Rob Capra

Dr. Robert (Rob) Capra is a Professor at the School of Information and Library Science (SILS) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Virginia Tech and BS/MS degrees from Washington University. His research focuses on human-computer interaction, information retrieval, and personal information management, particularly in how people search, manage, and share information across contexts. Capra leads projects on exploratory search, collaborative interfaces, and the impact of AI on search behaviors.

Education:

• PhD in Computer Science, Virginia Tech
• MS and BS in Computer Science, Washington University

Research Interests:

Capra investigates how technology can support users' search needs, including:

• Exploratory search interfaces
• Collaborative information seeking
• Long-term personal information management (PIM)
• Impact of AI chatbots on search behavior

His work emphasizes understanding cognitive processes during search and developing tools like the OrgBox to aid metacognition.

Awards & Grants:

• NSF CAREER Award (2013)
• Best Paper Awards at ECIR 2017 and CHIIR 2022
• Deborah Barreau Teaching Excellence Award (2012-2013)
• Principal Investigator on multiple NSF grants

Service & Leadership:

• Program Coordinator of SILS PhD Program
• General Co-Chair of ACM CHIIR 2016
• Editorial board member of JASIST
• Organizer of PIM Workshops and NSF Task-Based Search Workshops

Labs & Collaborations: Active in the Interactive Information Systems Lab (IISL) at UNC, focusing on interdisciplinary projects blending HCI and IR.