Dominic DiFranzo

Dominic DiFranzo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at Lehigh University. He specializes in AI ethics, social media safety, and digital literacy education. His research focuses on leveraging conversational AI to combat cyberbullying and misinformation, with a particular emphasis on youth empowerment and ethical design principles. DiFranzo leads interdisciplinary projects funded by grants such as the $5 million NSF grant for the Deception Awareness and Resilience Training (DART) initiative.

Education:

• B.S., Computer Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2008
• Ph.D., Computer Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2015

Research Interests: DiFranzo’s work addresses critical challenges in social media ecosystems. He investigates how AI can mitigate harmful behaviors such as cyberbullying, misinformation dissemination, and algorithmic bias. His projects emphasize user-centric design, leveraging participatory approaches with teens and educators. Recent studies include the development of chatbots to improve digital literacy and the analysis of social norms influencing online behavior.

Grants & Projects:

• NSF $5M DART Grant (2022): Focuses on deception detection and resilience training.
• Social Media Co-Pilot: AI-based intervention tool for teens.

Labs & Teams: DiFranzo collaborates with interdisciplinary teams across computer science, education, and social sciences to advance socially responsible technology solutions.