Cynthia Mehboob is a PhD candidate in the Department of International Relations, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at The Australian National University. Her research examines the securitisation of undersea infrastructure, with a particular focus on submarine cable systems and their intersections with broader digital ecosystems, including artificial intelligence and data infrastructure.

She has conducted over three years of fieldwork across Europe and the Indo-Pacific, including Australia. Her research draws on interviews, site-based observation, and sustained engagement with industry actors, including the manufacturers, owners, and operators of submarine cable systems.This empirical approach enables her to examine critical infrastructure that is often central to policy debate but less well understood in its material and operational dimensions. Her work interrogates the techno-material and geopolitical dynamics of subsea cables, and she frequently contributes to public commentary on these issues.

Prior to and during her doctoral studies, Cynthia has held research and governance roles at The Australian National University and Monash University. She has also worked with non-profit organisations, including World Vision and Mission Australia, and served as a hybrid threats analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.