Alexandra Zafiroglu

Alexandra Zafiroglu is a Professor of Cybernetics at the School of Cybernetics within the ANU College of Systems & Society at Australian National University (ANU), and a Fellow of the ANU Futures scheme. She holds a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from Brown University (2004) and has extensive industry experience at Intel Corporation (2004–2019), where she contributed to R&D and commercialization across Advanced Research, Digital Home, and IoT divisions, co-inventing 11 patents. Her work bridges social sciences, technology ethics, and design, focusing on the role of social scientists in ensuring accountability and data rights in cyber-physical systems deployment. She is also known for her innovative 'crochet-and-felting' figures to foster human connection in remote work environments.

Her research interests include ethics in AI, gender-inclusive technology policy, and transdisciplinary research methodologies. Recent publications highlight themes such as complex systems design, AI governance in smart cities, and the future of libraries. She actively contributes to professional communities like the American Anthropological Association and the Ethnographic Praxis in Industry Community. Awards include recognition for her ANU Futures Fellowship.

While no formal advisees are listed, her impact spans industry-academia collaboration and policy advocacy. She advocates for human-centered approaches in technology development, emphasizing transparency and equity in emerging systems. Her interdisciplinary work reflects a commitment to merging anthropological insights with cutting-edge technological innovation.