Mamtaj Akter

Ph.D. Candidate, Vanderbilt University


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Hi, I am a 4th year Ph.D. student at Vanderbilt University, Department of Computer Science. My research area is in the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction, Social Computing and Privacy and Security. I am fortunate to be advised by Dr. Pamela Wisniewski from STIR Lab. Before joining the STIR Lab, I received my MS from the Department of Computer & Information Sciences at the University of Oregon where I researched on functional programming and high performance computing.


I research on usable privacy and security investigating how to help vulnerable populations, e.g., adolescents, older adults, less tech savvy individuals, i.e., caregivees, in communities who need others' support with their digital privacy and security management. My Ph.D. research leveraged a community oversight mechanism to allow individuals in communities, i.e.,  families, friends, co-workers, to exchange feedback and guidance on one another's mobile privacy and security practices. Through evaluating this mechanism among different communities of individuals with different skillsets, needs, and caregiving roles, I focus on the insights to design systems that will empower caregivees of communities to ask questions and seek help, and caregivers to educate others by providing feedback and initiating more discussions regarding safe apps and permissions usage.