Rajiv K. Mishra

About

Rajiv K. Mishra is an assistant professor in residence with a joint appointment with the communication and liberal arts programs. He received his doctorate in science, technology, and society studies (STS) from the Centre for Studies in Science Policy (CSSP), School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. 

With an interdisciplinary background in computer science, internet, sociology, science policy studies, and STS, Rajiv’s research and teaching interest explores conceptual and methodological aspects of large technological systems and infrastructures; digital technologies and development; biometrics, databases, and governmentality; digital health and universal health coverage; digital state and welfare; and frugality, tinkering, and alternative S&T (science & technology) spaces.  

In the past, he taught undergraduate sociology courses on social stratification, political sociology, and research methods at the Department of Sociology, Miranda House, University of Delhi. 

In addition, Rajiv has a keen interest in developing novel conceptual and methodological interventions to understand the dynamics between technology and society in the Global South. He uses innovative qualitative, ethnographic, and mixed methods approaches to understand the everyday interaction of people/users with technology, technological systems, and infrastructures and the ways they negotiate its challenges and uncertainties.

He is also member of multiple global research networks such as Digital Studies Group, comprising colleagues from India, Nepal, France, Germany, South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana; Network of Globalizing Sociological Theory: Qualitative Research and Theory Building from the South, University of Leipzig and University of Göttingen, Germany; The Collective for the Political Determinants of Health, University of Oslo, Norway; Transdisciplinary Research Cluster on Frugality Studies (TRCFS) jointly managed by JNU, New Delhi and the International Centre for Frugal Innovation (ICFI-a consortium of Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities), The Netherlands; and the Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT), India.

His research publications can be found at his Google Scholar page and ResearchGate page

Research Interests

• Large Technological Systems and Infrastructures
• Digital Technologies and Development 
• Biometrics, Databases, and Governance 
• Digital Health and Universal Health Coverage
• Digital State and Welfare
• Frugality, Tinkering, and Alternative S&T Spaces

Teaching

• Introduction to Infrastructure Studies
• Research Methods

Publications

Journal Articles

Al Dahdah, M. and Mishra, R. K. (2022) 'Digital Health for All: The Turn to Digitized Healthcare in India.' Social Science & Medicine, 2022, DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114968

Mishra, R. K. (2021) 'The Appropriated Body: Biometrics Regime, the Digital State and Healthcare in Contemporary India.' Global Policy Volume 12, Supplement 6, July 2021. Wiley Blackwell. DOI. 10.1111/1758.5899.12945

Al Dahdah, M. and Mishra, R. K. (2020) 'Smart Cards for All: Digitalisation of Universal Health Coverage in India.' Science, Technology & Society 25:3 (2020): 426–443. SAGE Publications DOI: 10.1177/0971721820912920

Book Chapters 

Rajiv K. Mishra and Saradindu Bhaduri (2023-Accepted) ‘Political Economy of Tinkering in India: Some Primary Reflections’ for a forthcoming edited volume.

Rajiv K. Mishra (2022) ‘Corps, biometrie et soins de sante en Inde.’ Alternatives Sud Volume 29-2022/3. Centre Tricontinental et Editions Syllepse, Belgique. ISBN: 979-10-399-0042-3.

Rajiv K. Mishra (2019) ‘The Digital State: A Tale of Tweets and Foods in Contemporary India’ in edited volume Digital Transactions in Asia: Economic, Informational, and Social Exchanges, edited by Adrian Athique and Emma Baulch, Routledge, New York.

Policy Reports

1. V. Krishna & Rajiv Mishra (2016)‘INDIGO Policy Brief: Technology and Innovation, Comparative Analysis between EU-India and Other Countries: Indian Perspective,' Published by Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI), Austria, 2016 under European Commission’s 7^thFramework research grant. 

2. V. Krishna & Rajiv Mishra (2016) 'INDIGO Policy Brief: India Science and Technology Cooperation with EU and other Select Countries', published by Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI), Austria, 2016 under European Commission's 7^thFramework research grant.

Book Reviews

Rajiv K. Mishra (2022) review of the book by D'Ignazio, C., & Klein, L. F. (2020). Data Feminism. MIT Press 2020. Published in Seminar-The Monthly Symposium,  Issue #760, pp. 74-76 

Rajiv K. Mishra (2019) review of the book 'Science and Technology Diplomacy: A Focus on the Americas with Lessons for the World', by Momentum Press Engineering, Published in Science Diplomacy Review | Vol. 1, No. 4 | November 2019.

Rajiv K. Mishra (2015) review of Dhruv Raina's book 'Needham's Indian Network: The Search for a Home for the History of Science in India (1950-1970).'  Yoda Press, New Delhi, 2015. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, Vol.9, No.3, pp. 357-360.

Rajiv K. Mishra (2015) review of the book “The New Argonauts Regional Advantage in a Global Economy,” Harvard University Press, 2004. Roots and Routes, Vol. 4., No. 4-5, published 04th June 2015.

Commentaries and Blogs

Rajiv K. Mishra (2022) ‘Health in the Global South (India): Market, Technology and Misplaced Priorities’. The Collective Blog. 1^st November 2022. The Collective for the Political Determinants of Health.

Mammo Muchie, Noklenyangla, Rajiv Mishra & Sheikh Fayaz (2016) 'A Utopian University: Ideas, Imaginations, and JNU.' The Thinker, 2016, 70, 72-75.

Rajiv K. Mishra (2015) ‘Factors impacting South Asian Migration today: Highlights of the UN Report’, Roots and Routes, Vol.4, No. 5-6, May-June 2015.

Rajiv K. Mishra (2015) 'Indian Diaspora and Its Role in Development of United States Technology and Engineering Industry: An Empirical Overview,' Roots and Routes, Vol. 4, No. 7-8, July-August 2015. 

Editorial

Associate Board Member, TECHNOSCIENZA – Italian Journal of Science & Technology Studies. January 2023 until December 2025. 

Worked as a Research Assistant for the Editor-in-Chief of Science, Technology & Society international journal on STS published by Sage Publications India. July-2015 to June-2016.

Joint Editor of the Newsletter titled Roots and Routes of GRFDT ‘Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism’ Dec. 2015–Dec. 2016.

Research Projects 

May-2022-June 2023: Consultant Researcher at Transdisciplinary Research Cluster on Frugality Studies (TRCFS), School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. TRCFS is a joint initiative of the International Centre for Frugal Innovation (supported by a consortium of Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities), The Netherlands and JNU, New Delhi. 

Aug. 2020-Aug. 2021: Co-consultant researcher in a project from 01^st August 2020 to 31^st August 2021, titled 'Do Science Clubs and Tinkering Labs Facilitate Frugal Innovation? A Study of Select States of India.'    The project was commissioned, contracted, and funded by the International Institute of Social Studies (IISS), Erasmus University, The Netherlands.  

May 2019-2023: Collaborating as a co-researcher in a four-year (until 2023) global project on Digital Empire(s) with a research group on Digital Studies in Asia and Africa comprising group fellow members from India, Nepal, South Africa, Kenya, France, Germany, and The Netherlands. This project is funded by the ‘Institute de Recherché Pour Le Development’ (IRD), Marseille, France.

March 2017: Fieldwork consultant for the Digital Identities project (March 2017) run in collaboration with IIIT Bangalore, Centre for Internet and Society (CIS), Omidyar Network, and Caribou Digital.

Aug. 2015-March 2016: Worked on a research consultancy project (2015-16) related to assessing and evaluating India-EU Science and Technology Cooperation commissioned by the European Union under the 7^th Framework Horizon 2020 program.

Dec. 2013: Fieldwork Consultant for a project called ‘Baseline Study Workers and Key Stakeholders Awareness and Understanding on Labour Rights — ETI Rajasthan Sandstone Programme. International NGO Prakruthi conducted it for the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). Conducted the fieldwork in the Kota, Bundi, and Bhilwara districts of Rajasthan, India.

July-Sept. 2009: Worked as technical coordinator and Graphical Interface Designer for the M.Sc. project Localisation in Wireless Sensor Networks. This project was under the auspices of SESAME (Sensing for Sports and Managed Exercises) EPSRC, UK (EP/D076943) for advanced sports coaching and monitoring.

Fellowships

Jan-2018-Jan-2020: Two-year doctoral research fellowship by Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR) supporting thesis research.   

June 2018: Visiting PhD fellow in the thematic area ‘Remapping the Global South: Teaching, Researching and Exchanging’, funded by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Global South Studies Centre (GSSC), University of Cologne, Germany.