Crystal Lee

Crystal Lee is an Assistant Professor in Computational Media and Design at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with a joint appointment in the Schwarzman College of Computing and Comparative Media Studies/Writing. She also holds affiliations as a Faculty Associate at Harvard's Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society and a Senior Fellow at Mozilla's Responsible Computing Challenge (2022–2025).

• PhD in History, Anthropology, Science, Technology, and Society from MIT (2022)
• MA in History of Science, Stanford University (2016)
• BA (high honors) in History of Science, Stanford University (2015)

Her research focuses on the life-cycle of data representations, including data visualization, critical data studies, digital media, science and technology studies, human-computer interaction, and disability studies. She explores how datasets are curated, visualized, and manipulated, with particular emphasis on ethical tech, accessible systems, and technoableism.

Recent publications examine participatory AI, medical racism in computational diagnosis, decolonial AI, and global data governance. Notable awards include NSF grants, Honorable Mentions at EuroVis and CHI, and MIT and Harvard fellowships. She has advised students on projects related to accessible visualization, climate data, and participatory AI.

• Advisory Board Member, Disability Inclusion Fund (Borealis Philanthropy)
• Co-organizer, Toward Accessible Data Representations Workshop (IEEE Vis)
• Keynote: "On Data Justice and Accessible Systems" (Code4Lib, 2022)