Pardis Emami-Naeini

Pardis Emami-Naeini is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Duke University, with joint appointments in the Sanford School of Public Policy and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. She serves as the Director of the Duke Interdisciplinary Security, Privacy, and Interaction Research (InSPIre) lab and is a Duke Science and Technology Scholar. Her interdisciplinary work bridges computer science, public policy, and electrical engineering, with a focus on developing usable privacy and security solutions that empower individuals from diverse sociodemographic backgrounds.

Dr. Emami-Naeini earned her Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University in 2020, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Washington (2020-2022). Her research sits at the intersection of security, privacy, and human-computer interaction, with particular expertise in IoT security, technology-enabled abuse, reproductive health privacy, and smart city security. She has published extensively at flagship venues including IEEE S&P, CHI, CSCW, and SOUPS, with her work covered by major media outlets such as Wired and The Wall Street Journal.

Her recent publications reveal a clear trajectory toward examining the human dimensions of security and privacy in emerging technologies, from LLM chatbots for mental health to social robots and period-tracking apps in the post-Roe v. Wade landscape. Her work consistently emphasizes the need for privacy-aware design that accounts for diverse user needs and contexts, particularly for vulnerable populations.

• Google Systems and ML Research Gift Award (2025)
• Google AI Research Scholar Program Award (2024)
• Top 5% Instructor in Duke Trinity College (2024)
• ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award (2023)
• Duke Science and Technology Scholar (2022)
• IEEE S&P paper highlighted in IEEE Security and Privacy Magazine (2021)
• CyLab Presidential Fellowship (2019)

Dr. Emami-Naeini actively mentors several Ph.D. students including Jabari Kwesi, Jessie Cao, and Hiba Laabadli, as well as undergraduate and master's students. Her research has influenced key organizations including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Consumer Reports, and the World Economic Forum in creating usable security and privacy labels for smart devices. She serves on numerous program committees including USENIX Security and CHI, and has participated in NSF grant review panels, demonstrating her growing leadership in the security and privacy community.

Her InSPIre lab conducts user-centered research to uncover security and privacy needs of diverse stakeholders, with a particular focus on marginalized communities. The lab's work spans multiple domains including intimate partner violence, reproductive health, virtual reality, and smart cities, always with a strong emphasis on translating research findings into practical tools and policy recommendations.