Nicola Dell

I am an Associate Professor at Cornell Tech and part of the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute. I advise PhD students in Cornell's  Information Science and Computer Science departments. At Cornell Tech, 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 computing technologies on underserved communities and build systems and interventions that make our digitally-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 systems and interventions 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 computer science and HCI research.