Palden Sonam holds an MSc in Politics of China from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), and an MA in East Asian Studies and BA in Political Science from Kirori Mal College, University Of Delhi. Palden has previously interned with the Tibet Policy Institute, Dharamsala, and Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS), Delhi and worked at Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS), Delhi as a China researcher.

Research focuses on China’s domestic politics and foreign policy. This covers, among others, its policies toward the minority regions, Tibet, Xinjiang (development, modernity, coloniality); Sino-Indian relations.