Rashmi Barua teaches at the Centre for International Trade and Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi). Prior to that, she has taught at Singapore Management University and Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi. A native of India, she has a Ph.D. (2009) in Economics from Boston University.

Her research interest lies in the intersection of economics of education and labor markets. Some of the issues that she has worked on include early childhood education, female labor supply, labor market effects of skilling programs, and financial literacy among international migrants. Most of her research has been a mix of methodological contributions, including randomized evaluations, and empirical applications that are guided by sound economic theory.

She has advised several MPhil and PhD students who are successfully placed in academic institutions across India and in government organizations like the Reserve Bank of India.