Gudakesh completed his M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Population Studies from the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai. His interests include heat and health, climate-resilient health systems, nutrition, maternal and child health, and socio-economic inequalities in health. In his previous role, he has been involved in the National Family Health Surveys (NFHS), rounds 5 and 6, monitoring the National Health Mission (NHM), and other research projects with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.