Hello! I’m Smirity

Thank you for visiting my page. If you find my work interesting, feel free to reach out. I am always happy to connect and chat more :)

I am graduating this summer and on the job market seeking research-oriented roles in computer science, information science, tech policy or related fields.

I am a fifth year PhD candidate (ABD) in the School of Information Sciences, at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, advised by Dr. Yang Wang and Dr. Madelyn Sanfilippo. I also work closely with Dr. Yixin Zou at the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy (MPI-SP) in Bochum, Germany. Previously, I had a wonderful opportunity to work as a research intern at the MPI-SP, for the Spring and Summer 2024, and Summer 2023. My research lies at the intersection of human-computer interaction, user privacy and security, and tech policy. I use both qualitative and quantitative methods to answer the question: How can we ensure that people’s experiences with emerging technologies are safe, trustworthy, and empowering? I have worked in five broad areas of research:

• Digital Trust and Safety
• AI Governance
• Privacy and Security for Majority World
• Accessibility Computing (Privacy and Security)
• Internet of Things (IoT) Privacy and Governance

Read more about my research interests here.

I am CIPP/US certified, with an interdisciplinary background in law and technology, which informs my research work from both policy and social computing dimensions. Previously I worked as a Privacy Consultant at Ernst & Young (EY), focusing on developing, managing, and auditing privacy programs for tech sector clients in the silicon valley and greater seattle area. My CV is available here.

Selected Honors and Awards

• Google Academic Research Award on Trust and Safety (2024)
• Meta Research Award on Global South Citizens’ Privacy Perceptions (2021)
• IAPP Best Privacy Paper Award (2021, 2019)
• John R. Weitzel Memorial Award Scholar 2019 for Information Systems Research

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