Koustuv Saha

Koustuv Saha is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), affiliated with the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science. He holds a B.Tech (Hons.) from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (2012) and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Georgia Institute of Technology (2021). His research focuses on Social Computing, Computational Social Science, and FATE (Fairness, Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics in AI), with a strong emphasis on human-centered machine learning and wellbeing analysis using digital data.

Before joining UIUC, he was a Senior Researcher at Microsoft Research Montreal’s FATE group and conducted internships at Snap Research, Microsoft Research, and the Max Planck Institute. His work bridges computer science with psychology and sociology, addressing societal challenges like mental health, workplace wellbeing, and algorithmic ethics. Notable achievements include the 2021 Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award from Georgia Tech and media coverage in outlets like the New York Times and CBC Radio.

His research interests span computational social science, causal inference, and ethical AI deployment. Recent projects explore content moderation using small language models, the impact of AI chatbots on mental health, and workplace wellbeing technologies. He leads UIUC’s OnCARE lab, advancing interdisciplinary studies on AI reflections and societal impacts.

• Education: B.Tech (IIT Kharagpur, 2012), Ph.D. (Georgia Tech, 2021)
• Awards: Outstanding Dissertation Award, Foley Scholarship, Snap Fellowship, ICWSM Study Design Award
• Key Themes: Social media analysis, wellbeing sensing, algorithmic fairness, and human-AI collaboration

His publications address topics like pandemic mental health, AI ethics, and workplace monitoring. Collaborations with organizations like Fred Hutch Cancer Research and Microsoft highlight his industry-academic synergy. Future work includes recruiting PhD students for Fall 2025 and advancing multi-sectoral mental health innovation frameworks.