phd topics in human computer interaction

Ph.D. in HCI

CMU’s Ph.D. program in human-computer interaction is rigorous, creative, and deeply interdisciplinary .

The small and select group of students that we admit each year study with both the founders of the field of HCI and the newest generation of top scholars. Learn more about our program.

Our doctoral students engage in research from the moment they arrive, and take courses from across the computer sciences, the behavioral sciences, and the field of design.

The HCII doctoral program offers an inspiring, collaborative, and supportive atmosphere for graduate study. Ph.D. students with a range of backgrounds and interests are challenged with tracks allowing for specialization. HCII graduates have become the face of HCI across the world, pushing the boundaries of the kinds of problems that HCI addresses, and inventing the tools and methods used to address those problems. Our graduates carry out this mission through faculty positions in the top-ranked academic departments and positions in the major industry research laboratories.

Learn About Our Ph.D. Program

We invite you to learn more about our Ph.D. Program by visiting the following pages:

• Ph.D. Program Requirements

Emphasis Areas

• Ph.D. Program FAQ

Becoming part of the Ph.D. program means becoming part of our exceptional community. Please explore this website, contact our faculty, and apply to become part of our program.

Ph.D. Program

Current Students

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Requirements

Resources for Current Students

Outgoing Students & Postdocs

Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction Carnegie Mellon University 5000 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3891

Leah Buffington Ph.D. Program Coordinator Phone: 412-268-5037 Email us

College of Computing

Ph.D. in Human-Centered Computing

Learn more:.

• Cutting-Edge Research
• World-Class Faculty
• Current Ph.D. Students

The HCC Ph.D. program meets industrial and societal needs for education and research in humanizing computer technology, while attracting the best and brightest from around the world. As a result, HCC graduates are exceptionally well prepared for careers in both academia and industry.

Admission + Program Requirements

Thanks for your interest in the Human-Centered Computing (HCC) Ph.D. program. The application deadline each year is December 15 and students are only admitted during the fall semester. We do not require GREs from HCC PhD applicants.

Complete the online application.

Qualifying Exam

All HCC Ph.D. students are required to take a qualifying exam. The purpose of the qualifying exam is for the student to demonstrate competency in:

Basic computing concepts and methods

Written research communication

Oral research communication

Core HCC knowledge

Core knowledge in student’s HCC specialization.

Design and evaluation of human-centered systems

Synthesis of ideas from different fields, such as from computing and cognitive, educational, and social sciences

Parts of the Exam  

The qualifying exam consists of three parts:

• Written Exam
• Research Portfolio  (demonstrates the skills enumerated below, and includes at least one publication quality paper)

The HCC qualifying exam is administered in the spring term of each academic year and all students are expected to take it in their second year. Students that need accommodations must contact the Office of Disabilities Services. The exam is administered by a faculty committee selected by the advisor in consultation with the student. It consists of the student’s advisor(s) and three additional HCC faculty members. The HCC faculty will evaluate the written component of the qualifying exam and will decide whether or not the student is invited to complete the oral component. A student may retake a failed exam once and all students must pass within three years of entering the program.

After a second attempt of the written component of the qualifying exam, the HCC faculty will decide whether or not the student is invited to complete the oral component. A student who fails the second qualifying exam will be asked to leave the program. The collective decision of the faculty is final.

Thesis Proposal Defense and Dissertation Defense

Georgia Tech requires that "Doctoral students must spend at least two full-time semesters in residence at the Georgia Institute of Technology and ordinarily must complete research for the dissertation while in residence" (Georgia Tech 2014-15 General Catalog).

• The student’s advisor(s)
• At least two additional HCC faculty members
• At least one other faculty from another academic unit in Georgia Tech (outside HCC, typically the minor field) or a committee member external to Georgia Tech

All committee members must have a Ph.D. degree. Committee members external to Georgia Tech need not be affiliated with a university.

We expect all students to defend their thesis proposal by the end of the fourth year of their Ph.D. program. After the proposal is accepted, the student is expected to initiate a meeting with the thesis committee at least once a year to review research progress.

When completed, the dissertation must be publicly defended before a dissertation committee of at least five members (in addition to the four above, at least one committee member must be external to Georgia Tech). Please see  Georgia Tech Guidelines for thesis proposals .

Application Requirements

• Georgia Tech Online Application
• Three Letters of Recommendation (preferably from academics)
• Examples of HCC research

Explore and learn more about the program's core classes, research and more on the HCC Ph.D. Program of Study page.

Learn about our program of study

Research & Labs

Research is the most important part of the HCC Ph.D. and often varies quite a lot from student to student and advisor to advisor. In general, we encourage all HCC Ph.D. students to get involved in research in their first term and we expect each student’s research to result in publications throughout the duration of their program.

Discover our labs and research

Teaching and Service

All Ph.D. students are required to serve as teaching assistants twice during the duration of their program. Further, we expect all of our students to be active participants in the program including performing community service, which may include organizing seminars, helping with the Ph.D. student recruiting, helping with the HCC program website, etc.

From the Catalog:

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Best Doctorates in Human-Computer Interaction: Top PhD Programs, Career Paths, and Salaries

The use of human-computer interaction (HCI) learning systems and assistive technologies is growing in numerous exciting industries. In this article, we will cover 10 of the best PhDs in Human-Computer Interaction offered in the United States, as well as the PhD in Human-Computer Interaction salary opportunities and jobs in the interaction design field.

A PhD in Human-Computer Interaction is focused on interactive design and understanding how users interact with computers. This knowledge allows students to create research-backed digital interfaces for users based on their needs and preferences. These PhD degree programs will increase students’ level of experience and design thinking skills to make them experts in the computing and information technology field.

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What is a phd in human-computer interaction.

A PhD in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a doctoral degree program that combines many different disciplines, including artificial intelligence, graphic design, assistive technologies, social computing, cognitive science, and interaction design thinking to create relevant computing and information technology that can solve real-world problems for technology users.

During an HCI PhD program, the graduate student will utilize different learning systems and collaborate with faculty advisors to define their area of interest and research in the field. No matter their future career goals, students will gain excellent skills in interactive systems and have the opportunity to perform cutting-edge research in this key industry.

How to Get Into a Human-Computer Interaction PhD Program: Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for prospective students of human-computer interaction PhD programs include a master’s or bachelor’s degree and official transcripts from previous academic programs they have pursued. Other requirements may include a statement of purpose that describes your primary research interests in the HCI academic field, a resume, and letters of recommendation.

English as a second language (ESL) and all international students will need to provide proof of English proficiency in the form of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam scores or an equivalent exam. Individual programs may also require Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores and application fees in order to be considered for admission.

PhD in Human-Computer Interaction Admission Requirements

• Master’s or bachelor’s degree in a related field
• Official transcripts
• GRE exam scores, depending on the school
• TOEFL exam or equivalent for ESL and international students 
• Online application and fee to be completed according to application deadlines
• Statement of purpose
• Letters of recommendation
• Current resume

Human-Computer Interaction PhD Acceptance Rates: How Hard Is It to Get Into a PhD Program in Human-Computer Interaction?

It can be hard to get into a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction program. Doctoral studies that focus on interactive systems can be somewhat limited, so these programs are typically more challenging to get into as compared to programs with a social science focus, for example.

Acceptance rates will vary by the type of graduate study, a candidate’s previous academic progress, and the college’s reputation. You can research the general acceptance rates for each university, and the program may disclose acceptance information and how competitive the program is on the department’s website.

How to Get Into the Best Universities

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Best PhDs in Human-Computer Interaction: In Brief

Best universities for human-computer interaction phds: where to get a phd in human-computer interaction.

The best universities for human-computer interaction PhD programs include the desirable Stanford University, Indiana University, and Carnegie Mellon University. Continue reading below for an overview of each human-computer interaction PhD degree program and relevant details like tuition costs, application details, and funding options.

Arizona State University (ASU) is a public research university founded in 1885. ASU enrolls over 25,000 graduate students that come from all walks of life. Among public universities, ASU is considered an innovative university as it offers many popular graduate programs, including information and technology, information systems, supply chain management, and engineering programs. 

PhD in Human Systems Engineering 

The 84-credit-hour program in Human Systems Engineering will help you launch your academic and professional career in the exciting interaction design field. Subjects and research areas of this degree track include digital technologies, mobile computing, and advanced computing. students will also complete a dissertation and faculty-guided research. 

PhD in Human Systems Engineering Overview

• Program Length: 5 to 6 years
• Acceptance Rate: N/A
• Tuition and Fees: $11,720/year (in state); $23,544/year (out of state)
• PhD Funding Opportunities: Dean’s Fellowship, Interdisciplinary Enrichment Fellowship, Graduate College Fellowship 

PhD in Human Systems and Engineering Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
• 3.0 minimum GPA
• GRE exam scores
• Three letters of recommendation 
• Working knowledge of cognitive science and statistics 

Carnegie Mellon is a private university in Pittsburgh founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie Mellon University has one of the best computer science degree programs in the country and is currently ranked second on the list of the Best Computer Science Schools by the US News & World Report. The university offers full tuition aid and a stipend to accepted PhD students. 

PhD in Human-Computer Interaction 

An HCI student in this PhD program studying full time will take two and half years to complete the required credit hours for coursework. Current students can choose to conduct their dissertation research in behavioral science, product design, and user experience design. 

HCI graduates will have a broad range of expert-level skills to qualify for work in digital media, interaction design, and social sciences, or more research-based and technical industry positions. 

PhD in Human-Computer Interaction Overview

• Program Length: 3 to 5 years
• Acceptance Rate: 8%
• Tuition: $46,400/year
• PhD Funding Opportunities: Full tuition coverage and a yearly stipend; NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship, Siebel Scholars Program
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree
• Video essay

Clemson University was founded in 1889 as a public land-grant university. A few of the most popular graduate programs offered by the college include biomedical engineering, computing, nursing, and digital media. Clemson is ranked 75th for best national universities and 30th for top public schools, according to US News & World Report. 

PhD in Human-Centered Computing 

The 60-credit hour program in human-centered computing features research and dissertation opportunities and will effectively prepare prospective students for a career path in academia, user experience design, and many other key industry-specific positions. 

Prospective students have the option of enrolling in Clemson’s dual degree program and can take coursework that counts toward both an MS and PhD degree. 

PhD in Human-Centered Computing Overview

• Program Length: 3 to 6 years
• Tuition and Fees: $5,654/semester (in state); $11,242/semester (out of state)
• PhD Funding Opportunities: Graduate assistantships, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, NVIDIA Fellowship, Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship, Facebook Fellowship

PhD in Human-Centered Computing Admission Requirements

• Bachelor or Master of Science in Computer Science, Engineering, or Mathematics
• 3.5 minimum GPA
• Personal statement
• Two letters of recommendation 
• Research writing sample
• Letter of support from an academic advisor from the department

Cornell University is a private land-grant university that was founded in 1865 by diplomat Andrew Dickson White. Cornell is an Ivy League school and is famous for being the first university to provide degree programs in journalism, electrical and industrial engineering, and veterinary medicine.

PhD in Information Science

The PhD in Information Science doctoral program is a cutting-edge research degree with a focus on human-computer interaction and technological systems. Prospective students who have research interests in areas like interactive design, mobile computing, computer modeling, and applied machine learning will thrive in this comprehensive university PhD curriculum. 

PhD in Information Science Overview

• Program Length: 5 years
• Acceptance Rate: 10%
• Tuition: $29,500/year 
• PhD Funding Opportunities: Graduate teaching and research assistantships, yearly stipends, Cornell fellowships, and numerous external fellowships

PhD in Information Science Admission Requirements

• $105 non-refundable application fee

Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university founded in 1885. Georgia Tech is popular for its advanced computing and engineering colleges and has many of the highest rankings for its numerous technology programs. The innovative university is currently ranked sixth on the US News & World Report’s list of the Best Computer Science Schools. 

Georgia Tech’s PhD in Human-Centered Computing program requires graduate students to complete a minimum of 27 credit hours during their initial two and a half years of coursework. Core courses explore topics like human-centered computing (HCC) basics, prototyping interactive design systems, and advanced research seminar work in HCC. 

• Acceptance Rate: 17%
• Tuition: $586/credit hour (in state); $1,215/credit hour (out of state)
• PhD Funding Opportunities: ARPA-E Fellows Program, Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship Program, NASA Fellowships, and numerous additional external grants and fellowships
• Three letters of recommendation
• Examples of HCC research

Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university founded in 1820 and is the flagship university of Indiana University’s seven other campuses. The comprehensive university is known for its great student-to-faculty ratio and enrolls more than 8,500 graduate students. Indiana University was the first university in the US to offer an informatics PhD degree program. 

PhD in Informatics: Human-Computer Interaction/Design Specialization

This Luddy College of Engineering PhD program requires 90 credit hours of coursework. The requirement consists of 30 credits each for elective courses and dissertation work, 18 credits for core coursework, six credits each for seminar and research, and 12 credits for theoretical courses. 

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Graduate students of this program will gain expert-level skills in user-centered design, design pedagogy, interaction design and information architecture tools , and advanced computing during their human-computer interaction design track specialization. 

PhD in Informatics: Human-Computer Interaction/Design Specialization Overview

• Program Length: 5 to 7 years
• Tuition: $420/credit (in state); $1,330/credit (out of state)
• PhD Funding Opportunities: Associate Instructor/Research Assistant Appointment and Stipend, Tuition Fee Remission, UGS Grant-in-Aid PhD Research Award

PhD in Informatics: Human-Computer Interaction/Design Specialization Admission Requirements

• Statement of purpose 
• Resume 
• Official transcripts 

One of the world’s most desirable universities, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was founded in 1861 as a private research university. MIT’s most popular undergraduate and graduate programs include degrees in tech, engineering, and physical sciences. According to the US News & World Report, MIT ranks as the number one school for engineering, computer science, mathematics, and economics graduate programs in the United States.

PhD in Computer Science and Engineering  

The Schwarzman College of Computing at MIT offers a human-computer interaction degree program within the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department. Students of this program will gain theoretical knowledge and excellent research skills in concepts like machine learning, artificial intelligence , mobile computing, and graphic information technology. 

PhD in Computer Science and Engineering Overview

• Tuition: $28,795/year (out of state)
• PhD Funding Opportunities: Graduate teaching and research assistantships, monthly stipends, and numerous MIT and external fellowships 

PhD in Computer Science and Engineering Admission Requirements

• Statement of objectives

Rochester Institute of Technology is a private research university founded in 1829. The university is known for its online and on-campus graduate programs in engineering, computer science, and business. Rochester Institute of Technology currently enrolls more than 19,000 undergraduate and graduate students. 

PhD in Computing and Information Sciences

The PhD in Computing and Information Sciences program at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) features a comprehensive, interdisciplinary 60-credit curriculum that focuses on subjects such as access technologies and computer-based instructional systems. 

Students will complete a dissertation, research, and core coursework in numerous disciplines, such as human-computer interaction, cyber infrastructure, social computing, and machine learning and AI. 

PhD in Computing and Information Sciences Overview

• Program Length: 3 to 4 years
• Tuition and Fees: $2,257/credit 
• PhD Funding Opportunities: Graduate research and teaching assistantships

PhD in Computing and Information Sciences Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Science, or a related field 
• 3.0 minimum GPA recommended
• Personal statement 
• Professional portfolio 
• Two letters of recommendation
• Research paper samples 

Stanford University is a private research university founded in 1885 and is among the most prestigious universities in the United States. Stanford is highly competitive and is known for its popular graduate engineering and social sciences programs. The school currently hosts more than 8,000 graduate students and offers over 200 master’s and doctoral programs. 

PhD in Computer Science

The PhD in Computer Science degree program at Stanford offers students a chance to become experts in computing and features coursework in interactive design, prototyping, and interaction techniques. This degree program requires students to pass qualifying exams, conduct and orally defend a thesis and relevant research, and complete 135 course and research credits. 

PhD in Computer Science Overview

• Tuition and Fees: $66,297/year
• PhD Funding Opportunities: Graduate teaching and research assistantships, GEM Fellowship Program, numerous grant and scholarship opportunities

PhD in Computer Science Admission Requirements

The University of Washington (UW) was founded in 1861 as a public research university. UW is  one of the oldest universities on the West Coast and is known for its popular degrees in engineering, medicine, and business. The school offers over 300 programs to more than 12,000 graduate and doctoral students. 

PhD in Human-Centered Design and Engineering 

Prospective students of this human-computer interaction design track will learn about interaction design and information architecture, user-centered design, and the important interactive technologies used in everyday life. This PhD program requires a minimum of 90 total credits, including graduate school coursework, research, and dissertation work.

PhD in Human-Centered Design and Engineering Overview

• Acceptance Rate: 65%
• Tuition: $17,136/year (in state); $30,036/year (out of state)
• PhD Funding Opportunities: Graduate teaching and research assistantships, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, GSEE graduate tuition award, numerous UW and external fellowships

PhD in Human-Centered Design and Engineering Admission Requirements

• Research summary with faculty matches 

Can You Get a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction Online?

Yes, you can get a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction online. However, online PhD programs in this field are rare, as most degrees are only offered on campus.

Auburn University and Dakota State University offer online PhD programs. Most HCI degrees are computer science programs and will offer certain core courses or specializations in human-computer interaction, digital media, and user interface interaction design .

Best Online PhD Programs in Human-Computer Interaction

How long does it take to get a phd in human-computer interaction.

It takes between three to six years to get a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction. A PhD student of an HCI degree program usually takes two years to finish their PhD coursework after having completed a master’s program in a related field.

After completing your HCI degree program coursework, the rest of your time will be spent conducting research and dissertation work on real-world problems that can be solved through HCI interactive design, analysis, and research.

Is a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction Hard?

Yes, a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction can be quite hard to complete. This type of PhD program requires knowledge of many interdisciplinary fields such as cognitive science, computing, mathematics, and statistics. Research interest in how humans and creative technologies interact and problem-solving skills in interaction design are crucial for the field.

Prospective students for graduate school in HCI who are scientifically aligned and have an aptitude for creative thinking and interaction design would make the ideal candidates for an HCI degree program. The hard work spent in a doctoral program will be more than worth it.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction?

It costs an average of $19,314 to get a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This value is the average tuition figure of all public and private institutions.

It is important to remember that tuition costs will depend on different factors, such as whether the university is private or public, whether you are a resident or non-resident, and what financial aid and funding opportunities are offered by the program.

How to Pay for a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction: PhD Funding Options

The PhD funding options that students can use to pay for a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction include full or partial tuition funding and fixed yearly or monthly stipend payments offered by the university through the means of teaching or research assistantships, grants, and fellowships. Other federal or state aid options are available, such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and state-approved grants.

Best Online Master’s Degrees

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What Is the Difference Between a Human-Computer Interaction Master’s Degree and PhD?

The difference between a human-computer interaction master’s degree and a PhD is the length of study and the depth of each program’s curriculum. An HCI master’s program prepares a graduate student for their future goal of obtaining relevant employment and is usually two years in length.

A PhD human-computer interaction degree program is a longer commitment, taking between three to seven years to complete. It prepares students for academic pathways in HCI and gears them toward lifelong careers in academic research in the areas of interaction design, computing, and engineering. PhD students also tend to have more intellectual autonomy and can choose to conduct paid research in specific areas of interest.

Master’s vs PhD in Human-Computer Interaction Job Outlook

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for PhD in Human-Computer Interaction degree holders is projected to grow by 22 percent by 2030 for those who become computer and information research scientists. This career path typically requires at least a master’s degree, but a PhD is preferred.

In comparison, the job outlook for those with HCI master’s degrees who become industrial engineers is projected to grow by 14 percent by 2030 . The job outlook for human-computer interaction jobs is generally better for PhD degree holders because they are the most qualified candidates by default and have more job opportunities than master’s degree holders.

Difference in Salary for Human-Computer Interaction Master’s vs PhD

The difference in the average salary for those with human-computer interaction master’s degrees vs PhDs is about $30,000 per year, according to PayScale. Those with a Master of Science in HCI earn an average base salary of $90,000 per year . Human-computer interaction PhD graduates, on the other hand, earn an average salary of $119,000 per year.

Related Human-Computer Interaction Degrees

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Why You Should Get a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction

You should get a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction because it will shape the future, specifically in the ways in which humans interact with digitally creative technologies. Human-centered interaction design a lucrative field with a rapidly growing job outlook, and obtaining a PhD will make you an expert in the field with unlimited room for career growth.

Reasons for Getting a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction

• Great job outlook. Getting a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction guarantees you a great career in terms of employment opportunities and job growth. According to BLS,  there are 3,200 openings for computer and information research scientists every year.
• High earning potential. According to BLS, the median pay after getting a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction is about $131,490 per year . Yearly salaries can be even higher, depending on the industry and your years of experience.
• Cutting-edge research. Pursuing a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction will put you at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies and research involving subjects like brain informatics, design pedagogy, interactive data exploration, and user-centered design.
• Wide range of career options. As human-computer interaction design is an interdisciplinary degree, getting a PhD in the subject means you are eligible to work in multiple exciting positions, such as UX research and interaction designer, human systems engineer, or human-computer research scientist roles.

Getting a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction: Human-Computer Interaction PhD Coursework

Getting a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction involves finishing mandatory human-computer interaction PhD coursework. Below you will find some of the most common courses taught in a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction curriculum.

Interaction Design

A PhD in Human-Computer Interaction typically involves a core subject in interaction design, in which graduate students learn how to design a digital experience, physical product, or service that anticipates and caters to the need of its users.

HCI Process and Theory

As a required part of the coursework during a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction design, students are taught the basic theories, methodologies, and processes involved in human-computer interaction design and engineering.

Social Computing

Students in this course will learn how digital technologies can support social interaction among human beings. It studies the intersection of computational technologies and online social behavior or interaction with digital systems.

Foundations of Applied Cognitive Science

This course explores the psychology and the cognitive science behind users’ needs, knowledge, and actions. It focuses on understanding the user’s psychology in terms of human-computer interaction to accurately predict, design, and achieve agreeable human-centered results.

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Computing

This subject is similar to applied cognitive science but focuses more on the behavior and actions of humans interacting with technologies. The course teaches computer systems engineering and methodologies which combine social science, cognitive science, and computing to fill technological gaps for users.

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How to Get a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction: Doctoral Program Requirements

If you are still wondering how to get a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, continue reading below to find out more about the doctoral program requirements for HCI graduate students to complete their PhD degrees.

To get a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, you’ll have to fulfill the core course requirements. The course requirements for an HCI doctoral program usually include courses on interaction design, applied cognitive science, and social computing. 

Graduate students will usually have to complete one or two teaching assistantships during the duration of their PhD to fulfill the doctoral program requirements. These assistantships are typically paid and can help cover tuition costs. 

Doctoral students of computer science and human-computer interaction will have to complete required core and elective courses for their specialization, usually amounting to between 10 to 18 credit hours.

Graduate students are required to complete an internship or project, teach an introductory course on human-computer interaction, or take a Usability Methods course in HCI. This is done within the doctoral program so faculty and advisors can make sure that the doctoral student is ready for HCI-related work beyond the degree program.

Perhaps the most important requirement of a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction is for doctoral students to propose, conduct, report, and defend a PhD thesis in human-computer interaction. As a PhD student of HCI, you’ll have to propose an original thesis topic, collaborate with your PhD committee consisting of faculty members and advisors, and present and defend your thesis, both orally and in written form.

Potential Careers With a Human-Computer Interaction Degree

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PhD in Human-Computer Interaction Salary and Job Outlook

The salary and job outlook available after getting a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction significantly improves as compared to the job outlook of a bachelor’s or master’s program in human-computer interaction or human-centered design and engineering. A PhD opens doors to exciting careers and higher-paying jobs and makes you more qualified than most in the field.

What Can You Do With a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction?

With a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, you can have your pick of career opportunities. You can choose to work solely in academia as a professor or researcher or get hired by large private corporations to work as a usability engineer, interaction and interface designer, or information architect.

Best Jobs with a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction

• Usability Engineer
• Information Architect
• Interaction and Interface Designer
• Visual Analyst
• UX Designer

What Is the Average Salary for a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction? 

The average salary for someone with a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction is $119,000 per year , according to PayScale. You can also earn up to $180,000 per year as a user experience researcher, a lead UX designer, or a senior product manager after obtaining a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction.

Highest-Paying Human-Computer Interaction Jobs for PhD Grads

Best human-computer interaction jobs with a doctorate.

Read on to learn more about the best human-computer interaction jobs available to those with a doctorate in HCI or a specialization in human-computer interaction under a computer science PhD program. Most of these jobs require at least a master’s degree, but PhDs are preferred.

A senior product manager takes care of the product strategy and roadmap of the product line. They are responsible for estimating the product’s business value, overseeing its design, and leading the product team from the product’s conception to its launch date.

• Salary with a human-computer interaction PhD: $159,010
• Job Outlook: 11% job growth from 2020 to 2030
• Number of Jobs: 482,000
• Highest-Paying States: New York, California, New Jersey

A user experience (UX) researcher is responsible for the testing and data analysis of the user’s experience. They are responsible for determining the needs of their users and better understanding their psychology through analytics and insights. A UX researcher works cross-functionally with designers, product managers, and engineers to ensure best practices.

• Salary with a human-computer interaction PhD: $131,490
• Job Outlook: 22% job growth from 2020 to 2030
• Number of Jobs: 33,000
• Highest-Paying States: Oregon, Arizona, Texas

A human-computer interaction research engineer builds highly interactive user interfaces and systems. They create websites or product infrastructures and software applications and conduct experimental testing on user interfaces to improve the overall user experience. 

• Salary with a human-computer interaction PhD: $101,780
• Job Outlook: 7% job growth from 2020 to 2030
• Number of Jobs: 313,200
• Highest-Paying States: California, District of Columbia, Washington

A computer programmer is responsible for developing various software applications through full stack development. A computer programmer with a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction will be highly skilled and specialized in creating, testing, and improving research-backed user-centric interface designs. 

• Salary with a human-computer interaction PhD: $93,000
• Job Outlook: 10% job decline from 2020 to 2030
• Number of Jobs: 185,700
• Highest-Paying States: Washington, California, Virginia

A user experience (UX) designer creates the visual interface of a digital product. Their responsibilities include ensuring usability, clean infrastructure, accessibility, and ease of use in the interactive user interfaces they design. They also create storyboards and conduct testing and case studies to come up with the best design solution to fulfill user needs. 

• Salary with a human-computer interaction PhD: $77,200
• Job Outlook: 13% job growth from 2020 to 2030
• Number of Jobs: 199,400
• Highest-Paying States: Washington, New York, Iowa

Is a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction Worth It?

Yes, a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction is worth it. After getting an HCI PhD, you’ll have abundant career options available to you. You can secure top-paying human-computer interaction jobs like computer or information research scientist, UX researcher, or usability engineer roles.

If you decide to take the academic route after your PhD in HCI, you can teach at the top schools around the world after completing your degree. You can also conduct your own research, get funded, and get published as you teach. The options are endless for PhD degree holders.

Additional Reading About Human-Computer Interaction

[query_class_embed] https://careerkarma.com/blog/computer-scientists/ https://careerkarma.com/blog/computer-science-vs-computer-engineering/ https://careerkarma.com/blog/computer-science-research-topics/

PhD in Human-Computer Interaction FAQ

A PhD in HCI is usually four to six years long. However, there are part-time study options available that may take longer. During full-time studies, graduate students can finish their coursework in two or two and a half years and then take another year or two to complete their thesis.

The scope of human-computer interaction is very broad and covers multiple disciplines. With a human-computer interaction degree, you’ll acquire excellent skills and knowledge in various subjects, including computer science, cognitive science, mathematics, and technology, while also becoming qualified to work in these fields.

Yes, human-computer interaction can be quite tough. However, it can be less challenging to learn for students who have a natural aptitude for statistical, mathematical, cognitive, and technical subjects. It is doable for any student who develops a genuine interest and curiosity in the field.

There are many career options available to those with a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction. After getting a PhD in HCI, you can take the academic route and start teaching the subject while conducting your own research. You can also work in the field as an interaction designer, visual analyst, or UX researcher. Some students end up working with a university’s industry partners as well.

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Human-Computer Interaction at MIT CSAIL

Faculty & pis, randall davis, frédo durand, max goldman, d. fox harrell, daniel jackson, david r. karger, stefanie mueller, ruth rosenholtz, arvind satyanarayan, mitchell l. gordon, phds & postdocs, marwa alalawi, jumana almahmoud, tarfah alrashed, anant bhardwaj, angie boggust, geeticka chauhan, nadiia chepurko, m. doga dogan, faraz faruqi, theia henderson, aspen hopkins, cédric honnet, farnaz jahanbakhsh, mackenzie leake, crystal lee, geoffrey litt, alan lundgard, luke murray, martin nisser, josh pollock, ticha sethapakdi, dishita turakhia, michael wessely, dylan wooton, jonathan zong, online education, crowd computing, redesign email inbox ( haystack group ).

Email has grown from a tool for communication to one that also encompasses task management, notifications, and a personal information repository. However, current email clients are not flexible or powerful enough to handle users’ myriad needs for email. To address users' demand, we aim to redesign emails ranging from programmable personal inbox to community-wide mailing-list.

New Interaction Models for Personal Fabrication ( HCI Engineering Group )

Inspired by the history of the user interface for personal computing, we are developing new interaction models for personal fabrication. Instead of working through a digital 3D editor, we propose to let users work hands-on on the physical workpiece and to update the physical object after every editing step. Our long-term vision is to enable direct manipulation for physical matter in the same way as we today manipulate digital data on touch-devices, such as the iPad.

Faster Prototyping and Design Iteration Techniques ( HCI Engineering Group )

Even though considered a rapid prototyping tool, 3D printers are so slow that a reasonably sized object requires printing overnight. This slows designers down to a single iteration per day. Our concept called Low-fidelity fabrication speeds up design iteration by printing intermediate versions of a prototype as fast, low-fidelity previews. Only the final version is fabricated as a full 3D print.

Gitless: a version control system ( Software Design Group )

Gitless is an experimental version control system built on top of Git. Many people complain that Git is hard to use. We think the problem lies deeper than the user interface, in the concepts underlying Git. Gitless is an experiment to see what happens if you put a simple veneer on an app that changes the underlying concepts. Because Gitless is implemented on top of Git (could be considered what Git pros call a "porcelain" of Git), you can always fall back on Git. And of course your coworkers you share a repo with need never know that you're not a Git aficionado.

Rethinking Software Design ( Software Design Group )

For decades, 'software design' has been about the internal structure of the code. Recently though, with the growing interest in design thinking, practitioners and researchers have started focusing more on the design of the behavior of the software. The behavior not only determines the user experience, but also shapes the implementation in fundamental ways. In this project, we are developing a radical new approach to software design that focuses on this aspect. The key idea is the identification of conceptual constructs that embody the key behavioral features of the application. To realize the goal of a new design method for software, we analyze existing systems and applications and develop new ones, polishing our design theory in response to what we learn from case studies.

Espalier ( Software Design Group )

Espalier (formerly Object Spreadsheets) is a new computational paradigm that combines the usability advantages of spreadsheets with SQL-like expressive power, providing a way to build a wide class of interactive applications more easily than with existing tools. Nearly every organization is responsible for processes that involve collection and manipulation of structured data subject to certain rules; in CSAIL and EECS alone, examples range from a milk pool that tracks whose turn it is to buy milk next to the graduate admissions process. The Espalier tool can be used to build organizational applications that support these processes by letting users view and update data subject to the applicable constraints. Espalier seeks to provide an integrated visual environment to construct the schema, data, and logic that is natural enough to appeal to end-user developers yet general enough to conveniently express arbitrary logic.

Wait-Learning ( Usable Programming Group )

Wait-learning encourages users to learn during times when they would otherwise be waiting, by automatically detecting waiting moments and presenting educational exercises during that time. Combining wait time with productive work opens up a new class of software systems that overcome the problem of limited time by making use of existing wait time for productive activities. Examples of wait-learning moments used by our systems include elevator waiting, waiting during pull-to-refresh, waiting for wifi to connect, waiting for email to finish sending, and waiting for instant message replies.

Sketch Interpretation for Natural Interaction ( Design Rationale Group )

Communication often has a pictorial component, as for example when designers (of many sorts) sketch, or stand at a whiteboard, drawing, gesturing, and talking about their designs. We want the whiteboard to be smart enough to understand that interaction, i.e., understand the sketches, the gestures, and the speech, and be able to draw, gesture and talk in response, as style we call symmetric multimodal interaction.

Drawing Interpretation for Cognitive Assessment ( Design Rationale Group )

For many years neuropsychologists have tested people's cognitive status by having them draw simple diagrams. We have been administering these tests using a digitizing ballpoint pen, then analyzing this data using a variety of sophisticated techniques from sketch understandig, machine learning, and signal processing. This research has uncovered very subtle, previously unknown movements made when drawing that are indicative of cognitive status.

6.170 Software Studio

Covers design and implementation of software systems, using web applications as the platform. Emphasizes the role of conceptual design in achieving clarity, simplicity, and modularity. Students complete open-ended individual assignments and a major team project. Enrollment may be limited.

6.810 Engineering Interactive Technologies

Teaches how to build cutting edge interactive technologies and provides an overview of each field. Topics covered include multitouch, augmented reality, haptics, wearables, brain computer interfaces, tangibles, fabrication, and more.

6.811/HST.420/2.87 Principles and Practice of Assistive Technology (PPAT)

Interdisciplinary, project-based course in which small teams of students work closely with a person with a disability in the Boston/Cambridge area to design a device, piece of equipment, app, or other solution that helps them live more independently.

6.835 Intelligent Multimodal User Interfaces

Topics include basic technologies for handling speech, vision, pen-based interaction, and other modalities, as well as various techniques for combining modalities. Substantial readings and a term project, where students build an interface.

6.859 Interactive Data Visualization

Interactive visualization provides a means of making sense of a world awash in data. This course covers the techniques and algorithms for creating effective visualizations, using principles from graphic design, perceptual psychology, and cognitive science. Short assignments will build familiarity with the data analysis and visualization design process, and a final project will provide experience designing, implementing, and deploying an explanatory narrative visualization or visual analysis tool to address a concrete challenge.

6.813/6.831 User Interface Design and Implementation

Covers human capabilities, design principles, prototyping techniques, evaluation techniques, and the implementation of graphical user interfaces. Deliverables include short programming assignments and a semester-long group project.

HCI Seminar

📅  Tuesdays, 1pm - 2pm 📍 Kiva Seminar Room, Stata Center (32-G449) --> 📍 Zoom 🔓 Open to the public 📫 Subscribe ✉️ Contact 📅 Calendar

• March 2 - Alexandra To, Northeastern University.
• March 16 - Kristen Vaccaro, UC San Diego.
• March 30 - Ryo Suzuki, University of Calgary.
• April 6 - Alvitta Ottley, Washington University in St. Louis.
• April 13 - Mary Beth Kery, CMU/Apple.
• April 27 - Anne Marie Piper, UC Irvine.
• May 18 - Raf Ramakers, Hasselt University.
• January 28 - Dave Murray-Rust, University of Edinburgh.
• February 10 - Saleema Amershi, Microsoft Research.
• March 3 - Xing-Dong Yang, Dartmouth.
• March 17 - Anne Marie Piper, Northwestern.
• April 14 - Scott Klemmer, UCSD.
• April 21 - Steve Oney, University of Michigan.
• May 12 - Casey Fiesler, CU Boulder.

Fall 2019 Talk Schedule

• Sep. 10 - Philip Guo, UCSD.
• Sep. 24 - Catherine D'Ignazio, MIT DUSP/Emerson.
• Oct. 1 - Clemens Klokmose, Aarhus.
• Oct. 29 - Jenn Thom, Spotify.
• Nov. 5 - Michael Nebeling, Michigan.
• Dec. 3 - Jifei Ou, MIT Media Lab.

Latest Recorded Talks See All

Wendy Mackay (INRIA) "Human-Computer Partnerships"

Bjoern Hartmann (UC Berkeley) "Interactive Design Tools for the Maker Movement"

• Antonio Gomes, HCI Haredware Researcher at THALMIC
• Paul Worgan, Teaching Fellow at University College London
• Elena L. Glassman, Postdoctoral Researcher at UC Berkeley, Usable Programming Group
• Abe Davis, Postdoctoral Researcher at Stanford University, Computer Graphics Group

More on the Alumni page (1999 - 2017) See All

Hci elsewhere at mit, research groups.

• Imagination, Computation, and Expression Laboratory (Fox Harrell, MIT CSAIL)
• Interactive Robotics Group (Julie Shah, MIT CSAIL)
• Spoken Language Systems Group (Jim Glass, Stephanie Seneff, Victor Zue, MIT CSAIL)
• Tangible Media Group (Hiroshi Ishii, MIT Media Lab)
• Responsive Environments Group (Joseph A. Paradiso, MIT Media Lab)
• Living Mobile Group (Chris Schmandt, MIT Media Lab)
• Lifelong Kindergarten Group (Mitchel Resnick, MIT Media Lab)
• Affective Computing Group (Rosalind Picard, MIT Media Lab)
• Fluid Interfaces Group (Pattie Maes, MIT Media Lab)
• Camera Culture Group (Ramesh Raskar, MIT Media Lab)
• Personal Robots Group (Cynthia Breazeal, MIT Media Lab)
• Software Agents Group (Henry Lieberman, Junia Anacleto, MIT Media Lab)
• Ideation Laboratory (Maria Yang, MIT Mechanical Engineering)
• Perceptual Science Group (Edward Adelson, Ruth Rosenholtz, MIT Brain/Cognitive Sciences)
• Center for Collective Intelligence (MIT Sloan)
• Human Dynamics Group (MIT Media Lab)
• New Media Medicine (MIT Media Lab)

Seminars and Meetings

• Upcoming Media Lab Talks
• BostonCHI (HCI groups around the Boston area)

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• Explore all research areas

The HCI research program in EECS comprises a diverse group of faculty and students who work in many different areas, all tied together by a common concern: creating systems that enhance human experience. This concern gives a different flavor to our research from much of traditional computer science, which is typically focused on engineering goals (such as performance, scalability and reliability) or on serving the needs of engineers themselves (eg through goals such as maintainability). As software-enabled devices, appliances and systems have become pervasive, we not only depend on them in every aspect of our daily life, but the very quality of our lives is impacted by our interactions with them. Moreover, it has become clear that understanding how humans interact with machines is essential not only for usability but also for safety and security: all major security attacks include a social engineering component, and unusable medical devices are responsible for thousands of deaths every year. Our research programs address all aspects of the development of systems that involve human-computer interaction, including design, construction and evaluation. We create systems that demonstrate new kinds of functionality in individual and community settings (eg, in social media, personal information management, and data visualization), as well as tools for building such systems more easily and effectively. Our work extends beyond software to physical design and new technologies for fabrication. We also develop foundational theories of design, and seek to understand the social and ethical ramifications of systems.

Latest news in human-computer interaction

Qs world university rankings rates mit no. 1 in 11 subjects for 2024.

The Institute also ranks second in five subject areas.

For more open and equitable public discussions on social media, try “meronymity”

A communication system whose users reveal only a few verified aspects of their identity can empower less confident participants to speak up, researchers report.

To build a better AI helper, start by modeling the irrational behavior of humans

A new technique can be used to predict the actions of human or AI agents who behave suboptimally while working toward unknown goals.

Department of EECS Announces 2024 Promotions

The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) is proud to announce multiple promotions.

Leveraging language to understand machines

Master’s students Irene Terpstra ’23 and Rujul Gandhi ’22 use language to design new integrated circuits and make it understandable to robots.

Upcoming events

Eecs spring town hall, doctoral thesis: guiding deep probabilistic models.

UCL Interaction Centre MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

This is a cross-faculty programme in which students undertake postgraduate research under the supervision of academic staff who are leaders in their specialisation within human-computer interaction. Students often work collaboratively with researchers in other departments and organisations beyond UCL. Graduates pursue careers in leading universities and major technology industries worldwide.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

• Entry requirements

Normally a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor’s degree or a taught Master’s degree, or the overseas equivalent, in a subject relevant to human-computer interaction. Such subjects include Psychology, Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering Design, or other cognitive or applied sciences. Applicants with other qualifications and sufficient relevant experience and background knowledge may be considered.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

If you are intending to apply for a time-limited visa to complete your UCL studies (e.g., Student visa, Skilled worker visa, PBS dependant visa etc.) you may be required to obtain ATAS clearance . This will be confirmed to you if you obtain an offer of a place. Please note that ATAS processing times can take up to six months, so we recommend you consider these timelines when submitting your application to UCL.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

UCL Interaction Centre (UCLIC) is a world-leading centre of excellence for interdisciplinary research on human-computer interaction, studying interactions between people and technology, and using this knowledge to inform design. UCLIC is part of both the UCL Dept of Computer Science and the UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences. UCL was ranked second in the UK for research power in the area of Computer Science and is the top-ranked university in the UK for research power in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience in the most recent Research Excellence Evaluation (REF 2021).

This is a cross-faculty programme in which students undertake postgraduate research under the supervision of academic staff who are leaders in their specialisation within human-computer interaction. We collaborate with technology users and manufacturers within industry and academia, including hospitals, computer manufacturers and other universities. Facilities include a usability laboratory with eye tracker, a reconfigurable space for larger equipment, and an interaction research laboratory to support research in physical computing and prototyping. Previous students have gone on to work in universities and companies in North America, Europe, Asia and New Zealand. For more information see our UCLIC PhD programme page .

Who this course is for

This programme is most likely to appeal to applicants with a background in human-computer interaction or a related area, e.g., Psychology, Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering Design etc. If you meet the entry requirements, it is important to check whether we can supervise research in your chosen area. We only take MPhil/PhD students to whom we can offer expert research supervision from one of our academic staff. We advise you to look at the research themes and the projects within these themes in our Research section and at individual web pages of academic members of staff and to read some of their recent research papers (normally listed on individual pages). Once you identify potential supervisors, it is suggested that you contact them directly via email to express your interest in working with them, and to explain why you think you would be a good match. Some supervisors may also be interested in exploring new research areas with you, so you may wish to discuss such an opportunity at this stage.

What this course will give you

The cross-faculty nature of this programme enables students to pursue interdisciplinary projects and work with researchers from different fields across UCL and other organisations. We also have strong links with industry and students can undertake industry internships. Graduates often extend their careers beyond academia, pursuing careers in industry or the public sector, or combining roles as leading academics and consultants, and sometimes working in collaboration with the arts.

Students are strongly supported in developing a range of presenting and teaching skills, using creativity and innovation to present in new and interesting ways. They often act as co-supervisors on Masters projects on our MSc in Human-Computer Interaction, which helps them to develop supervisory and leadership skills. There are many training opportunities across UCL to practise such skills and give students confidence for their next steps.

The foundation of your career

The interdisciplinary nature of research in UCLIC means that our research graduates have a broad skill set combining various specialisms, such as psychology, design and/or computer science. They are adaptable and able to work across many fields with people from different professional backgrounds both in academia and industry. Consequently, they are creative, motivated individuals with a keen understanding of the needs of government and commercial organisations as well as having extensive academic knowledge and skills.

Employability

Recent graduates have either pursued academic careers as researchers and/or lecturers and some additionally work as usability consultants alongside their postdoctoral roles. Some have continued as postdoctoral researchers within the department or other departments in UCL, while others secured research internships abroad (eg, Microsoft Research in California), or other postdoctoral positions in Europe, North and South America, Asia and New Zealand. Some have alternatively continued their careers in industry as research scientists in leading technology companies, such as Google.

UCLIC are currently linked to the Global Disability Innovation Hub, working with partners such as Leonard Cheshire Disability, the V&A and Sadler's Wells to design better user experiences for disabled people. We also have strong links with hospitals and manufacturers of medical devices, as well as other commercial and arts organisations. At present, we have a number of UKRI funded grants involving collaborations with other Universities, companies and health organisations in the UK and we have had collaborations with other Universities and government organisations in Italy, France, Spain, Greece and Sweden in the past. Some of our studentships have been co-funded by companies such as the BBC and Microsoft and many students often undertake industry based internships.

Teaching and learning

Students have the option to undertake a number of optional taught modules in addition to hands on practical work as part of their PhD studies. They also have access to a range of courses run by the Doctoral School on more general topics to help develop transferable skills. They also take part in an annual one day workshop for PhD students only (UCLIC PhD Showcase Day) and have at least one opportunity to present their work at an international conference in their research area.

It is strongly recommended, but not obligatory that students take two taught modules in the first one - two years of registration. Typically these will be from a recommended list. In the first term, students would normally complete one of the Statistics course, Computer Programming or at least one module of an MSc programme if you have selected any and/or the Qualitative Methods courses in the second term.

All students must complete a preliminary research plan at 3 months and a 1st year report and viva (20 min interview) at 9 months (10-12 months if PT) with a thesis committee (TC). The latter is the first major examination and precedes the upgrade report and viva, which is the second major exam and normally happens between 9-18 months (15-30 months for PT) in the 2nd year. Students must pass the upgrade viva in order to become registered for the PhD.

There are two further meetings with TC at 18 and 24 months, at which students can provide a snapshot of their progress; they should then prepare a thesis plan for a final TC meeting at 30 months. Students then defend their thesis after submission in a final PhD viva exam.

All students also take part in the annual UCLIC PhD Showcase Day in the 3rd term of each year. The showcase involves presenting work as a talk or poster to the rest of the dept and gaining feedback from research and academic staff. The Dilemma game also takes place in the 3rd term and is a two-hour workshop led by the departmental graduate tutor, where students discuss potential ethical dilemmas they may face as researchers. All students must participate in this once before they upgrade.

With regard to TC assessments, students are required to submit a written report for the first two thesis committee meetings and the fifth meeting. All meetings require students to prepare and deliver a brief (10-15 min) presentation on their progress at each stage.

For the upgrade viva, students must prepare an extensive report of their progress to date during the second year - this must also include plans for the rest of the PhD and involves a presentation. This is followed by discussion and feedback, at which point it is decided if the work is sufficient for upgrade or if more work is needed. The final exam is the final PhD viva, which is usually held within 3 months of submitting the thesis and is a more thorough investigation of the entire thesis - it is at this exam that the decision is made to award the PhD, often subject to corrections. If the work is insufficient for a PhD, there may be major revisions required, or the student may be recommended for the MPhil instead or may fail.

Students would normally have at least one or two hours of contact with their primary supervisor each week. Contact time with other supervisors is variable.

Research areas and structure

A number of themes link the research projects we work on in UCLIC and some projects occupy more than one theme. These themes employ both quantitative and qualitative methods and draw on the best scientific traditions in human sciences and computer science to improve human-computer interactions. Theoretical understanding from empirical studies is applied and tested through novel interactive systems that are designed to improve the user experience, e.g. reducing errors, improving effectiveness and creating a positive overall user experience. Main research areas are:

• Persuasive technologies: investigating how various data can be sensed, collected, analysed and displayed via persuasive technologies for behavioural change;
• Designing future interfaces: designing and inventing novel physical interfaces, large scale installations and mobile technologies and exploring how people engage with these;
• Interactions in the wild: using ethnographic studies and action research in the wild to develop novel technologies to augment people, places and settings, e.g. Internet of Things;
• Affective computing: designing interactive technology that is more aware of people’s affective states, using that information to tailor the interaction process;
• Health and wellbeing: reducing stress at work by reducing errors in work contexts (especially in healthcare); improving technology to support a positive work-life balance; technology to support more heathy living or those suffering chronic pain;
• Collaboration and communication: exploring social computing and communication technologies in how people play and work together; crowd-sourcing projects;
• Educational technologies: studying how learning can be enhanced through technology such as e-lectures; designing electronic toolkits to introduce children to coding;
• Physical Computing: developing interactive systems that can sense and respond to the world around them;
• AI and HCI: artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction;
• Assistive and Enabling Technologies: technology to improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities and to support them to live as independently as possible.
• Multisensory Experiences: creating multisensory experiences that enrich and augment the way we interact with the worlds around us; stimulation design, perception, and experience of multisensory interfaces.
• Metamaterials:< engineering materials to shape sound; design, fabrication and evaluation of acoustic metamaterials.
• Acoustic Levitation: creating Particle Based Displays (PBDs), which are a novel kind of mixed-reality technology and use ultrasound transducer arrays and quick scanning particles to create volumetric content that the users can physically sense; volumetric fully coloured displays, multi-point spatio-temporal tactile feedback, parametric audio;
• Physiological Computing and AI: enabling technologies that help us to listen to our bodily functions and psychophysiological needs for self-regulation and greater control of our body and mind, promoting positivity gradually over time.

Research environment

PhD students are an integral part of our research team, each pursuing their individual research project within a vibrant, research-intensive environment. We have regular research seminars and working lunches, as well as impromptu social events. Students have access to facilities including an Interaction Research Lab with tools to facilitate building proto-type technologies, as well as two Usability labs with eye tracking equipment, motion capture equipment and biosensors. There is a range of technical assistance available when needed, as well as excellent library and computing facilities in and around UCL. Students are also strongly supported in developing a range of presenting and teaching skills and there are many opportunities across UCL to practice such skills, giving students confidence for their next steps.

As UCLIC is part of both the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences and the Computer Science Department, staff across these depts therefore have expertise on a wide range of topics, so students usually have little difficulty in finding someone who can give good advice. Furthermore, there are many networking opportunities with other depts in UCL and beyond, since UCLIC has links with the other Universities as well as partners in industry and the public sector, such as the BBC, Microsoft, various hospitals, as well as manufacturers of medical devices and other commercial organisations.

The MPhil/PhD programme commences in late September/early October for most students, but students can start throughout the year.

UCL regulations require that initial registration as a research student is for an MPhil degree. If satisfactory progress is demonstrated a student's registration is 'upgraded' to PhD. As part of the programme, students take a range of optional courses designed to equip them for research. In particular, they can take a selection of research methods courses appropriate for different backgrounds, designed to help them develop key research skills, such as the ability to evaluate critically the literature in an area or to perform advanced statistical analyses.

The full-time PhD typically lasts for 3 years, including the time registered as an MPhil student, and if the thesis is not submitted within this time then students may register as Completing Research Students (CRS) for 1 additional year. The PhD may be 4 years if the student is on a UKRI funded studentship, but in this case, students do not receive an additional year of CRS. The Division is assessed on how many PhD students submit their thesis on time, so it is very important full-time students finish within 4 years.

A research student will have a thesis committee of three or more academics, who can provide advice and support throughout the course of the PhD programme. The thesis committee comprises the principal supervisor, who takes the lead in the supervisory team, a subsidiary supervisor who enhances the effective supervision of the students work by contributing a second opinion and who also acts as the Chair of the committee. The third committee member acts more in an examiner role. Students will have 5 thesis committee meetings throughout their programme - these will be at 3 months, 9 months, just after the upgrade at 18 months, at 24 months and 30 months. Other staff members, as part of a research group, may be closely involved with their work and students are encouraged to discuss their research widely with anyone having relevant experience.

The UCL Doctoral School also offers a range of skills development courses for graduate students and students have access to the UCL Arena programme for developing teaching skills. Many full-time research students take some part in departmental teaching by giving tutorials and/or demonstrating in practical classes; payment is made for this work.

The programme structure is largely the same as for full-time students, but part-time students are normally required to be registered for 5 years, with 2 additional years in CRS if needed. Part-time study arrangements are to be agreed with the supervisor.

Many of our students undertake ad hoc internships of up to three months with industry and research partners. Previous internships include Microsoft Research, the Alan Turing Institute and Nokia Bell Labs.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

For students who are not in receipt of a budget for research costs (eg via an EPSRC, RCUK studentship), an additional fee element of £1000 per year will be applied.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

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For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

Applicants should apply through this route (check Full-time or Part-time option and click 'Apply for this course' button below), or else through Computer Science if your proposed primary supervisor is based in that department. Deadlines and start dates are usually dictated by funding arrangements so check with the department or academic unit to see if you need to consider these in your application preparation. In most cases you should identify and contact potential supervisors before making your application. For more information see our How to apply page.

Applications for competitive funding awarded by UCL must arrive by 26 November 2023 at the latest in the year preceding the academic year you wish to start. If other sources of funding are being considered, it is still in your interest to apply as early as possible. Later applications can sometimes be considered. Applications should be made as soon as possible, and not later than 30 June for entry in September/October.

Scholarship applicants: 26 November 2023 if applying through this route. Please check with CS Research Degrees for their deadline if applying through Computer Science.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

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Year of entry: 2024-2025

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Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

The Human-Computer Interaction Group in EECS studies interaction in current and future computing environments, spanning workplaces, homes, public spaces, and beyond. The HCI group engages in collaborations with scholars and designers across campus, driving research presented at venues such as CHI, UIST, DIS, VIS, and CSCW, and creates novel artifacts that lead to real-world impact, benefiting end users beyond the academic community. Our research takes place in several spaces on campus. In addition to core EECS facilities, we work in the Berkeley Institute of Design (BID), a 4000-sq ft research lab designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration. Researchers have access to the Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation which provides extensive prototyping and fabrication resources. Many of our faculty also have close ties to the School of Information which offers masters and PhD programs focused on HCI.

Context-aware computing:

Activity analysis, Embodied and Wearable Computing, Smart Spaces, Location-aware systems, Privacy technologies, Affective Computing.

Perceptual Interfaces:

Virtual reality (VR) and Augmented reality (AR), Vision-based interfaces, Conversational interfaces

Collaboration and Learning:

Tutorial and instruction systems, Crowdsourcing, Pattern-based authoring tools, Learning at scale, Remote group collaboration technologies, Citizen science

Digital Design and Fabrication:

Prototyping tools, DIY and Maker Culture, Computational Design, Creativity-support tools, Sensing technologies

Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence:

Human-robot interaction, Explainable AI, Interactive Machine Learning, Responsible AI, Multimedia retrieval and understanding, Recommender Systems

Interactive Data Exploration and Presentation:

Visualization and visual analytics, Sketch-based and direct manipulation interfaces, Computational notebooks

Optometry and Human Vision Simulation:

Computer aided cornea modeling and visualization, Medical imaging, Virtual environments for surgical simulation, Vision realistic rendering

Usable Programming:

Usable programming languages, Programming environments, Program synthesizers, Programming by demonstration, Tools for non-programmers, novices and end-user programmers

Research Centers

• Algorithms and Computing for Education
• Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research Lab
• Berkeley Equity and Access in Algorithms, Mechanisms, and Optimization
• Berkeley Institute of Design
• Berkeley Laboratory for Automation Science and Engineering
• Center for Augmented Cognition
• Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society - The Banatao Institute
• CITRIS Connected Communities
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• CITRIS People and Robots
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• Tele-Immersion
• Verified Human Interfaces, Control, and Learning for Semi-Autonomous Systems
• Visual Computing Lab
• Anca Dragan
• Björn Hartmann
• Marti Hearst
• Aditya Parameswaran
• Eric Paulos
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• Gopala Krishna Anumanchipalli
• Ruzena Bajcsy
• Michael Ball
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• Sarah Chasins
• Armando Fox
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• Michael Lustig
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• Carlo H. Séquin

Faculty Awards

• National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Member: Ruzena Bajcsy, 1997. Susan L. Graham, 1993.
• American Academy of Arts and Sciences Member: Ruzena Bajcsy, 2007. Susan L. Graham, 1995.
• Berkeley Citation: Ruzena Bajcsy, 2023. Carlo H. Séquin, 2016. Susan L. Graham, 2009.
• Sloan Research Fellow: Preeya Khanna, 2024. Aditya Parameswaran, 2020. Anca Dragan, 2018. Björn Hartmann, 2013. Michael Lustig, 2013. James O'Brien, 2003.

Related Courses

• CS 160. User Interface Design and Development
• CS 260A. User Interface Design and Development
• CS 260B. Human-Computer Interaction Research

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Research   /   Research Areas Human-Computer Interaction

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a rapidly expanding area of research and development that has transformed the way we use computers in the last thirty years. Research topics and areas include augmented-reality, collective action, computer-mediated communication, computer-supported collaborative work, crowdsourcing and social computing, cyberlearning and future learning technologies, inclusive technologies and accessibility, interactive audio, mixed-initiative systems, mobile interaction design, multi-touch interaction, social media, social networks, tangible user interfaces, ubiquitous computing, and user-centered design.

Northwestern hosts a vibrant HCI community across schools, with faculty and students involved in a wide range of projects. Students in HCI are enrolled in programs in Computer Science, Communication, Learning Sciences, and Technology & Social Behavior. Students also take courses and attend seminars through the Segal Design Institute.

Nabil Alshurafa

Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine and (by courtesy) Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering

Email Nabil Alshurafa

Sruti Bhagavatula

Assistant Professor of Instruction

Email Sruti Bhagavatula

Larry Birnbaum

Professor of Computer Science

Email Larry Birnbaum

Jeremy Birnholtz

Associate Professor, Communication Studies

Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science

Nick Diakopoulos

Assistant Professor, Northwestern School of Communications

Email Nick Diakopoulos

Elizabeth Gerber

Professor of Mechanical Engineering and (by courtesy) Computer Science

Professor of Communication Studies

Co-Director, Center for Human Computer Interaction + Design

Email Elizabeth Gerber

Darren Gergle

Professor, Communication Studies and (by courtesy) Computer Science

Email Darren Gergle

Kristian Hammond

Bill and Cathy Osborn Professor of Computer Science

Director, Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence Program

Director, Center for Advancing Safety of Machine Intelligence (CASMI)

Email Kristian Hammond

Michael Horn

Professor of Education and Social Policy

Email Michael Horn

Ian Horswill

Associate Professor of Computer Science

Email Ian Horswill

Jessica Hullman

Ginni Rometty Professor

Email Jessica Hullman

Matthew Kay

Associate Professor of Communication Studies

Email Matthew Kay

Eleanor O'Rourke

Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Assistant Professor of Education and Social Policy

Email Eleanor O'Rourke

Bryan Pardo

Email Bryan Pardo

Sarah Van Wart

Adjunct Assistant Professor

Email Sarah Van Wart

Uri Wilensky

Lorraine Morton Professor

Email Uri Wilensky

Marcelo Worsley

Karr Family Associate Professor of Computer Science

Associate Professor of Learning Sciences, School of Education and Social Policy

Email Marcelo Worsley

Haoqi Zhang

Email Haoqi Zhang

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Human-Centered Technology, Innovation & Design, Ph.D.

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Innovations in technologies redefine and reshape people's lives, changing social and cultural practices, norms and values, institutional processes, and economies and infrastructures. Working to develop new applications for existing and emerging human-centered technologies informed through rigorous, interdisciplinary research and managing socio-technical transitions is a fast-growing and highly important area of research across a number of fields and disciplines. The mission of the Tandon School of Engineering's Human-Centered Technology, Innovation & Design Ph.D. program is to educate and train scholars who will produce pioneering research and scholarship at the vanguard of technological practice and theory.

This program fosters student research through its focus on high-quality supervision and training by faculty members with significant research strengths in a diverse range of technology-related fields, including: digital media and creative practice, design and human-computer interaction, science and technology studies, urban and environmental studies, sociotechnical complex systems, and technology management and innovation. Students in the program typically follow an individualized path based in one of four main areas of focus:

• Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
• Design Research & Practice
• Management Science
• Computational Social Science

The Human-Centered Technology, Innovation & Design program is a unique interdisciplinary Ph.D. program, offering a rigorous and flexible course of study that unites the strengths of the Departments of Technology Management and Innovation and Technology Culture & Society at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. It is ideal for students who are primarily interested in pursuing teaching and/or research-based careers at higher education institutions. Universities with undergraduate and graduate programs that emphasize the integration of design and technology development with the critical study of society and technology or the management sciences are a primary source of career opportunities for our graduates. Similarly, government agencies, not-for-profit research organization, think tanks, corporate research centers, and research-based design and consulting firms also seek our graduates. 

Urban Science Doctoral Track

Admissions/applications requirements.

Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy in Human-Centered Technology, Innovation & Design program is based on an in-depth evaluation of the applicant’s academic record, professional experience, research potential, interest in doctoral study, and overall intellectual and professional qualifications. The GRE is optional, while proof of english language proficiency is required for international students.

Find out more about Admission Requirements and Graduate Admissions .

Degree Requirements and Curriculum

The curriculum for the Ph.D. in Human-Centered Technology, Innovation & Design Program fosters a research-intensive doctoral education relevant to understanding and shaping the impact of new technologies on a complex and rapidly-changing society and its institutions. We focus on how technology shapes and molds society and culture and how, in turn, social and cultural institutions respond to those impacts. 

The core coursework exposes students to advanced design and research skills modulated by the development of a critically reflexive understanding of the ways in which society and technology deeply influence design and development. Research methods courses help students develop advanced qualitative, quantitative, and practice-based research as the basis for inquiring into, designing, and evaluating new technologies in the service of society.

Thematic elective courses help students gain in-depth knowledge in a focused area related to the key themes of human-computer interaction, design research, and management science. Our faculty also specialize in several areas of focus: disability studies and inclusive design, citizen science, urban sustainability, design for social change, science and technology studies, design studies, and technology ethics and politics. Students and doctoral advisers work together to curate and develop a rigorous course of study in the program.

Students are required to complete 75 credits, including 51 credits from the course work, which includes doctoral seminars, research methods courses, and thematic electives, and 24 credits from the dissertation. For more information on specific faculty interests, please refer to the faculty pages under the relevant programs.

Research Training and Interaction with Faculty

Students are expected to work actively with one or more faculty each year, and focus on completing research. Students are strongly encouraged to present research in progress once a year and work towards publishable papers, usually with a faculty as co-author. Students are strongly encouraged to work with their primary advisors to outline a plan of study where they can be involved in institutional research. Every student participates in formal research seminars with departmental faculty and visitors.

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Human-Computer Interaction

From desktop computers to smart watches to cell phones to robots, we are constantly using and interacting with technology. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) studies the ways we interact with technology and how technology shapes our experiences. At Princeton HCI, we develop and study technologies that augment people’s intelligence and extend their abilities, while allowing them to be present in the physical world and form meaningful connections with others.

Research at Princeton focuses on social computing, ubiquitous and tangible computing, human-centered machine learning, and creativity tools. This includes research on computer-supported collaborative work, public interest technology, augmented reality and virtual reality interactions and social experiences, explainable AI, fairness, accountability and transparency, and tools for professional and novice artists.

Associated Faculty

• Parastoo Abtahi
• Adam Finkelstein
• Andrés Monroy-Hernández
• Olga Russakovsky

Associated Graduate Students

• Sunnie S.Y. Kim
• Varun Nagaraj Rao

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The goal of human-centred computing is to create technologies that better meet human needs, through studying the needs of humans. Using diverse research methods from social science, experimental psychology, cognitive science and other disciplines, we address grand challenges such as social and emotional interaction with robots, or crossing the perceptual line between interaction with virtual and real worlds. We work with AI, machine learning and data science methods to build intelligent tools for digital life, supporting business and engineering, artistic expression and enquiry, and enabling collaborative design processes that address global challenges. Through addressing human priorities with a commitment to cross-disciplinary rigour, we make research contributions in core fields of computer science such as human-computer interaction, computer graphics, visualisation, and display technologies. Members of the group are also leaders in emerging specialist fields including affective computing, computer music, human-robot interaction, diagrammatic reasoning, computational photography, end-user programming and ubiquitous computing.

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Human-Computer Interaction

Computer scientists introduce innovative new work at annual conferences.  The Human-Computer Interaction research community expands the state of the art at these, the field's most prestigious and selective conferences:

Human-computer interaction (HCI) is a multidisciplinary field of study focusing on the design of computer technology, in particular, the interaction between humans (the users) and computers. HCI researchers observe the ways humans interact with computers and design technologies that allow humans to interact with computers in novel ways.

Affiliated Faculty

583 Baldy Hall

Phone: (716) 645-7787

[email protected]

Research Topics: Computer Science Education; Curriculum and Instruction; Information Science; Access and Equity; Cultural Competence and Humility; Information behavior; Engineering Education; Information practices; Cognition; Curriculum and Instruction; Diversity; Digital Media and Learning; Environmental Education; Information literacy; Digital literacy; ESL / ENL / Bilingual

311 Davis Hall

Phone: (716) 645-4733

[email protected]

Research Topics: Emerging network technologies and security, machine learning for security and privacy, security and privacy in IoT and CPS, security and privacy in social networks, usable privacy and security

336 Davis Hall

Phone: (716) 645-1601

[email protected]

Research Topics: Emerging biometrics; human-computer interaction and cognitive science; cyber-physical security; neuromorphic computing; mobile and wearable computing; low-power sensing

335 Davis Hall

Phone: (716) 645-0682

[email protected]

Research Topics: Obtaining a better understanding of the dynamics and cognitive representations of stereotypes and prejudice, and their inter-relationships with sociocultural structure and behavior

305 Davis Hall

Phone: (716) 645-1588

[email protected]

Research Topics: Human behavior modeling; sign language understanding; probabilistic modeling

312 Davis Hall

Phone: (716) 645-4751

[email protected]

Research Topics: Future generation communication systems; optical networks; survivable/resilient protocols; wireless and mobile networks (including sensor networks)

330 Davis Hall

Phone: (716) 645-4748

[email protected]

Research Topics: Embedded and cyber-physical systems; body sensor networks; biomedical signal analytics; telemedicine; human-computer interaction

Research Ranking

UB's institutional reputation in the field of computer science has improved dramatically over the last decade.  By the most valid measure, our national ranking has risen from 50th to 29th .

The Computing Research Association (CRA) is a leading computer science advocacy organization whose mission is to unite industry, academia, and government.  The CRA recommends CSRankings: Computer Science Rankings as the best institutional ranking agency, preferring it over the traditional standard, the US News and World Report Best Graduate Schools report.

The CRA supports the CSRankings report because its evaluative criteria meet the ' GOTO ' standard:

Good data .  Data have been cleaned and curated.

Open .  Data available, regarding attributes measured, at least for verification.  

Transparent .  Process and methodologies are entirely transparent.

Objective .  Based on measurable attributes.

For more details, see Department Rankings , by H.V. Jagadish .

According to CSRankings (2008-2018) , UB's 10-year computer science institutional ranking is #50 in the nation, tied with the University of Central Florida and the University of North Carolina .

According to CSRankings (2015-2018) , UB's three-year computer science institutional ranking is #34 in the nation, making our peer institution the University of Virginia .

According to CSRankings (2017-2018) , UB's one-year computer science institutional ranking is #29 in the nation, putting us in company with Harvard , Johns Hopkins , Ohio State , and Penn State .

Research Highlights

Proposed software solution could extend battery life, reduce energy consumption.

Ken Regan develops algorithms that detect cheating in chess games.  His software compares a player's moves to a database of the player's typical gameplay, then makes an assessment of the statistical likelihood of cheating.  Dr. Regan frequently consults at international chess matches.

Wenyao Xu created AutoDietary — software that tracks the unique sounds produced by food as people chew it.  AutoDietary, placed near the throat by a necklace delivery system developed at China's Northeastern University, helps users measure their caloric intake.

Professor and Chair Chunming Qiao leads Instrument for Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Evaluation and Experimentation (iCAVE2) —a multidisciplinary academic-industrial partnership that's helping to make self-driving cars safer, cleaner, and more efficient.

Wenyao Xu leads an NSF-funded program that detects 3D printing data security vulnerabilities by using smart phones to analyze electromagnetic and acoustic waves.  Kui Ren and Chi Zhou are co-authors.

Karthik Dantu owns the vision component of the RoboBee Initiative , led by the National Science Foundation and Harvard University.  The "eyes" that Dr. Dantu is integrating are laser-powered sensors that enable the mechanical bees to orient themselves in space.

An article on PhysOrg reports UB has received a $584,469 grant from the National Science Foundation to create a tool designed to work with the existing computing infrastructure to boost data transfer speeds by more than 10 times, and quotes Tevfik Kosar , associate professor of computer science.

Recognitions

Deborah Chung and Venu Govindaraju will receive the UB President’s Medal,   recognizing extraordinary service to the university.

Jinjun Xiong, SUNY Empire Innovation Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, has been elevated to fellow in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 

Awards acknowledge and provide system-wide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and the ongoing pursuit of excellence.

Atri Rudra has been named the first Katherine Johnson Chair in Artificial Intelligence, which was established by a generous gift from computer science alums D. Sivakumar, PhD ’96, and Uma Mahadevan, PhD ’98.

Siwei Lyu, SUNY Empire Innovation Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, is one of the world’s leading experts on deepfakes.

• Utility Menu

Human-Computer Interaction at Harvard SEAS

Welcome to hci at harvard seas.

Human-Computer Interaction is multi-disciplinary area that focuses on building and studying interactive technology. We build on knowledge and techniques from social sciences to understand human cognition, perception and behavior. We build on knowledge and tools from computer science to design and implement novel systems. 

You can learn more by taking HCI-related courses or getting involved in research .

You can also visit us on Twitter to learn more about the goings on at Harvard HCI.

Latest News

Nutrition Facts Quiz re-released

We have released an updated version of our Nutrition Facts Quiz .

How good is your nutrition knowledge? Can you tell if a meal is a significant source of protein, fat, or carbohydrates? Find out and compare yourself to others. Takes about 10 minutes.

How machine-learning recommendations influence clinician treatment selections: the example of the antidepressant selection

New-ish course: cs 96: (sociotechnical) system design projects.

This small, project-focused course tackles a different challenge each time it is offered. We have not yet finalized the topic for this fall, but we will definitely go after a societal problem that requires a sociotechnical solution, i.e., a solution that involves both a technical and a human component. There will be plenty opportunities to use our Computer Science skills, but we will need plenty of other expertise as well. 

See course web site for more...

• Schools & departments

Design Informatics, Human Computer Interaction and Data Visualisation

A list of potential topics for PhD students in the area of Design Informatics and Human Computer Interaction.

Interactive Network Visualization

Supervisor:  Benjamin Bach

This PhD topic investigates interactive and visual means to better understand complex network data. Visualization allows to understand information otherwise hidden in data, statistics or mathematical models. Visualization is a powerful means to understand complexity, to create hypotheses and to inform further research. As no visualization is able to capture the entire picture, interactive exploration and manipulation of the visualization can further support an analysts workflow. The goal of this thesis is to create novel information visualization and interaction techniques to help people understand network and relational data.

More about Interactive Network Visualisation

Interactive Data Visualization for Immersive Augmented Reality

The latest generation of augmented reality (AR) display-technology has reached a level of consumer-readiness, including head-mounted and stereoscopic display (e.g. Microsoft HoloLens), as well as developer support. This technology is of interest in the visualization of 3D-networks of biological data such as, derived from gene expression measures, chromatin structures, and brain-connectivity networks.  Besides an improved perception of depth, immersive augmented reality will likely benefit collaboration and interaction with existing display and interaction technologies (projectors, screens, mouse, keyboard). The main question is how these technologies can play well together in order to support a seamless workflow and improved analytical paradigm.

In particular, this project will investigate creative approaches to support workflows around biological data, using a hybrid setup of screen and holograms (Microsoft HoloLens). Which data needs to be visualized as hologram? How to interact with holograms? How to visualize that data? Which data is to be shown on the screen? How to couple both environments to provide for a smooth workflow?

PaxVis: Visualizing Peace and Conflict Data

Supervisor: Benjamin Bach

I n collaboration with the School of Law (University of Edinburgh) and the College of Art, this topic investigates the role of data analytics and visualization in the domain of peace negotiations and conflict. For example peace negotiations are available as huge data base of tagged and untagged documents capturing decisions an progress; news and social media provide data on the evolution of conflicts; organizations provide data about peace indicators and conflict. In an interdisciplinary environment, the student will help shaping emerging research around interactive visualization, analytics tools, online platforms, storytelling, and public outreach, supporting policy makers, NGOs, peace negotiators and researchers.     Preliminary work: https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=3290607.3313070

Bridging Creativity and Digital Fluency Education

Supervisor: Susan Lechelt

Understanding Digital Fluency Challenges for Creative Practitioners

Sustainable hci and sustainable interaction design for longer-lived technologies.

In the face of the climate emergency, there is an urgent need to rethink how we design, make and use technology within environmental limits. I welcome project proposals focused on understanding issues mediating the longevity of physical-digital technologies (e.g., connected devices, IoT) and informing the development of more sustainable technologies. For example, proposals could concern working with communities of repair to understand the competencies that are important for repairing electronics, then investigating how these competencies might be taught in learning environments (e.g., makerspaces or classrooms). Proposals could also be design-focused, for example investigating sustainable design processes and developing prototypes of more sustainable technologies that foreground longevity and repairability.

Exploring the Intersection of Digital Wellbeing and Generative AI 

Supervisor: Tara Capel

The field of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI) has seen rapid advancements, raising questions about its potential impact on wellbeing and its ethical implications. On the one hand, generative AI provides access to a vast amount of information on topics related to health and wellbeing and can process and generate content across modalities such as text, image, and audio. This offers a range of potential benefits for wellbeing, including personalised content creation, mental health support, wellbeing tracking and analysis, and enhanced opportunities for self-expression and creativity. However, generative AI is also the source of many wellbeing challenges, ranging from an overreliance on technology for wellbeing support, privacy concerns, bias and discrimination, to perpetuating misinformation, disinformation, and harm through the creation of deepfakes and inaccurate information. 

I welcome project proposals focused on this intersection of generative AI and digital wellbeing. In particular, qualitative approaches to understand how diverse groups of people/communities use and encounter generative AI, opportunities and concerns around its use, and how they might re-imagine or appropriate its use through co-design and speculative design methods. This human-computer interaction/design informatics research project will consider how we might design generative AI that supports wellbeing in a way that is ethical, interactive and contestable. 

Research Topic: Human-Computer Interaction

The robot rights and responsibilities scale: development and validation of a….

The discussion and debates surrounding the robot rights topic demonstrate vast differences in the possible philosophical, ethical, and legal approaches…

Excitation Transfer Across Displays of Different Immersive Quality

Full Title: Excitation Transfer Across Displays of Different Immersive Quality: Investigating the Temporal Dynamics of Intra-Stimulus Arousal Escalation and Decay.…

Technology, Privacy, and Sexting: Mediated Sex

Technology, Privacy, and Sexting: Mediated Sex takes a scientific approach to sexting, using both quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate why…

The Power of Personal Ontologies: Individual Traits Prevail Over Robot Traits…

This study examines facets of robot humanization, defined as how people think of robots as social and human-like entities through…

Channel Affordances for Sexting: Social Presence Relates to Improved Self-Esteem, Sexual…

Sexting involves the sharing of sexually explicit material, including photos and text-based messages, with another person via smartphones and computers.…

Effects of Congruity on the State of User Presence in Virtual…

The present study investigates how the user state of presence is affected by contingencies in the design of virtual environments.…

Capturing Social Presence: Concept Explication Through an Empirical Analysis of Social…

Initially the province of telecommunication and early computer-mediated communication (CMC) literature, multiple systematic reviews suggest “social presence” is now used…

Screenertia: Understanding “Stickiness” of Media Through Temporal Changes in Screen Use

Descriptions of moment-by-moment changes in attention contribute critical elements to theory and practice about how people process media. We introduce…

• Help & FAQ

Human-computer interaction, usability, and workflow

• Section of Clinical and Translational Research
• Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences (DBBS)
• DBBS - Biomedical Informatics and Data Science
• Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS)
• Institute for Informatics, Data Science and Biostatistics (I2DB)

Research output : Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

The widespread adoption and use of health information has transformed healthcare for clinicians and patients alike. The vast potential of these technologies have not yet been fully realized. Health technologies-ranging from personal health devices to electronic health records-have been riddled with issues related to usability, increasing the potential for adverse and unintended consequences. In this chapter, we provide an overview of human computer interaction issues and their theoretical foundations. This chapter provides an overview of methods that can be used to address the usability issues. It also describes efforts to understand technology-mediated workflow. The repertoire of available methods, coupled with the growing body of studies, constitutes a significant body of knowledge that can inform user-centered design and lead to enhanced user experiences.

• Cognitive engineering
• Cognitive task analysis
• Cognitive walkthrough
• Distributed cognition
• EHR-mediated workflow
• Inspection methods
• Usability testing

Access to Document

• 10.1007/978-3-030-58721-5_5

Other files and links

• Link to publication in Scopus

Fingerprint

• Workflow Medicine & Life Sciences 100%
• Human computer interaction Engineering & Materials Science 90%
• Health Engineering & Materials Science 66%
• Technology Medicine & Life Sciences 59%
• Biomedical Technology Medicine & Life Sciences 57%
• Electronic Health Records Medicine & Life Sciences 46%
• User centered design Engineering & Materials Science 29%
• Delivery of Health Care Medicine & Life Sciences 27%

T1 - Human-computer interaction, usability, and workflow

AU - Patel, Vimla L.

AU - Kaufman, David R.

AU - Kannampallil, Thomas

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021.

PY - 2021/7/2

Y1 - 2021/7/2

N2 - The widespread adoption and use of health information has transformed healthcare for clinicians and patients alike. The vast potential of these technologies have not yet been fully realized. Health technologies-ranging from personal health devices to electronic health records-have been riddled with issues related to usability, increasing the potential for adverse and unintended consequences. In this chapter, we provide an overview of human computer interaction issues and their theoretical foundations. This chapter provides an overview of methods that can be used to address the usability issues. It also describes efforts to understand technology-mediated workflow. The repertoire of available methods, coupled with the growing body of studies, constitutes a significant body of knowledge that can inform user-centered design and lead to enhanced user experiences.

AB - The widespread adoption and use of health information has transformed healthcare for clinicians and patients alike. The vast potential of these technologies have not yet been fully realized. Health technologies-ranging from personal health devices to electronic health records-have been riddled with issues related to usability, increasing the potential for adverse and unintended consequences. In this chapter, we provide an overview of human computer interaction issues and their theoretical foundations. This chapter provides an overview of methods that can be used to address the usability issues. It also describes efforts to understand technology-mediated workflow. The repertoire of available methods, coupled with the growing body of studies, constitutes a significant body of knowledge that can inform user-centered design and lead to enhanced user experiences.

KW - Cognitive engineering

KW - Cognitive task analysis

KW - Cognitive walkthrough

KW - Distributed cognition

KW - EHR-mediated workflow

KW - Inspection methods

KW - Usability

KW - Usability testing

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85149621030&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-030-58721-5_5

DO - 10.1007/978-3-030-58721-5_5

M3 - Chapter

AN - SCOPUS:85149621030

SN - 9783030587208

BT - Biomedical Informatics

PB - Springer International Publishing