My research lies at the intersection of digital technologies, spatial mobility, and gender. It also engages with governance studies, urban studies, and transport planning. More specifically, my thesis explores how digital platforms reshape the spatial mobilities of diverse groups of women (though not exclusively) in megacities where mobility is often highly constrained and structurally challenging, such as Pune (India) and Kinshasa (Congo). With this research, I aim to contribute to building a more comprehensive understanding of what these technologies mean for society in its evolving forms, and how they can be made truly beneficial and inclusive for all, especially regarding mobilities.
In addition to my research background, I worked as a policy analyst on two reports for the International Transport Forum (ITF-OECD) in 2024, and for two years as business development support at the Trufi Association, which focuses on mapping informal transport. This experience builds on my earlier roles as project manager for European H2020 projects, and subsequently as junior public affairs officer at TomTom (2016–2020), where I closely engaged with EU regulatory issues related to digital technologies and mobility, such as autonomous driving and electric vehicle data.
Selected publications or texts
Baudens, P. (2025). The food delivery apps: a blessing for women? Gender, Technology and Development, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/09718524.2025.2514976
Baudens, P., Hassen, M., Pasini, J., & Mawussi, A. (2025). Mobility capacities and smartphone use of students in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Mobilities, 20(3), 536–554. https://doi.org/10.1080/17450101.2024.2445307
Baudens, P., Masso, A., & Soe, R. M. (2023). Women’s (im)mobility strategies and digital platform adoption: the case study of employees doing desk work in Pune, India. Gender, Technology and Development, 27(3), 423–443. https://doi.org/10.1080/09718524.2023.2260651
ITF (2024), “Fare’s Fair: Experiences and Impacts of Fare Policies” International
Transport Forum Policy Papers, No. 132, OECD Publishing, Paris.
ITF (2024), “Health Impacts of Low-carbon Transport in Cities: Evidence for Better
Policies”, International Transport Forum Policy Papers, No. 141, OECD Publishing, Paris.
Selected speaking engagements
2025 Presentation of “Feminist Digital Geographies: Reshaping of Women’s Mobility in Highly Constrained Urban Contexts” at the 2025 Annual Symposium of the Digital Geographies Research Group of the Royal Geographical Society.
2024 Presentation of “Safety Apps Enabled by Data: An Unmet Promise of Safety or a Risk of Surveillance?” at the Data Power Conference (03-06.09.2024) (Graz, Data Power Conference).
2024 Presentation of “Taxi E-hailing and Nighttime Mobility of Women in Abidjan and Pune: Balancing Security and Right to the City” at the IGU International Congress in Dublin, Irlande (26-29 of August 2024). (Dublin , IGU International Congress).
2023 Webinar at DigitalTransport4Africa (DT4A) – “Transportation, school, and safety in Kinshasa’s Digital Age”. Recording of the webinar: https://digitaltransport4africa.org/la-mobilite-quotidienne-a-kinshasa-a-lere-numerique/ (Online, DigitalTransport4Africa (DT4A)).
2023 Presentation of “E-hailing et mobilité nocturne des femmes à Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) et Pune (Inde)” at the Rencontres Francophones Transport Mobilité (Dijon, RFTM).
2023 Presentation of Gender Specificity in Informal Transport at the UITP Global Public Transport Summit. (Barcelona, IUTP).
Awards and recognitions
