Monica Hegde
I'm a Ph.D. candidate in Human-Computer Interaction at Indiana University Indianapolis, advised by Dr. Aqueasha Martin-Hammond.
My research asks how conversational AI can genuinely support people whose needs are often left out of mainstream design processes, particularly older adults navigating digital tools for social connection and independence. I study technology adoption, trust, and long-term engagement with voice assistants and conversational agents.
Before my Ph.D., I worked as a Product Designer and Software Engineer, which shaped my conviction that AI systems need to be built responsibly for vulnerable users.
If you're working on something at the intersection of AI, accessibility, and human well-being and think there's room to collaborate, I'd love to hear about it.
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Actively seeking internships in UX research, product management, and interaction design to turn user insights into impactful product decisions and experiences.
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What's been happening
- 🎊 Passed my PhD Qualification Exam 🎊 A PhD Candidate now!
- 📄 Short paper accepted: CSCW 2026 Workshop 🎉"The Advisor in the Room: AI and the Quiet Loss of Confidants" accepted to the Broader Impacts of GenAI in Communication workshop at CSCW 2026 (Oct 2026).
- ⛰️ Attending HCIC 2026 in Colorado
- 📝 Beginning of blogs and articlesWriting publicly about design, HCI, and technology on Substack.
- 📈 Started my second research projectParticipatory co-design study on conversational tech for older adults' social wellness.
- 📋 Wrapped up my first Research Project as a leadBehavioral study with 35 adults on voice assistant adoption — owned the full research arc.
- 📚 Started PhD in HCIJoined Indiana University Indianapolis, focusing on human-AI interaction and conversational interfaces.
- 👩🏻💻 Started working as a Software EngineerProduct Design & SWE at Animo Sano Psychiatry, redesigning the mental health appointment flow.
- 🎓 Graduated with Master's DegreeM.S. in Computer Science from Purdue University, 4.0 GPA.