Lydia Manikonda

Lydia Manikonda is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Information Systems and Web Science at the Lally School of Management, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). She is also affiliated with the AIRC (Artificial Intelligence Research Center) at RPI. Her research focuses on developing intelligent decision-making models using data from social media, online forums, and news articles to address challenges in business, public health, and technology. Her work has been recognized with awards, including the Best Reviewer Award at ICWSM 2016 and the Outstanding Demonstration Award at ICAPS 2014.

Dr. Manikonda holds a PhD in Computer Science from Arizona State University (2019). Her research interests span interpretable machine learning, privacy in AI systems, social media analytics, and the societal impacts of technology. She has published extensively on topics like misinformation detection, ethical AI design, and pandemic-related behavioral shifts.

• Education: PhD in Computer Science, Arizona State University (2019)

Her recent work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to tackle real-world problems, such as predicting intimate partner violence using machine learning and analyzing anti-Asian hate discourse on Reddit during the pandemic. She collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to bridge gaps between technical innovation and societal needs.

• Key Awards:
  • Best Reviewer Award at ICWSM 2016
  • Outstanding Demonstration Award at ICAPS 2014

Dr. Manikonda's research also explores anthropomorphism in voice assistants, temporal privacy concerns, and the role of emotional cues in medical crowdfunding platforms. She actively participates in academic leadership roles, such as organizing the Web Science 2024 conference.

Her lab focuses on actionable domain models and data-driven decision-making, with applications in healthcare, technology ethics, and public policy. She mentors students in these areas and is committed to advancing AI for societal good.