Developing AI to understand humans

I primarily chose UC because of the reputation of the Department of Computer Science, and the fact that I had always wanted to work with human-centered computing. Incidentally, the area that I work in (human-computer interaction) aligned substantially with my interest areas and prior background. All this made it a great fit for me to consider pursuing a doctoral degree at UC. I have also benefited greatly from the campus amenities, mental health support, and library and academic writing resources that the university offers. These things have helped me stay focused while also being able to enjoy my experience as part of the UC community. 

I work in affective computing, which is the study for designing systems that can recognize, interpret, process, and simulate human emotions. It is a transformative field in artificial intelligence that helps bridge the gap between human beings and technology. It is very rewarding because it paves the way for enabling more intuitive, empathetic, and impactful interactions between humans and machines. In other words, our work could potentially help us in designing machines that can understand and respond to human emotion effectively. 

Within UC, I delivered an oral presentation at the IRIS Ignite conference in 2023 conducted by the Institute of Research and Sensing. Here I had the chance to address an audience of like-minded research professionals, all of whom were working on sensor-based approaches for data analysis. This was an opportunity to hone my skills in presentation before an informed audience and to experience firsthand how perspectives from researchers of many disciplines could help in shaping more robust solutions to research problems.  

I had a great opportunity to discuss our research at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference in Orlando while also getting a chance to interact with professionals from different walks of life and disciplines. I was one of the recipients of the IEEE NextGen scholar award and have also remained a member of the IEEE UC student chapter for over three years. There is so much to be learned from the sessions, coding workshops, and hackathons conducted throughout the year on campus and I am glad to have these opportunities to work on myself. Our research contributions received substantial media coverage in both national and international magazines and platforms (the New York Post, TechExplore, and PsyPost).

Additionally, I feel grateful to have been chosen as one of the Herbold Foundation scholarships in 2024. 

I expect to graduate at the end of 2025 and am working on my dissertation at the moment. Synthesizing years of research, experiments, and insights into a cohesive narrative feels deeply fulfilling. It's exciting to see how my work contributes to advancing human-centric AI, and I'm proud to reflect on the challenges I've overcome and the knowledge I've gained. 

I enjoy reading fiction and already have a number of pending books that I need to read. I enjoy mystery thrillers, sci-fi, and fantasy. Beyond reading, I find joy in traveling and immersing myself in nature, particularly near lakes and forests. These walks and adventures help me reconnect with myself, soothing mental stress and quieting restless thoughts. When I am strolling by a lake's edge or pausing to take in its calm, I feel grounded and invigorated. To me nature's serenity sparks both clarity and inspiration. 

Featured image at top: Iman Chatterjee is studying human-centric artificial intelligence. Photo/Pixabay