Vrinda Malik is a Ph.D. Research Scholar in Political Science at the University of Delhi, specialising in South Asian security and Indian Ocean geopolitics. Her research focuses on maritime security, multilateral diplomacy, and the foreign and security policies of island states in the Indian Ocean Region. She has experience in policy research, conference rapporteurship, and multilateral dialogues, including engagements with United Nations platforms such as UNITAR and UNU. Her work has appeared in The Diplomat, Australian Outlook, Modern Diplomacy, and NERPS Trends (Hiroshima University), and reflects a focus on concise, evidence-based analysis for academic and policy audiences.