People

A multidisciplinary group of student and senior researchers working solve today’s complex challenges of Automation in mobility and healthcare.

Co-Founders

Colleen Emmenegger

Principal Investigator

Background
cognitive science, psychology, urban transportation, healthcare

Colleen Emmenegger

Principal Investigator

Background: She is an early graduate of the UC San Diego Cognitive Science Department, and received her graduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign from the Department of Psychology.

Project Involvement: Colleen leads the People-Centered Automation research group in the UC San Diego Design Lab aacross many projects, including: Ford "Contract", Unbiased project, Multiple Road User Roles (mRuR), Olli x Local Motors

Research Experience: Her experience spans aviation, urban transportation and healthcare.

Other Affiliations: Associate Director of the Center for Human Urban Mobility (CHUM), Co-Director of the Automation Playground and participates on the Vision Advisory Panel for SANDAG.

Deborah Forster

Consultant

Background
cognitive Science, primatology

Deborah Forster

Consultant

Deborah Forster is a primatologist and cognitive scientist, currently a research specialist at the Contextual Robotics Institute, and affiliated faculty in the Design Lab, at UC San Diego. She studied social complexity and distributed cognition in olive baboons in Kenya, developing a state-space (and time series) approach to analyzing complex social behavior. Forster applied this relational systems framework in her work with car designers, intelligent driver support systems research, architecture education, social robotics research, art-science collaborations, and movement education practice. Her current projects support interdisciplinary design teams developing infant biometrics, automated pain detection in horses and other animals, cognitive robotics, and autonomous transportation research.

Stephanie Sherman

PhD Student and Senior Designer

Background
speculative design, visual arts, systems

Stephanie Sherman

PhD Student and Senior Designer

Stephanie Sherman reprograms outmoded sites and systems as collaborative platforms for constructing words and worlds. She works as a director, designer, strategist, storyteller, curator, organizer, and producer across the fields of art, design, urbanism, science, and technology

Stephanie currently works with The Center for Design and Geopolitics (AI Urbanism), The UC San Diego Design Lab Automation Team (speculative social prospects for AV futures), and Autonomy (a think tank on the future of work). She co-produces radioee.net (online nomadic translingual radio broadcast marathons about mobility & movement, while on the move).

She is completing a Phd in Design at UC San Diego advised by Dr. Benjamin Bratton. Her Phd project, Auto: A Platform Parable traces the rise of planetary scale automation, exploring the functions and fictions of Fordian ecosystems and their impact on auto-platformations to come. She holds an MA in Philosophy from Duke and a BA in Literature from the University of Pennsylvania.

In 2003, Stephanie co-founded Elsewhere, a living museum, creative residency, and collaborative laboratory created from a three story surplus store housing one woman’s 58-year collection of things. Stephanie co-directed Elsewhere until 2012, leading the organization from a 5k startup to a robust non-profit, building its collaborative, creative, and community systems, and re-awakening downtown Greensboro, NC in the process. Elsewhere continues to bring 50+ visionary makers and thinkers to live and work in a changing installation, investigating things.

From 2011-2013, she co-curated Kulturpark, an investigation and activation of an abandoned Soviet-built amusement park in East Berlin. Kulturpark brought together Berlin architects, creators, urbanists and scientists through a think tank, publication, and event reimagining the ruins. The project set the stage for its official conversion from peripheral nomansland to state-run public park in 2018.

From 2011-2013 she also served as Director of Research for Provisions Library, an art and social change agency in Washington DC, founding a research residency program that brought artists to the capital explore social change themes in partnership with national institutions. While in Washington DC, she curated Near Futures for the first 5x5 Festival, DC’s public art biennale.

She went on to co-founded and co-directed Common Field, a network of independent arts organizations composing shared infrastructures for visibility and viability.

Her work now, in whatever domain, focuses on the strategic design of collaborative systems—organizational, narrative, transportational, computational, etc., and unfolding stories that provoke systems adaptation and transformation.

Stephanie has collaborated and consulted with clients including The San Diego Department of Regional Transportation, The City of Boston, SOM Architects, SAP Design, Ford Motors, Hyundai, and The Rebuild Foundation. Radioee.net projects have been produced as part of the IKSV Istanbul Design Biennial, The New Terrains Art Festival Bay Area, and the Wiener Festwochen Vienna.

She has lectured and hosted workshops at Strelka Institute Moscow, Neon Foundation Athens, Sandberg Institute Amsterdam, Cambridge University, Bauhaus University Weimar, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and CCA San Francisco.

Her writing has been published in Cabinet Magazine, Terremoto Magazine, DIS 2020, ACM Design Journal, Field Journal.

She has raised over $2M in organizational and creative projects grants from supporters including The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts, Art Matters International, and The Soros Foundation.

Her projects have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vice, and DesignBoom.

Portfolio

Current Members

Alexandra Ioana Andreiu

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
clinical research assistant, UnBIASED project

Background
cognitive Science, global Health, business, design, healthcare

Alexandra Ioana Andreiu

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
clinical research assistant, UnBIASED project

Background
Alex is originally from Seattle and currently a senior at the University of California, San Diego. She is majoring in Cognitive Science with Specialization in Design and Interaction minoring in Business and Global Health. She is interested in the intersection between design, technology and healthcare, and discovering ways in which the healthcare industry can be improved through technology.

Hobbies
Training to run a half marathon.

Interests
I am interested in the role that the mind and body play in human endurance and human performance during physical activity.

Portfolio

Chenyang Dawn Ye

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
Lead of Multiple-Road User Roles
Member of Soundscapes and Ford's "The Contract" projects

Background
cognitive science, UX Research, human-computer interaction, branding strategy, visual design, transportation, intersectional social justice

Chenyang Dawn Ye

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
As a UX researcher/research associate, I work cross-collaboratively to measure and test the relationships between things and their users to guide strategic long-term product direction. Looking back in my academic and professional journey so far outside and inside this group, I’ve always sought out opportunities that would help me to see from other people’s eyes and champion their views, whether it was understanding multiple road user roles, leading a student research team, or balancing stakeholder needs with Ford's "The Contract" project.

Background
I am a UX Researcher with a background in linguistics and cognitive science, interested in the intersection of research, business, and design. As an undergraduate at UC San Diego so far, I have been fortunate enough to have completed or have in-progress projects in academic research and design. I am constantly seeking to learn and grow- especially, and importantly, through community.

Other Interests
I enjoy trying unique ice cream flavors, film and literary critique, and the NPR podcast Invisibilia. I also love public transportation.

LinkedIn

Portfolio

Ching-Han (Jasmine) Tu

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
Member for Ford "Contract" Project

Background
cognitive science, UI/UX Design, user research, AR/VR

Ching-Han (Jasmine) Tu

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
Member for Ford "Contract" Project

Background
Cognitive Science (Design and Interaction), UI/UX Design, User Research, AR/VR

LinkedIn

Geetika Sharma

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
The Driving Simulator, Soundscapes,
researcher for the Ford "Contract" project

Background
cognitive science, speculative design, sser research, UX, ethnic studies

Geetika Sharma

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
I was placed in projects such as The Driving Simulator, Soundscapes and conducted research for the Ford project under Stephanie Sherman.

Background
Geetika Sharma is a fourth year Cognitive Science and Ethnic Studies student at UC San Diego specializing in Design and Interaction. In previous years, she aids in user research and design in various projects with hopes of designing for diversity, and keeping in mind of disadvantaged groups affected by any design, concept or model.

LinkedIn

Megan Dinh

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
member for Ford "Contract" project

Background
cognitive science, computer science, human-computer interaction, UI/uX design

Megan Dinh

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
member for Ford "Contract" project

Background
cognitive science, computer science, human-computer interaction, ui/ux design

Hobbies
I like to write in my journal, meditate daily, and read weekly ads for grocery stores 🙂

Portfolio

Reema AlRasheed

Graduate Student

Project Involvement
Data coordinator, Research Assistant

Background
preventive medicine, research, humanitarian sciences, public health

Reema AlRasheed

Graduate Student

Project Involvement
Data coordinator, Research Assistant

Background
Preventicve Medicine, Research, Humanitarian Sciences, Public Health

LinkedIn

Sahba Mobini

Alumnus

Project Involvement
Designer for the website project
Assistant to mRUR project

Background
cognitive science, computer science

Sahba Mobini

Alumnus

Project Involvement
Ford "Contract", Multiple Road User Roles (mRUR), Olli x Local Motors, Unbiased Project

Background
cognitive science, psychology, urban transportation, healthcare

LinkedIn

Samuel John-William Fleet

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
Assistant Clinical Researcher for UnBIASED Project

Background
automotive, UX research, human-computer interaction, product design, cognitive systems

Samuel John-William Fleet

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
Assistant Clinical Researcher for UnBiased project

Background
Originally from the United Kingdom, Samuel is a third-year Cognitive Science B.S. specialising in Design & Interaction and Minor in Computer Science.

Hobbies
Entering autocross competitions, building LEGO Architecture, and automotive photography.

Interests
I have a long-standing interest in psychopharmacology, in particular focusing on treatments for cognitive disorders. Keeping up to date on the current state of the automotive industry.

LinkedIn

Steven Rick

PhD or Post-Doctoral Student

Project Involvement
Lead for the UnBIASED study

Background
computer science, cognitive science, communication, ubiquitous computing, behavior sensing, social signal processing, multimodal analysis, information visualization, biomedical informatics

Steven Rick

PhD or Post-Doctoral Student

Project Involvement
As one of the leads for the UnBIASED study, I focus on technical development of computational means to detect human communication behavior signals between patients and providers from audio and video streams. I also support the development of manual coding techniques and software to enrich our sensing with more contextual insight that is easy for humans to spot but hard for computers to understand.

Background
I received my B.S. in Cognitive Science from UC San Diego. After a short stint in industrial health IT research, design, and development I returned for a Ph.D. in Computer Science at UC San Diego. My thesis centers around the use of ubiquitous computing technology in order to detect interpersonal communication behavior and design interventional feedback that promotes patient-provider rapport.

Hobbies and Interests
Outside of everything technology and design, I also enjoy diving and photography (both underwater and on land).

LinkedIn

Unbiased Website

Wayne Phung

Alumnus

Project Involvement
Lead for website project and Research Operations project

Background
cognitive Science, UX, design, media production

Wayne Phung

Alumnus

Project Involvement
Wayne has spearheaded efforts to make the Automation Playground's website come to fruition. He has formerly been involved as a leader in another project called Research Operations that helps improve how researchers approach data management and research.

Background
Wayne is an alumnus with a B.S. in Cognitive Science and a specialization in Human-Computer Interaction. With 2 years of experience with design and video projects across numerous organizations on campus, he is a firm believer in making differences in the world through human-centered systems design and narrative-videos.

Other Projects
Wayne is currently involved in video-editing 4 projects for a person.

Aspirations
Wayne hopes to apply his experiences and skills in design and media production to address real-world issues.

LinkedIn

Former Members

Adam Syed

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
Student lead for Olli x Local Motors (3D Autonomous Vehicle)

Background
cognitive science, autonomous vehicle research

Adam Syed

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
Student lead for Olli x Local Motors (3D Autonomous Vehicle)

Background
cognitive science, design and interaction, autonomous vehicle research

Portfolio

April Gau

Alumnus

Project Involvement
member of Hyundai project, ux research, prototyping

Background
UX design, visual design, cognitive science

April Gau

Alumnus

Project Involvement
member of Hyundai project, ux research, prototyping

Background
UX Design, Visual Design, Cognitive Science w/Interaction and Design

LinkedIn

Brian Han

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
Interaction designer for the website project
Member of The Ford "Contract" project

Background
cognitive science, human-computer interaction, UX

Brian Han

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
Interaction designer for the website project, Member of Ford "Contract" project

Background
Brian is majoring in Cognitive Science specializing in Human-Computer Interaction, along with minors in Design and Business. With his minors, he is a designer who loves to solve problems creatively and deeply engage in design thinking process.

LinkedIn

Brittany Newton

Alumnus

Project Involvement
Researcher for autonomous vehicles and micromobility, Storyboarding, Speculative Design

Background
cognitive science, human-computer interaction, user experience design

Brittany Newton

Alumnus

Project Involvement
Researcher for autonomous vehicles and micromobility, Storyboarding, Speculative Design

Background
Cognitive Science, Human-Computer Interaction, User Experience Design

Portfolio

LinkedIn

Cang Le

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
Member for Website and Multiple Road User Roles

Background
cognitive science, graphic design, math

Cang Le

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
To be described.

Background
To be described.

Malachi Mabie

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
Research, Storyboarding, Speculative Design

Background
cognitive science, mechanical design, systems, computer science

Malachi Mabie

Undergraduate Student

Project Involvement
Research, Storyboarding, Speculative Design

Background
Cognitive Science, Mechanical Design, Systems, Computer Science

LinkedIn

Tammy Zhou

Alumnus

Project Involvement
member for Hyundai spec. design project (robotaxi and micro-mobility)

Background
cognitive science, human-computer interaction, healthcare, transportation

Tammy Zhou

Alumnus

Project Involvement
member for Hyundai spec. design project (robotaxi and micro-mobility)

Background
I'm a product designer and UX researcher based in San Diego. I'm curious about emerging technologies that make social impacts, particularly in healthcare industries and future transportations. I create usable, delightful, and inclusive solutions through evidence-based design.

Portfolio

LinkedIn

Tiffany Lau

Alumnus

Project Involvement
Student Researcher for the Hyundai Robotaxi Project

Background
cognitive science, design, business, UX research

Tiffany Lau

Alumnus

Project Involvement
As a researcher on the Hyundai Robotaxi project team, I conducted ethnographic research, informed designs, and tested our concepts.

Background
Tiffany is a UX Researcher with a background in cognitive science, design, and business. She cares about using research for good, and making research accessible. She is especially excited to create impacts for tech, education, healthcare, sustainability, and community.

Hobbies and Interests
Yoga, Reading, Making playlists

Portfolio

LinkedIn

Collaborators

Our projects are joint collaborations with people within the UC San Diego system as well as without. We would like to acknowledge them here.

Ash Smith

Ben Bergen

Brandon

Ciny Sharier

Don Norman

Nadir Weibel

Todd Hylton