The current membership of the Global Young Academy comes from 69 different countries and engages in research from the natural sciences to arts and humanities.

Applicants are typically 3 to 10 years post-PhD and below the age of 40, with selection based on:
(i) demonstrated excellence in the field of research,
(ii) demonstrated commitment to improving the state of science and its links to broader society.

As each member is appointed for a 5 year term, only 30-40 positions become available each year (selected from ~400 applicants). Thus, Ruchi is one of only a small proportion of excellent applicants from around the world to be selected.