Faculty
Andrea G. Parker, PhD
Dr. Andrea Grimes Parker is the director of the Wellness Technology Lab and an Assistant Professor at Northeastern University, with joint appointments in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences and the Bouvé College of Health Sciences.
Her interdisciplinary research in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Personal Health Informatics examines how social and ubiquitous computing systems can help reduce racial and socioeconomic health disparities. Dr. Parker’s research has yielded best paper nominations at the premiere HCI conferences and she has served on technical program committees for the Association for Computing Machinery’s (ACM) top HCI conferences, including CHI, CSCW and Ubicomp. From 2014-2016 she served as the National Evaluator for the Aetna Foundation’s portfolio of projects on mHealth technology in community settings.
Something interesting about me: Music is a big passion of mine. I studied piano for several years and sang in various choirs as an undergraduate and graduate student.
Personal website: ccs.neu.edu/home/andrea
- PhD, Human-Centered Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology
- BS, Computer Science, Northeastern University
PhD Students
Farnaz Irannejad Bisafar
I am interested in designing technologies to address health/wellness disparities. One specific area of my interest is understanding how social technology could support youth advocacy and civic engagement. I am currently involved in the Youth Advocacy project data analysis and design.
Something interesting about me: I am passionate about acting and have performed in small pieces. I also love to write songs and sing!
- M.Sc., Computer Engineering, Amirkabir Univ. of Technology
- B.Sc., Software Engineering, Amirkabir Univ. of Technology
Herman Saksono
I aim to understand how technology designs can affect human behavior in the context of health promotion and community empowerment. I am exploring how gamification, storytelling, and reflection can help people acquire a healthy living. I am currently working on the experiential learning technology research project.
Something interesting about me: I initiated a crowdsourced election monitoring website during the 2014 Indonesian presidential election. This effort, along with other similar efforts, was recognized by national and international news media such as the Wall Street Journal and Sydney Morning Herald.
Personal website: ccs.neu.edu/home/hsaksono
- M.S., Computer Science, Northeastern University, Boston
- B.Eng., Electrical Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
Elizabeth Stowell
I am passionate about expanding access to and improving the quality of healthcare in the United States as well as globally. I am particularly interested in using technology to address disparities in sexual and reproductive health and in mental health. I am currently working on the mHealth Systematic Review and the Alzheimer’s Disease caregiver project.
Something interesting about me: I love to play soccer and have since I was five years old.
Personal website: estowell.github.io
- BA, Health and Society, Wellesley College
Yixuan (Janice) Zhang
I am passionate about the intersection of personal health informatics and data visualization. I’ve been working on a few interdisciplinary research projects, ranging from social science, computer science, service design, and information visualization.
Something interesting about me: I am a photographer. I also love swimming and tennis.
Personal website: zjanice.github.io
Master’s Students
Arushi Singh
Renee Black
Undergraduate Students
Denise Douglas (Pharmacy, Northeastern University)
Nur Selin Akbulut (Biology, Northeastern University)
Alumni
Reneé Wurth (affiliate)
As a PhD Candidate in Population Health, I’m joining the Wellness Group to explore leveraging technology for health education and behavioral change in order to help to reduce environmental health disparities. Currently I am assisting with the mHealth Systematic Review.
I’ve watched & played basketball most my life. I also have a fondness for witty sitcoms & drawing.
- BS, Medical Dietetics | the Ohio State University 2011
- Registered Dietitian since 2011
- MS, Nutrition | Northeastern University 2013
Emma Simpson
I am a visiting research scholar from Open Lab, Newcastle, UK. My research interests are around the impact of citizen-led data on public health and public health service provision. Whilst here at the Wellness Lab, I am collaborating with Herman Saksono on the Digital Storytelling project and Elizabeth Stowell on the Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver project.
Something interesting about me: I am an avid baker!
- MA. Digital Civics
- MSc. Public Health and Health Services Research
- BSc. Food and Human Nutrition
Deepak Krishnan
I am passionate about user experience design and health wearable technology development. My interests spill across to the areas of Augmented Reality, Data Science and Machine Learning. I am currently pursuing my Master’s in Computer Science at the College of Computer and Information Science at Northeastern University. As a Graduate Research Assistant at the lab, I am assisting the study on Experiential Learning Technology for Wellness Promotion in low-income families.
Something interesting about me: I am a sketching artist who loves music and travel.
Personal website: github.com/ideepakkrishnan
- B.Tech in Computer Science, Amrita School of Engineering, Bangalore, India
Nivedita Mittal
As a graduate researcher in the lab, I have had the opportunity to work on many facets of technology, human-centered design, and youth advocacy. Working with Farnaz on the youth advocacy project has opened my eyes up to the impact technology can make on social issues. I am currently pursuing my Master’s in Computer Science.
Something interesting about me: I almost went to culinary school instead of pursuing Computer Science.
Personal website: nivedita2015.github.io
Bahar Haji-Sheikhi
As an undergraduate research assistant in the lab, I get to do multidisciplinary work – pulling from my technical skills, as well as interests in health, design, sociology, and data analysis. Early in my research career, I am interested in Human-Computer Interaction and see technology as a powerful medium to facilitate change. Using these technologies to address health disparities is an essential endeavor that I am proud to be pursuing. I am currently pursuing Bachelor’s in Computer Science.
Something interesting about me: When I’m not at my computer, I love to read and write graphic novels.
Chelsi Gibson (Northeastern University)
Mackenzie Breen (Health Equity Intern, Northeastern University)
Anita Onuoha (Health Equity Intern, Northeastern University)
Olivia Sterns (Health Equity Intern, Northeastern University)
Lina Martinez (MPH, Northeastern University)
Alex Ollendorf (BS Health Sciences, Northeastern University)
Mercedes Lyson (Post-doctoral research scientist, Northeastern University)
Ashwini Ranade (Population Health PhD student, Northeastern University)
Shreya Singh (MS Computer Science)
Parul Sharma (BS Computer Science, Northeastern University)
Priscilla Baquerizo (Computer Science undergraduate student, Northeastern University)
Amanda Carreiro (BS Health Sciences, Northeastern University)
Dana Moore (visiting CRA-W DREU student, undergraduate at Winthrop University)