Priyank Chandra

Priyank Chandra is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Information and Director of the STREET Lab (SocioTechnical Resistance and Ethical Technologies Lab). His interdisciplinary research focuses on sociotechnical practices of marginalized communities, leveraging HCI, CSCW, STS, and development studies to design inclusive technologies. He holds a PhD in Information from the University of Michigan, along with MS in Economics and BE in Electronics Engineering. Chandra has received awards at ACM CHI and CSCW for his work on labor movements, digital resistance, and accessibility.

Education:

• PhD in Information, University of Michigan (2019)
• MS in Economics
• BE in Electronics Engineering

Research Interests: Chandra explores how marginalized communities reconfigure technologies to foster self-organization and resistance. His work bridges HCI/CSCW with theories from development studies and institutional analysis, emphasizing ethical, socially just systems. Recent projects include studying farmer movements in India, gig economy platforms, and weather risk communication for visually impaired Ontarians.

Grants & Awards:

• SSHRC Grant: Repertoires of Contention in Digital Labour Platforms (2023-2024)
• NSERC Grant: Designing Inclusive Platforms for the Gig Economy (2022-2027)
• Connaught New Researcher Award (2023)
• ACM CHI/CSCW Awards for contributions to labor studies and accessibility

Advising & Labs: Supervises students in ICTs, design, and marginality. Directs the STREET Lab at KMDI, focusing on ethical tech for vulnerable communities. Teaches courses on inclusive design and marginalized communities' ICT practices.