Maitraye Das

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I am an Assistant Professor in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences and the College of Arts, Media and Design at Northeastern University, where I direct the Technology, Equity, and Accessibility Lab. My research in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) focuses on making collaboration, content creation, and learning more accessible and equitable in ability-diverse teams. In this space, I have investigated how accessibility is created and negotiated in the contexts of collaborative writing, creative making, ideation, and remote work in teams involving blind, low-vision, and neurodivergent professionals. I take a community-centered research approach combining in-depth formative studies (e.g., contextual interviews, ethnographic field observations) with iterative system building and evaluation. Some examples of my recent work include developing spoken and non-speech auditory interactions for enhancing accessibility in asynchronous and synchronous collaborative writing, an audio-enhanced loom for accessible weaving, and an audio-tactile system for accessible pattern generation. I also draw on Disability Studies literature to critically interrogate what roles technologies play in reshaping group dynamics and redistributing the labor of creating access in ability-diverse teams. My research has been recognized with Best Paper Awards and Honorable Mentions at premier venues including ACM CHI, CSCW, ASSETS, and IEEE COMPSAC, the Daniel H. and Carolyn E. Ecroyd Fellowship, a CS PhD Student Research Award and several research grants from Northwestern University and the University of Washington. I was selected as a Rising Star in EECS in 2021.

Prior to Northeastern, I was a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE) at the University of Washington. I completed my PhD and MS in Technology and Social Behavior (dual degree in Computer Science and Communication) from Northwestern University, where I worked with Darren Gergle and Anne Marie Piper. Previously, I received a BS in Computer Science and Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and worked as a research intern at Microsoft Research and a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at United International University, Bangladesh.

Apart from academic activities, I have always been passionate about music. I also like traveling and roaming around new places. Now and then I try to get a break from my busy schedule and set out for a tour with my friends and family.

For Prospective Students!

I am looking for 1-2 PhD students interested in the areas of HCI and accessibility to join our lab at Northeastern University. Visit our lab website for more information. Send me an email with your CV and a short description of your research interests if you want to discuss opportunities with me. Also, apply to the PhD program in Computer Science or Interdisciplinary Design and Media at Northeastern and mention my name as one of the faculty members you are interested in working with. We also have openings for undergrads or master's students currently enrolled at Northeastern University. Feel free to reach out!

Name Pronunciation

Moy-trey-ee (Maitraye) Daash (Das). Maitraye means friendly in Bangla. Click the audio player below to listen to the pronunciation of my name.

Pronouns: She/her

Recent News

Publications

Please refer to my Google Scholar page for a full list with citations.

Peer-Reviewed Journal and Conference Papers
Book Chapter
Workshops Co-organized
Magazine Articles
Selected Workshop Papers, Posters, and Doctoral Consortia

CV

Click here to download my complete CV

Appointment
Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
  • Assistant Professor | Khoury College of Computer Sciences and Department of Art + Design, College of Arts, Media & Design

Education
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
  • PhD in Technology and Social Behavior | August 2022
  • MS in Technology and Social Behavior | March 2021

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
  • BS in Computer Science and Engineering with Honors & Magna cum laude | September 2015

Research Experience
  • Postdoctoral Scholar | Center for Research & Education on Accessible Technology & Experiences (CREATE) and Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering | University of Washington, Seattle, WA | September 2022 - August 2023
    Worked with Heather Feldner, Julie Kientz, Leah Findlater, and James Fogarty, among others
  • Graduate Research Assistant | Northwestern University | Advised by Darren Gergle and Anne Marie Piper | Fall 2017 - Summer 2022
  • Research Intern | Ability Team, Microsoft Research, USA | Summer 2020
  • Graduate Researcher | Northwestern University | Mentored by Brent Hecht | Fall 2017 - Summer 2018
  • Researcher | Western Washington University, USA | Mentored by Moushumi Sharmin and Shameem Ahmed | Summer 2017
  • Undergraduate Researcher | Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology | Advised by Tanzima Hashem | 2014 - 2017

Awards, Honors, & Grants
  • Postdoc Research Award ($10,000) | Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington | 2022-23
  • Advanced Rehabilitation Research and Training (ARRT) Postdoctoral Fellowship | UW Center for Research & Education on Accessible Technology & Experiences | Funding: NIDILRR | 2022-23
  • Invited article in Communications of the ACM Research Highlights | 2022
  • Donald H. and Carolyn E. Ecroyd Fellowship | Dept of Communication Studies, Northwestern University | 2022
  • Rising Star in EECS | Organized by Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 2021
  • Best Paper Award | ACM CSCW 2021
  • Recognition for Contribution to Diversity & Inclusion (Paper) | ACM CSCW 2021
  • Best Paper Nomination | ACM ASSETS 2021
  • PhD Student Research Award | Dept of CS, Northwestern University | 2021
  • Dissertation Research Grant | Northwestern University | 2021 ($1,500)
  • Graduate Research Grant | Northwestern University | 2021-22 ($2,999)
  • Finalist (top 20) | Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship 2020
  • Best Paper Honorable Mention Award | ACM CHI 2020
  • Best Paper Honorable Mention Award | ACM CSCW 2019
  • Special Recognition for Outstanding Review | ACM CHI (5 times), ACM CSCW (2 times), ACM DIS
  • Conference Travel Grant | Northwestern University | 2018-2022 (~$6,000)
  • Best Paper Award | IEEE COMPSAC 2018
  • Student Travel Grant | ACM UbiComp 2018 ($600)
  • Student Scholarship | Grace Hopper Celebration 2018
  • Best Undergraduate Thesis Award | Computer Science and Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology | 2015
  • Best Technical Poster | Grace Hopper Celebration India 2014
  • Student Scholarship | Grace Hopper Celebration India 2014
  • Dean’s List Award | Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology | 2011 - 2015
  • University Merit Scholarship | Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology | 2011 - 2014

Teaching Experience
  • Northeastern University, Department of Art + Design, CAMD | Spring 2024
    Lead instructor, ARTG 6600 - Experience Design Studio 2 (Section on Design and Accessibility)
  • Northwestern University, Department of Computer Science/ Communication Studies | Winter 2022
    Teaching Assistant in COMP_SCI 314/ COMM_ST 351 - Technology and Human Interaction
  • United International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh | October 2015 - March 2017
    Lecturer, Department of Computer Science and Engineering
    Courses taught: Digital Logic Design (theory and lab), Computer Architecture, Electrical Circuits, Assembly Programming Language

Contact

Northeastern University
Khoury College of Computer Sciences
Room # 923, 177 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115, USA

ma [dot] das [at] northeastern [dot] edu

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