Aimen Gaba

Hi and welcome!

I am a Computer Science PhD candidate at University of Massachusetts Amherst, working with Dr. Cindy Xiong Bearfield at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Human-Centered AI, Explainable AI (XAI), and Data Visualizations.

I use an interdisciplinary approach in my research, drawing from HCI, physcology, and social science. My work spans topics such as human-AI interactions, explainable AI (XAI), and accessibility. What ties it all together is a commitment to understanding how people navigate and experience technology in complex real-world contexts.

I am a mixed-methods researcher, employing innovative human-centered study design methods, from interviews, and surveys, to trust games, disability-led design and community-based research. My Ph.D. research is focused on Explainable AI (XAI), with the end-goal of making AI more transparent and usable. I investigate user trust and the perception of bias in ML models, along with methods to improve user trust by improving model fairness. In my accessibility research, I focus on disability-led innovation, especially with blind and low-vision (BLV) communities. Rather than positioning users as subjects or testers, I design studies that give participants the tools, time, and autonomy to define their own problems and create their own solutions.

I am currectly on the job market applying to both industry and academic roles, expected to graduate in Fall 2025.

Along this journey, I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with some inspiring researchers including Yuriy Brun, Emily Wall, Vidya Setlur, Arjun Srinivasan, and Jane Hoffswell.

Before embarking on my PhD journey, I worked for about 2 years after completing my bachelors in Computer Science from Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lahore, Pakistan) advised by Suleman Shahid. During this time, I worked on creating and designing educational games for children (2D and 3D), and as a UX/UI designer for educational platforms.

Outside of work, I’m a big foodie - always on the hunt for new cafes and food spots. I also occasionally bake (I make really good brownies and chicken bread if I may so myself). I love trying out new recipes, snapping food pictures, and exploring beautiful hiking spots around the Bay Area. I also enjoy swimming, and spending time with cats. But more often than not, you will find me re-watching the Harry Potter series, Linday Lohan’s Parent Trap or just curled up reading a book in some corner.