Steve OneyView profile
Associate Professor
Steve Oney is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Information and Computer Science and Engineering (by courtesy). His research focuses on enabling and encouraging more people to write and customize computer programs by creating new programming tools and exploring usability issues in programming environments. With a strong background in Human-Computer Interaction, he bridges the gap between theoretical research and practical applications in programming education, accessibility, and developer tool design. Dr. Oney completed his Ph.D in Human-Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University's Human-Computer Interaction Institute under Professor Brad Myers and Dr. Joel Brandt. He also earned an M.Eng in Computer Science and SB degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics from MIT. His research spans multiple interconnected areas with a unifying theme of making programming more accessible and understandable. Key focus areas include programming education tools that help instructors understand student code at scale, web automation systems that simplify repetitive tasks, accessibility research addressing challenges faced by visually impaired programmers, and innovative VR programming environments. His work consistently emphasizes the human aspects of programming, exploring how tools can better support diverse programming needs and contexts. Dr. Oney's research output shows a strong trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated tools that integrate AI capabilities while maintaining a focus on human-centered design principles. Recent publications demonstrate growing emphasis on inclusive design, educational applications, and the integration of generative AI in programming environments. L@S 2024 Best Paper Award for CFlow CHI 2023 Honorable Mention for VizProg UIST 2024 Best Short Paper (EdCode) VL/HCC 2019 Best Short Paper Recognition for Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion (CSCW 2021) UMSI Excellence in Instruction Award (2021) University of Michigan President's Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015) As a mentor, Oney advises multiple Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers, with several successful graduates including Dr. Lei Zhang (June 2024). His research has secured over $1 million in funding from the National Science Foundation, Google, and Adobe, supporting projects that address critical challenges in programming education, accessibility, and developer tool design. He leads the Programming Tools Lab at the University of Michigan, where his team develops innovative tools that help programmers work more effectively. Current projects focus on AI-enhanced programming education, web automation, accessibility for diverse user groups, and next-generation programming environments for virtual and augmented reality.










