Ehsan Hoque

Ehsan Hoque is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Rochester, leading the Rochester Human-Computer Interaction (ROC HCI) Group and part of the Institute for Human Health and the Environment. He holds a PhD from MIT (2013) and focuses on using AI to enhance human abilities, particularly in healthcare and education. His work spans AI-driven tools for diagnosing Parkinson’s disease, improving doctor-patient communication, and fostering creativity through social networks.

Key research areas include multimodal behavior analysis, AI in healthcare, and ethical AI applications. He has pioneered systems like MACH (conversation coach), LISSA (social skills training for autism), and SOPHIE (virtual patient training). His awards include the Presidential Early Career Award (2025), ACM UbiComp Impact Award (2023), and NSF CAREER Award (2018).

Ehsque has secured grants totaling over $9M, including an NIH Udall Center grant for Parkinson’s research. He advises numerous PhD students and teaches courses on HCI and AI in climate change. His lab’s innovations have led to real-world impacts, such as Microsoft’s Speaker Coach and AI tools for PTSD screening.