By Annalise Ray

After nearly two decades of experience in computer science research and education, Deepa Muralidhar is now an instructor and Ph.D. candidate at Georgia State University.

Instructor Muralidhar’s career began at Madurai Kamaraj University in Tamil Nadu, India where she earned her undergraduate degree in computer engineering. She then moved to the U.S. where she received a master’s degree in computer science (CS) at Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, Ga. After teaching CS in Georgia high schools for over 17 years, she took on a computer science lecturer role at Kennesaw State University (KSU).

Instructor Muralidhar’s transition to Georgia State was guided by her two mentors: Dr. Ashwin Ashok, Associate Professor in Computer Science, her Ph.D. advisor, and Dr. Lisa Armistead, Dean of the Graduate School.  She cited Dr. Ashok as the reason she started her Ph.D. at GSU.

“I started my career in higher education as a limited-term instructor at Kennesaw, and I started my Ph.D. at Georgia State University because of my advisor, Dr. Ashwin Ashok. He said the topic I was researching was very interesting and invited me to come and be part of his research group, The MORSE (Mobile and Robotics Systems Experiential Research Lab) research lab,” she explained.

One of the goals of the research group is to foster creative research ideas and provide a safe place for a budding researcher to learn and grow.

Under the advisement of Dr. Ashok, who is now a Faculty Associate for Research, Scholarship & Creative Activity at the Office of Faculty Affairs, she is currently writing a dissertation on responsible Artificial Intelligence’s (AI) social impacts and researching ways to increase AI transparency and accountability.

She also credits her mentors for the motivation to apply for the Kapor Foundation Research Fellowship, a foundation that supports academics in analyzing the technology ecosystem for disparities in access and opportunity.

“I am deeply grateful for the support Dr. Armistead and Dr. Ashok have provided to support me mentally, academically, and emotionally. Their confidence in my abilities inspired me to apply for this fellowship. They have guided me through challenges, shaping my growth along the way.”

During her time as an instructor at KSU Instructor Muralidhar began her Ph.D. at GSU, and shortly after a CS lecturer position opened at Georgia State’s Perimeter College. She gladly took on this new role – feeling the position would provide unique insights into higher education teaching and student experiences at GSU.

“I realized I could make valuable contributions by bridging my experience as a student and faculty member,” she explained.

In this dual role, Instructor Muralidhar brings a fresh perspective to her students, blending her professional research knowledge with insights from her teaching experience. She is committed to mentoring her students both in the classroom and through research, guiding them toward successful careers and a deeper understanding of computer science foundations.

As an instructor, she also strives to pass along the mentorship she received. She focuses not only on teaching technical skills, but on inspiring her students to collaborate and think critically. Her curriculum emphasizes foundational skills and practical, project-based learning. Each semester, she assigns programming projects that encourage her students to connect their academics to real-world applications. She hopes that these projects will bolster their education and give them experiences that will appeal to future employers.

“I try to be very practical when I teach so they can relate the content to the real world,” she explained. “By forming a project-based curriculum, my students’ focuses shift from memorization to using creativity, individuality and independence to form foundational knowledge.”

Through all her achievements, she remains grateful to her mentors for their consistent support and to her family, whose encouragement has been a constant source of strength. Today, Instructor Muralidhar seeks to emulate her mentors’ example, hoping to guide her computer science students and conduct research that makes valuable contributions to the field.