Asel Doranova is originally from Kyrgyzstan. She joined the UNU - MERIT PhD program in 2005. Asel has quite diverse educational background, which includes Engineering (Kyrgyz Technical University), Environmental Sciences and Policy (Central European University), and Development studies (Uppsala University). She has several years of working experience with international development agencies (USAID, EC, WB Institute) and NGOs, as well as in academia. In her previous research Asel focused on a number of issues related to renewable energy, including assessing the potential for number of technologies, barriers to their diffusion, their potential in GHGs reduction, etc. In the current PhD work she is trying to combine all expertise areas that she has acquired before. Her research is about technology and knowledge transfer prospects for developing countries under Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol. In 2007 Asel became a winnar of Edmon Hustinx Foundation award for young scientist addressing socio-economic issues if developing nations.

At UNU-MERIT Asel combines her PhD studenship with coordination of the Joint UNU-MERIT and Maastricht School of Governance Seminars' series. For more information see http://www.merit.unu.edu/jointseminars/