in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses related to Buddhism.

Her first step of this journey started after acquiring a B.A. degree in Ancient Indian History Culture & Archaeology followed by securing admission to M.A in the same subject during 2000. During the duration of the post graduate programme, she decided to dedicate her knowledge for academic purpose thus choosing to shift from the role of a student to that of a teacher in the coming years. This transition was primarily instrumental in joining the institute as a research assistant which offered her the enviable combination of acting as a lecturer and at the same time work on research projects for enhancing her practical experience. Concurrently she also successfully managed to complete her M.A programme by research in Ancient Indian History Culture & Archaeology in 2001. The subsequent years saw her expanding her horizon by assisting the seniors at the institute for a number of projects such as Relevance of Teachings of Buddha in the Contemporary Society.

In 2006, Pallavi enrolled for her Ph.D in ‘Religious Practices in Deccan during 3rd Century B.C. to 5th Century A.D.’ which saw her exploring the length and breadth of caves in Maharashtra including those of – Karla, Bhaje, Bedsa, Kondaney, Kuda, Aurangabad, Ajanta and Ellora, Nasik, Junnar; which finally fructified in acquiring her doctorate degree in 2010. This period also saw Dr Pallavi gaining greater exposure and contributing notably to the institute’s core activities through national and international paper presentation and participating in various workshops and conferences.

Some of the noteworthy presentations include ‘Sacrifices mentioned in the inscriptions of Maharashtra with reference to the Kutadanta Sutta’, ‘Religious practices during Vakataka period: An Inscriptional evidence’ and ‘Deccan during Satavahana period with special reference to Jataka Literature’ among others. Opportunities provided by the institute to gain greater knowledge at international platforms for paper presentation in ‘Buddhism in Deccan during 2nd C.B.C. to 2nd C.A.D’ and ‘Syncretism in South and Southeast Asia; Adoption and Adaptation’ definitely helped her to acquire greater depths in her professional life.

She is also a member of the Board of Studies, AIHC and Buddhist Studies. She is also an invitee member of Board of Studies, Department of History, Ferguson College, Pune. She also undertakes study tours for students for hands-on practical experience at various Buddhist sites such as Nashik, Kanheri, Kuda, Ajanata and Ellora among others. 

Her primary areas of teaching, interest and focus remain - specialization in rock-cut architecture, ancient Indian history and culture and Buddhist art and architecture.