Research Statement
Research Vision
My research lies at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), mental health computing, and social good. I am driven by the question: How can we design inclusive, ethical computing systems that genuinely improve the lives of marginalized and underserved populations? Through interdisciplinary approaches combining behavioral analysis, physiological sensing, and user-centered design, I aim to develop interventions that are culturally sensitive, accessible, and impactful.
Research Themes
🧠 Mental Health & Computing
My primary research focus is on understanding and supporting mental health through technology. My undergraduate thesis, “Beyond Words”, explored free-hand sketches and EEG-based neurobiological signatures to screen for depression among cancer patients - combining qualitative and physiological data to move beyond self-reported assessments. This work was awarded the Brac University Research Grant 2023 and resulted in publications at HotMobile ‘24 and NSysS ‘23/’24.
I am currently collaborating with the NEAT Lab at Western Washington University on analyzing mental health patterns among neurodivergent individuals, focusing on developing strategies for improved well-being through data-driven approaches.
⚖️ AI Fairness & Bias
I am deeply interested in understanding how algorithmic bias affects marginalized communities and how HCI methods can be used to audit, explain, and mitigate these biases. As computing systems increasingly mediate access to healthcare, education, and opportunity, ensuring fairness in these systems is a critical HCI challenge that I aim to address in my future work.
🌍 ICT for Development & Social Good
My work on NavConnect - a USSD-based transportation service for boatmen in Bangladesh - demonstrated how lightweight, accessible technology can empower communities without reliable internet access. Published at ACM HotMobile ‘24, this project embodies my commitment to designing technology that centers the needs of underserved populations, particularly in the Global South.
📊 Computational Social Science
At NSUHCI DIAL, I worked on projects exploring the intersection of gender and technology in Bangladesh and analyzing mental health datasets from Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. These experiences shaped my ability to work with large-scale social data and apply computational methods to understand human behavior.
Research Experience
| Period | Role | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2024 – Present | Remote Research Collaborator | NEAT Lab, Western Washington University, USA |
| Sep – Apr 2024 | Virtual Research Intern | Empathetic Computing Lab, University of South Australia & University of Auckland |
| Oct 2021 – Feb 2022 | Undergrad Research Assistant | NSUHCI DIAL, Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| 2022 – 2023 | Undergraduate Thesis Researcher | Brac University (Grant-funded) |
Future Directions
In my PhD, I plan to pursue research at the intersection of mental health technologies and equitable AI, with three guiding questions:
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How can multimodal sensing (EEG, sketches, behavioral data) improve depression screening in populations where traditional self-report methods are culturally inadequate or stigmatized?
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How do marginalized communities experience and perceive algorithmic bias, and how can participatory design methods empower them to shape fairer systems?
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How can we design low-resource, culturally adaptive mental health interventions that work for communities in the Global South with limited connectivity and digital literacy?
I bring a unique perspective as both a systems engineer (DevOps) and a human-centered researcher, bridging the gap between building robust infrastructure and understanding human needs.