Nishesh Chalise is an assistant professor in the department of social work at Augsburg College. His primary research interest is in looking at relationships between human and natural systems as they relate to issues such as food and energy security in marginalized communities. He believes that the community-based approaches of social work are a great asset in understanding and solving problems that are at the nexus of social and ecological systems. He uses participatory systems modeling techniques to engage communities and organizations in solving complex problems. In this regard he has worked in a variety of research projects including collective action in community gardens in St. Louis, sustainable use of forests by rural communities in India, implementation of evidence-based practices in mental health organizations in St. Louis, understanding social determinants of childhood obesity in the West End neighborhood in St. Louis, sustained use of improved cookstoves in rural communities in India, and understanding the role of social determinants in the connection between obesity and cancer in the St. Louis region.

Nishesh Chalise research interest includes: Community food security, environmental Justice, implementation and diffusion of EBPs in communities and organizations, community-based participatory research (using systems modeling), and application of system dynamics modeling in social work and public health.