Sociotechnical Systems and HCI @ Brown

We are a group of research labs that study human-computer interaction and sociotechnical systems. Our areas of research include participatory and community-centered design; algorithmic and data justice; computer security and privacy; technology policy; personalized systems; immersive health; social computing and computer supported cooperative work.

Faculty

Diana Freed

Diana Freed
Harini Suresh

Harini Suresh
Jeff Huang

Jeff Huang
Suresh Venkatasubramanian

Suresh Venkatasubramanian
Julia Netter

Julia Netter
Will Crichton

Will Crichton
Serena Booth

Serena Booth

Many of our faculty collaborate cross-institutionally, including with the Center for Technological Responsibility, Reimagination and Redesign (CNTR), the Public Interest Technology Network of New England (PIT-NE), Socially Responsible Computing @ Brown, and the Data Science Institute (DSI).

Classes

Fall 2026

CSCI 1302: Sociotechnical Approaches to AI & HCI (H. Suresh)
CSCI 1377: Tools for Thought (W. Crichton)
CSCI 1953A: Cybersecurity and Privacy in the Age of AI: Protecting At-Risk Populations (D. Freed)
CSCI 1952A: Human-AI Interaction (S. Booth)
CSCI 1953C: Legal Issues in Generative AI (J. Huang)
CSCI 2953B: So you think you want to govern AI? (S. Venkatasubramanian)
PHIL 0401: Ethics of Digital Technology (J. Netter)

Spring 2027

CSCI 1400: Generative AI Law (J. Huang)
CSCI 1302: Sociotechnical Approaches to AI & HCI (D. Freed)
CSCI 1952B: Responsible Computer Science in Practice (J. Netter)
STS 1700K: The History of AI (S. Venkatasubramanian and F. Jing)
PHIL 1485: The Quantified Self (J. Netter)

CS + CNTR Sociotechnical Speaker Series

Fall 2026

Krzysztof Gajos (Professor of Computer Science, Harvard University)
"Beyond Bigger, Faster, Cheaper"
10/21, 4-5pm, AI Commons (Barus Building)

J. Nathan Matias (Associate Professor of Computer Science, Cornell University)
"The Role of Democracy in the Science of AI"
11/11, 5-6pm, DSI 302

Angel Hsing-Chi Hwang (Assistant Professor of Communication and Computer Science, USC)
"Toward Social-Ecosystem-Aware AI for Interpersonal Support"
11/18, 4-5pm, AI Commons (Barus Building)

For more information, Zoom links, or if you're interested in meeting with the speakers during their visit, please reach out to katie_cappello@brown.edu and harini_suresh@brown.edu.

Grad Seminar

Fall 2026

Our weekly graduate seminar features presentations by current graduate students advised by CNTR faculty, covering topics including privacy, surveillance, algorithmic fairness, AI governance and policy, digital equity, socially responsible computing, participatory and community-centered AI, and more.

Find more information here: https://cntr.brown.edu/get-involved/graduate-seminar

F.A.Q.

I’m a prospective PhD student. How do I get involved?

If you’re interested in applying to the Computer Science PhD program at Brown, you can find more information and the link to apply here. The application deadline is December 15, 2026. When you apply, mention the faculty members you are interested in working with in your statement of purpose. It is not necessary, but you can also reach out to us via email about your interests and background after you apply. We recommend looking over faculty members’ recent papers and research interests to ensure that you have overlapping interests. Due to volume, we may not be able to reply to every email, but all applications will be reviewed carefully.

I’m a current Brown student. How do I get involved?

If you’re interested in getting involved with research, take a look at each faculty’s webpage to see the kinds of projects we work on. Different labs have different processes, so reach out individually to express your interest.