I am currently a Maitri Fellow at the Australia India Institute, University of Melbourne. My work is funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations. I was also the inaugural ‘Women in Tech’ Fellow for 2024 awarded by the Australian Consulate Bengaluru and the Australia India Institute.
My research centres on how technology shapes and is shaped by the social fabric, particularly through the lens of infrastructure. I have been studying biometric-mediated food security in India since 2016 to understand infrastructural breakdowns, failures, and repair processes that shape access to public welfare. My work not only reveals the intricacies of India’s welfare systems but also contributes to broader discussions on the role of technology in governance and social justice.
In addition to my academic pursuits, I have an abiding interest in gender studies, Hindi cinema and film songs, and the broader arts and aesthetics. These interests often enrich my research and teaching, opening new flanks of thinking and analysis.
Previously, I was a faculty member at IIIT Bangalore where I taught courses on Qualitative Research Methods and Human-Computer Interaction and guiding students through immersive, ethnographic research practices. My design work with students on mobile hotspot affordances in smartphones was recognized by Samsung Research and Development India Bangalore (SRIB) and rolled out into Samsung smartphones worldwide, showcasing the strong, practical, and global impact of our collaborative efforts.
My research has been supported by fellowships from The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy and grants from the Azim Premji University Research Funding Program, Google, and Mobile World Barcelona.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in Commerce (University of Pune), a master’s degree in Communication Studies (University of Pune), and a Ph.D. in Communication Studies (The University of Texas, Austin). Prior to joining IIIT Bangalore, I was a researcher with the Human Interactions group at Xerox Research Centre, India, Bangalore. In a previous life, I was a journalist with The Indian Express.
I can be reached via email on preeti [dot] mudliar [at] unimelb [dot] edu [dot] au
Preeti Mudliar 