Dr. Saba Ismail is a Professor in the Department of Economics, Jamia Millia Islamia (a Central University), New Delhi. She has obtained her Ph.D degree in Economics from Jamia Millia Islamia. Earlier, she served as Assistant Professor at Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi. Subsequently, she served as Assistant Professor and Associate Professor in the Department of Economics, Jamia Millia Islamia. Her area of specialization is Economic Growth and Development, International Trade, Econometrics and Time Series Econometrics.
She has diverse research work including the empirical evidence of Neo-Classical and Endogenous growth models, Developmental issues of emerging economies including environmental issues in sustainable development and issues in International Trade. Her research widely reflects the use of advanced econometric analysis including the CGE model. She has used GTAP in analysing the trade effects of tariff liberalisation pertaining to FTAs and prospective FTAs of India in a Computable general equilibrium framework. Her research also includes a detailed analysis of the structure and composition, Trade Intensity, direction and potential of India’s trade with several countries and country groups like China, ASEAN, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico and Latin American countries.
She has published two books namely Energy, Economy and Sustainable Development (2017) and India’s Free Trade with East and Southeast Asian Nations-A Computable General Equilibrium Approach (2022) by Bloomsbury, New Delhi. She has contributed a number of research articles both in reputed peer-reviewed national and international journals, out of which many are listed in Scopus or WOS viz., International Studies of Economics, Theoretical & Applied Economics, Eurasian Journal of Business and Economics, Global Economy Journal, Indian Journal of Economics and Development, Frontiers of Economics in China, Foreign Trade Review, International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Economics Bulletin, International Journal of Applied Business and Economic Research, Journal of Economics and Development, Man & Development, among various others. She has presented several research papers in various seminars conducted at national and international levels and delivered numerous invited lectures at different universities/Institutions.
She has immense contributions to the corporate life of the Department of Economics, JMI. She has served as Coordinator of various programmes and activities like Computer Application Programme (2016–19), Extension/Knowledge Lecture Series (2015-22), Ph.D. Programme and Research Activities (2015-16), MA Programme (2022-23), B.A. (Hons) Programme (2012-13) and Assistant Superintend of Examination, Department of Economics, JMI (2015-18).  She is a founding Editorial Advisor of Eco-Insight: An annual student E-Magazine, Department of Economics, JMI (2015-Till date). She has also been a member of several Departmental committees like the Syllabus reviewing committee, Placement committee, Purchase committee etc at various points in time. Recently, she has been given the responsibility of Convenor of the Departmental Research Committee. She has organised various seminars and capacity-building applied econometrics and research methodology workshops in the department.