University awarded Maitri Scholarships, Fellowship and Grant to strengthen Australia–India ties

First row: Abhishek Sawaika, Mohammed Ansari and Himani Meshram. Second row: Dr Preeti Mudliar and Dr Guilherme Luz Tortorella

Three graduate researchers from India have been awarded Maitri Scholarships to pursue high-impact research at the University of Melbourne, while one academic has received a Maitri Fellowship to explore policy and governance systems in a cross-national context.

The University also secured a Maitri Grant to support a new project on operational excellence and digital transformation.

The Maitri program is an Australian Government initiative that aims to strengthen ties with India through education, research and policy collaboration.

The scholarship and grant recipients will be based in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, with the fellowship hosted by the University’s Australia India Institute.

Abhishek Sawaika

This project aims to address fundamental problems in designing algorithms for distributed quantum computing programs, including error correction, control, compilation and security.

  • Principal investigator: Professor Rajkumar Buyya, School of Computing and Information Systems
  • Proposed subject: Algorithms and Software System for Distributed Quantum Computing for Large-scale Applications

Mohammed Ansari

This project aims to develop advanced machine learning methods for generating digital twins of buildings, enabling energy efficiency analysis and informing the design of energy-efficient retrofits at scale.

  • Principal investigator: Professor Kourosh Khoshelham, Department of Infrastructure Engineering
  • Proposed subject: Advancing digital twin technology for energy efficiency analysis of buildings

Himani Meshram

This project develops a comprehensive technoeconomic framework, incorporating economic feasibility assessments and policy recommendations, to guide the transition of heavy industries in India and Australia toward net-zero emissions.

  • Principal investigator: Professor Michael Brear, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Proposed subject: Integrating Hydrogen, Carbon Capture and Circular Economy Principles to reach Net-Zero Emissions in Heavy Industry

Maitri Fellowship recipient:

Dr Preeti Mudliar, Australia India Institute

Preeti Mudliar is an Assistant Professor at the International Institute for Information Technology, Bangalore. Her work will investigate emerging policy trends on digital recognition and automated decision making in both Australia and India, exploring how policy developments are shaping governance systems in Australia and their resonance with India’s Aadhaar biometric digital identity system.

Maitri Grant recipient:

Dr Guilherme Luz Tortorella, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Dr Tortorella’s project will support new research collaboration aimed at strengthening industrial performance and innovation through digital transformation strategies across both countries.

  • Project title: Promoting operational excellence and digital transformation in Indian and Australian organisations
  • Funding: $100,000

View the full list of 2024-2025 Maitri Grants here.