Elaine Huang

Elaine Huang is an Associate Professor of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Head of the People and Computing Lab at the University of Zurich's Department of Informatics. She holds a PhD in Computer Science from Georgia Institute of Technology (2006). Her career includes prior roles as Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary and Senior Staff Researcher at Motorola Labs.

Her research focuses on the interplay between technology and human behavior, particularly in areas of gender equality in tech, AI ethics, sustainable HCI design, and accessible technologies. She critiques systemic biases in AI training data and advocates for inclusive design processes integrating Hofstede's cultural dimensions. Her work also explores trust dynamics in sharing economies and predictive health technologies.

Huang emphasizes empirical studies over intuition, stressing the need for data-driven insights into disruptive technologies like ChatGPT. She leads initiatives to improve STEM PDF accessibility and designs tools for chronic condition management through incident cards. Her lab develops frameworks addressing obsolescence in smart homes and sustainability in digital interfaces.

Awards and recognitions focus on her contributions to HCI ethics and gender studies. She advises students to proactively shape their academic trajectories and leverage institutional resources strategically.