People
faculty | grad students | research assistants | alumni | collaborators
FACULTY
Jeremy Birnholtz, Associate Professor of Communication Studies
Jeremy Birnholtz’s research focuses on human-computer interaction issues, such as attention, information sharing, and collaboration through the use of technology. He has lectured and published widely on subjects that include young people’s attention to instant messaging, interruptions in attention in seniors with chronic pain, and deception in text messaging.>
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Mike DeVito, Media, Technology, and Society
Mike DeVito is a doctoral student in the Media, Technology, and Society program. His research centers around the cognitive effects of new media on human social identity and information flows, including the formation and presentation of the self-concept through social media, trust in external memory, and lay understanding of algorithmic effects. Prior to coming to Northwestern, Mike earned both an M.A. in Media and Public Affairs and a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from The George Washington University.
Julia Fernandez, Media, Technology and Society
Julia Fernandez is a doctoral student in the Media, Technology, and Society program. She is interested in self-presentation and community formation on social media, particularly that of marginalized users. Prior to coming to Northwestern, she was a Junior Fellow at the Library of Congress’ National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program, and a legal assistant at the boutique firm Harkins Cunningham LLP. She previously earned her B.A. in Media Studies from Smith College.
Matthew Heston, Technology & Social Behavior
Matthew Heston is a PhD student in the Technology and Social Behavior program. He is interested in social interactions between members of groups and organizations online. His current research studies anonymity and location based mobile social media applications. He earned his M.S. from the Illinois Institute of Technology and his B.A. from Bradley University.
Madeline E. Smith, Technology & Social Behavior
Madeline is a PhD Candidate in the Technology & Social Behavior joint program in Computer Science and Communication. Her research currently focuses on relational, supportive, and deceptive aspects of social media and is supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. She previously earned an M.S. in Information Science from Cornell University and a B.S. in Computer Science from Ithaca College.
RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Faalon Andrews
Faalon Andrews is studying Communication Studies with a concentration in Digital Media, while minoring in English – Creative Writing. She is interested in the different usages of social media platforms and the opportunities that arise from growing platforms. She is also interesting in how it can influence consumer behaviors. She plans on graduating in June 2019.
Mandy Davis
Mandy Davis is majoring in psychology. She is interested in the attitudinal and behavioral implications of technology design, especially in regards to gender differences and efforts to use technology for empowerment. She plans on graduating in June 2021.
Curtis DeBisschop
Curtis DeBisschop is studying Human Development and Psychological Services with a minor in General Music. He is interested in researching the development of identity, language, and engagement with education throughout time and cultures. While he focuses on psychology, he is interested in research in many different disciplines. He plans on graduating in June 2021.
Victoria Alfred-Levow
Victoria Alfred-Levow is majoring in journalism. She is interested in how offline differences, including gender, race, sexuality and geography, affect how users behave and present themselves online. She plans on graduating in June 2020.
LAB ALUMNI
Asmaa Aljuhani, Northwestern University
Huy Do, Northwestern University
Peter Du, Northwestern University
Matthew Faden, Northwestern University
Ashley Falcon, Northwestern University
Colin Fitzpatrick, Northwestern University, PhD 2017
Valentina Garces, Northwestern University
Jakub Grudnik, Northwestern University
Prarthana Gupta, Northwestern University
Bennett Hensey, Northwestern University
Rachel Horowitz, Northwestern University
Jordyn Iger, Northwestern University
Ada Jing, Northwestern University
Minkyong Kim, Northwestern University
Yoko Kohmoto, Northwestern University
Barrett Leider, Northwestern University
Ang Li, DePaul University
Reedhima Mandlik, Northwestern University
Amol Mody, Northwestern University
Arindam Paul, Northwestern University
April Quioh, Northwestern University
Lindsay Reynolds, Cornell University, PhD 2013
Bria Maria Royal, Northwestern University
Carter Sherman, Northwestern University
Sarah Shi, Northwestern University
Sarah Sinclair, Cornell University
Sarah Smith, Northwestern University
Daniel Somekh, Cornell University
Jenny Starrs, Northwestern University
Sei Unno, Northwestern University
Justine Yucesan, Northwestern University
Susan Zha, Northwestern University
COLLABORATORS
Ron Baecker, University of Toronto Technologies for Aging Gracefully Lab
Ravin Balakrishnan, University of Toronto Dynamic Graphics Project
Courtney Blackwell, Northwestern University
Jed Brubaker, University of California at Irvine
Doug Downey, Northwestern University
Sue Fussell, Cornell University Intercultural Communication Lab
Darren Gergle, Northwestern University CollabLab
Shion Guha, Cornell University
Carl Gutwin, University of Saskatchewan Interaction Lab
Jeff Hancock, Cornell University Social Media Lab
Mark Handel, Boeing Company
Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University
Eden Litt, Northwestern University Web Use Project
Nick Merola, Facebook UX Research
Anne Oeldorf-Hirsch, University of Connecticut
Stephanie Steinhardt, Cornell University
Ashley Walker, Northwestern University PITCH Lab
D. Yvette Wohn, NJIT