Meet the members of the HATLab. Our members include a wide variety of people including graduate researchers and undergraduate research assistants. Check out this page to see who’s working on the newest research on humans and technology.
Directors
Dr. Kelly Caine
caine@clemson.edu
Kelly Caine is Director of the Humans and Technology lab (HATLab) and Associate Professor in the Human-Centered Computing Division of the School of Computing at Clemson University. She and her team conduct research on usable privacy and security, health informatics, wearable computing, and aging-in-place all with a focus on human factors issues related to designing privacy-enhanced systems. Dr. Caine has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of South Carolina and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Engineering Psychology from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
caine@clemson.edu
Kelly Caine is Director of the Humans and Technology lab (HATLab) and Associate Professor in the Human-Centered Computing Division of the School of Computing at Clemson University. She and her team conduct research on usable privacy and security, health informatics, wearable computing, and aging-in-place all with a focus on human factors issues related to designing privacy-enhanced systems. Dr. Caine has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of South Carolina and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Engineering Psychology from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Dr. Bart Knijnenburg
bartk@clemson.edu
Bart Knijnenburg is Co-Director of the HATLab and Assistant Professor in the Human-Centered Computing Division of the School of Computing at Clemson University. He is a researcher on privacy decision-making and recommender systems. Dr. Knijnenburg has a BSc and MSc from Eindhoven University of Technology, a MHI from Carnegie Mellon University, and a PhD from the University of California, Irvine.
bartk@clemson.edu
Bart Knijnenburg is Co-Director of the HATLab and Assistant Professor in the Human-Centered Computing Division of the School of Computing at Clemson University. He is a researcher on privacy decision-making and recommender systems. Dr. Knijnenburg has a BSc and MSc from Eindhoven University of Technology, a MHI from Carnegie Mellon University, and a PhD from the University of California, Irvine.
Dr. Katie Park
jinkyup@clemson.edu
Katie Park is a Co-Director of the HATLab and Assistant Professor in the Human-Centered Computing Division of the School of Computing at Clemson University. She is also an affiliated faculty at Media Forensics Hub. She conducts research on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) to promote the online safety of vulnerable populations. Dr. Park has a Ph.D. in Information Science from Rutgers University and was a Postdoc in the Computer Science Department at Vanderbilt University.
jinkyup@clemson.edu
Katie Park is a Co-Director of the HATLab and Assistant Professor in the Human-Centered Computing Division of the School of Computing at Clemson University. She is also an affiliated faculty at Media Forensics Hub. She conducts research on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) to promote the online safety of vulnerable populations. Dr. Park has a Ph.D. in Information Science from Rutgers University and was a Postdoc in the Computer Science Department at Vanderbilt University.
Research Scientist
Emily Sidnam-Mauch
esidnam@clemson.edu
Emily Sidnam-Mauch is a Research Scientist for the HATLab. She researches how individual differences and technology affordances intersect to predict usage patterns and related outcomes for users of communication technologies, with an emphasis on understanding social media and digital well-being. Dr. Sidnam-Mauch has a Ph.D. and M.A. in Communication from the University of Southern California, an M.A. in Communication from Purdue University, and a B.A. in Communication from Biola University.
esidnam@clemson.edu
Emily Sidnam-Mauch is a Research Scientist for the HATLab. She researches how individual differences and technology affordances intersect to predict usage patterns and related outcomes for users of communication technologies, with an emphasis on understanding social media and digital well-being. Dr. Sidnam-Mauch has a Ph.D. and M.A. in Communication from the University of Southern California, an M.A. in Communication from Purdue University, and a B.A. in Communication from Biola University.
Graduate Research Assistants
Cheng Guo
chengg@clemson.edu
Cheng Guo is a Human-Centered Computing Ph.D. student at Clemson. He has a Bachelor’s in E-commerce from Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, a Bachelor’s in E-commerce from Swinburne University of Technology, and a M.S. in Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to joining the HATLab, he worked as a researcher at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. His research interests are in Usable Security & Privacy and Health Informatics.
chengg@clemson.edu
Cheng Guo is a Human-Centered Computing Ph.D. student at Clemson. He has a Bachelor’s in E-commerce from Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, a Bachelor’s in E-commerce from Swinburne University of Technology, and a M.S. in Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to joining the HATLab, he worked as a researcher at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. His research interests are in Usable Security & Privacy and Health Informatics.
Errol Francis
IIerrolf@g.clemson.edu
Errol Francis II is a 2nd year Ph.D. student in the Computer Science Division of the School of Computing at Clemson University. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from Pomona College. His research interests are in medical artificial intelligence and decision making.
Ananya Guptaananyag@clemson.edu
Ananya Gupta is a PhD student in the Human-Centered Computing Division of the School of Computing at Clemson University. She joined the HATLab in the Fall of 2020 and is working under the supervision of Dr. Bart Knijnenburg. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC in the Spring of 2020. She is interested in usable privacy and security in online social media networks and recommender systems. Ananya grew up in Rautahat, Nepal.
Heba Alyhaly@g.clemson.edu
Heba Aly is a Ph.D. student at Clemson University’s School of Computing. She holds a Bsc. and a Msc. in Computer Engineering from Arab Academy for Science and Technology University, Egypt. Her research focuses on privacy decision making, social media post translation, mobile application development.
Heba Aly is a Ph.D. student at Clemson University’s School of Computing. She holds a Bsc. and a Msc. in Computer Engineering from Arab Academy for Science and Technology University, Egypt. Her research focuses on privacy decision making, social media post translation, mobile application development.
Sushmita
Khansushmik@g.clemson.edu
Sushmita is a PhD student in Human Centered Computing at Clemson University researching adolescents privacy knowledge and data use to explain how their data is used in algorithmic decision-making and to afford them control of their data. Her work is motivated by the goal of creating a equitable and safe online systems. She has a B.Sc. in Computer Science and an M.Sc. in Math.
Mina Mbodjiambodj@g.clemson.edu
Mina Mbodj is a Doctoral student in Human-Centered Computing with a background in Economics and Political Science. Her research interests center around Behavioral Science informed User Experience Design, Computational Game Theory, as well as Digital Currency Platform Design and Security.
Shahan Mehtab
Iqbalmehtabi@g.clemson.edu
Shahan (Mehtab Iqbal) is a Ph.D. student in Human-Centered Computing at Clemson University. He cares about accessibility and inclusion and aims to achieve this by building transparent AI system development tools that afford policy adherence. Before graduate school, Shahan was a software engineer building NLP-driven solutions powering eDiscovery platforms. He holds an M.S. in mathematics and a B.Sc. in computer science.
Oluwafemi
Oshooosho@g.clemson.edu
Oluwafemi Osho is a Ph.D. student in Human-Centered Computing. His research interests cover usable privacy and security as well as human aspects of cybersecurity. Femi holds a B.Tech. in Mathematics/Computer Science and an M.Tech. in Mathematics from Federal University of Technology, Minna, and an M.S. in Technical Communication from Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Han Alzughbi
halzugh(at)clemson(dot)edu
Han holds an M.Sc. in Computer Science and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Human-Centered Computing. His research focuses on designing technology that fosters a usable, privacy-preserving, secure, and trustworthy digital environment for users.
Beyond research, Han serves as the President of the School of Computing Graduate Student Association, where he leads initiatives to enhance the academic and professional growth of graduate students.
halzugh(at)clemson(dot)edu
Han holds an M.Sc. in Computer Science and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Human-Centered Computing. His research focuses on designing technology that fosters a usable, privacy-preserving, secure, and trustworthy digital environment for users.
Beyond research, Han serves as the President of the School of Computing Graduate Student Association, where he leads initiatives to enhance the academic and professional growth of graduate students.
Hansen Lee
hansenl@g.clemson.edu
Hansen Lee is pursuing his Ph.D. in Human-Centered Computing at Clemson University, where he also completed his Master’s degree in Public Relations. His research is centered around privacy decision-making, AI education, and the interaction between humans and AI.
hansenl@g.clemson.edu
Hansen Lee is pursuing his Ph.D. in Human-Centered Computing at Clemson University, where he also completed his Master’s degree in Public Relations. His research is centered around privacy decision-making, AI education, and the interaction between humans and AI.
Catherine Barwulor
cbarwul@g.clemson.edu
Catherine Barwulor is a Human-centered Computing PhD student at Clemson University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her research interests include privacy and security, usable authentication, digital inequality, and computer-mediated experiences.
cbarwul@g.clemson.edu
Catherine Barwulor is a Human-centered Computing PhD student at Clemson University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her research interests include privacy and security, usable authentication, digital inequality, and computer-mediated experiences.
Laila Shafiee
lshafie@g.clemson.edu
Laila Shafiee is a Ph.D. student at Clemson University’s School of Computing. She holds a Master of Information Technology Management from St. Ambrose University, USA, and a Bachelor of Home Economy and Art Education from King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Arabia. Her research focuses on recommender systems.
lshafie@g.clemson.edu
Laila Shafiee is a Ph.D. student at Clemson University’s School of Computing. She holds a Master of Information Technology Management from St. Ambrose University, USA, and a Bachelor of Home Economy and Art Education from King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Arabia. Her research focuses on recommender systems.
Gayatri Tatineni
gtatine@g.clemson.edu
Gayatri is a second-year master’s student in Clemson’s School of Computing and a Graduate Research Assistant specializing in machine learning and AI. Her research focuses on fine-tuning large language models to reduce bias and enhance chatbots. She is passionate about recommender systems, content moderation, and data-driven decision-making.
gtatine@g.clemson.edu
Gayatri is a second-year master’s student in Clemson’s School of Computing and a Graduate Research Assistant specializing in machine learning and AI. Her research focuses on fine-tuning large language models to reduce bias and enhance chatbots. She is passionate about recommender systems, content moderation, and data-driven decision-making.
Alumni
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Dr. Lijie Guo
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Dr. Daricia Wilkinson
Now at Microsoft |
Dr. Reza Ghaiumy Anaraky
Now at NYU |
Ryan Preston
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Ayana Monroe
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Dr. Marie Jarrell
Now at IMT Atlantique |
Dr. Paritosh Bahirat
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Dr. Byron Lowens
Now at University of Michigan |
Dr. Yifang Li
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Dr. Moses Namara
Now at Apple |
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Dr. Vivian Motti
Now at George Mason |
Dr. Melva James
Now at MIT Lincoln Lab |
Dr. Mahdi Nasrullah Al-Ameen
Now at Utah State |
David Cherry
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Cayden Wagner
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Siva Likitha Valluru
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John Xue
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Micheala Bennekin
Now at Boeing |
Jing LYU
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Shahla Farzana
Now at UIC |
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Pratitee Sinha
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Abhilash Menon
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Katlin Helfter
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MaryJo May
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Brian Justice
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Jordan Minoda
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Jenna Darrah
Now at NCSU |
Ravi Teja Kandula
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Sameer Singh
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Amanda Todd
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Darrell Best
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Emily Matthews
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Subina Saini
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Hayley Mcconnell
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Brianne Campbell
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Kimberley Shappell
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Omar Mayar
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Peter Barnett
Now at Boeing |
Keanau Ormson
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Dane Smith
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Caitlyn Dowenen
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Spencer Kohn
Now at George Mason |
Zack Robinson
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Megan Holder
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Justin Stephens
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Brodrick Stigall
Now at University of Memphis |
Claire Gendron
Now at Deloitte |
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