Rakesh Vohra is a leading expert in mechanism design, a core area of game theory integrating economics, computer science, and engineering. His research addresses how scarce resources should be allocated when relevant information is dispersed and privately held, a defining feature of modern economic environments. His contributions have been foundational to auction, pricing, and market design theory, including mechanisms underlying keyword auctions used in online search platforms.

Vohra previously taught at Northwestern University as the John L. and Helen Kellogg Professor of Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences, with additional appointments in economics and computer science. Earlier in his career, he taught at Ohio State University. He holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Maryland, an M.Sc. in operational research from the London School of Economics, and a B.Sc. in mathematics from University College London.

He joined the University of Pennsylvania through the Penn Integrates Knowledge initiative, with a joint appointment spanning engineering and systems science, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to research and education.