Nicola Dell

I am an Associate Professor at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech and in the Information Science Department at Cornell University. I advise PhD students in Information Science and Computer Science. At Cornell, I co-founded and co-direct the Clinic to End Tech Abuse. I also co-lead the Initiative on Home Care Work in the Center for Applied Research on Work (CAROW) and was the 2023 Siegel Faculty Impact Fellow in the Public Interest Technology (PiTech) Initiative. I am the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship (2024), SIGCHI Societal Impact Award (2023), and NSF CAREER Award (2018). I earned my Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington.

I investigate the impact of digital technologies on underserved communities and build systems and interventions that make our computing-mediated world safer and more equitable for everyone. My research approach involves (1) qualitative research to identify and understand the challenges faced by underserved communities; (2) measurement studies and analyses of existing technologies and usage patterns; (3) designing and building novel socio-technical systems that empower people to overcome challenges they face; (4) evaluating the systems I build through fieldwork and deployments with underserved communities; and (5) engaging with companies, governments, and non-profit organizations to transition the results of my work into practice. I believe that working "backwards", from concrete, real-world problems to new theories and methodological frameworks, maximizes the potential for near-term societal impact while advancing the foundations of HCI research.