Maria Rodriguez

Maria Rodriguez is a Principal Research Scientist in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University at Buffalo's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Her research explores systems of care across technology and human services, focusing on algorithmic decision-making and ethical AI. She investigates how technology impacts marginalized groups and reorients systems toward outlier cases using computational social science approaches.

Education includes:

• PhD, Social Welfare, University of Washington (2016)
• MSW, Macro Social Work Practice, University of Pennsylvania (2010)
• BA, Clinical Counseling and Child Psychology, Alfred University (2005)

Her research interests span computational social science, ethical AI, and social policy, with publications exploring digital transformation in social services, structural topic modeling, and technology's role in social justice. Recent work examines generative AI in education, neighborhood change prediction, and online discourse analysis.

Awards include the Anthem Award for Human and Civil Rights (2024), EAAMO Best Reviewer (2021), and UW Presidential Dissertation Fellowship (2016).