Pablo E. Paredes Castro

Pablo E. Paredes Castro is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Maryland with an appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS). His research focuses on the intersection of technology and human behavior to improve mental fitness, productivity, and well-being through interventions like haptic cues from furniture and passive sensing systems. He leads the Pervasive Wellbeing Technology Lab, relocated from Stanford University's School of Medicine, which integrates design, engineering, and behavioral science to create health-focused interfaces and data-driven systems.

Education: PhD in Computer Science from UC Berkeley (2015), with internships at Microsoft Research and Google. Postdoctoral research at Stanford University's Computer Science Department. Previously, Clinical Assistant Professor in Stanford’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

Research collaborations include partnerships with public health officials, car companies, and furniture designers to develop mobility-enhancing products. His work emphasizes proactive health care rather than reactive treatments, leveraging computing for behavioral and emotional interventions. The lab’s projects include stress-reduction systems via devices measuring tactile interactions and systems analyzing user productivity patterns.

At UMD, he aims to leverage advanced computing resources and interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in computer vision and natural language processing. No specific scientific awards are mentioned, though his work has notable industry and academic impact.

Labs/Teams: Pervasive Wellbeing Technology Lab (relocated to UMD). His research spans multidisciplinary areas, including interventions for procrastination, stress reduction, and usable security through wearable and embedded systems.