People on Human-Computer Interaction | TU Wien

Emma Jean McDonnell

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Under Construction.

Contact

emma.mcdonnell@tuwien.ac.at

Ema Benčíková

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Ema Benčíková (she/they) works as a student researcher at the research project ACCESSTECH. She is primarily involved in developing and designing accessible participatory action research methods for working with crip_queer communities.

Ema is a Vienna based curator, theatre director and care worker. 2019-2024 she was the director of a neurodivergent community theater Stopy Snov in Bratislava. In 2025, she curated exhibitions at ŠKUC Gallery in Ljubljana and at Kunsthalle Exnergasse in Vienna. Last year they were a fellow of the intersectional organization kültüř gemma! She is collaborating on crip_queer community outreach programming at the performance theatre brut nordwest.

Nicole Fersch

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Technician at the Human-Computer Interaction department at TU Wien. Here for technical support, ordering materials and to keep everything in check.

Contact

Tel: +43 664 88457744
eMail: nicole.fersch@tuwien.ac.at

Office Hours

My office hours vary every few months, so if you want to know where I’m at you can check this calendar: https://kalender.digital/4a74eb21a1edd607095b

About

I’m a trained IT-technician and worked in IT support for six years, at a private educational institution. Now I work part time at the Human Computer Interaction group at TU Wien as a technician and part time as a secretary in the administration office of the Computer Graphics group.

Shuyin Zheng

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Shuyin is a pre-doc project assistant in the research project “JuMp!” (https://www.angstfreimobil.at/jump-das-neue-projekt/). JuMp! focuses on Vienna’s (sub-)urban youth and their use of public transport. The goal is to understand the role technology plays in (sub-)urban youth mobility, and to use participatory design & speculative design to help shaping a car-free urban future.

Shuyin is also a game developer & designer. Her game-related work focuses on (reflective) game design and game-based learning in higher education. She holds a master’s degree in Media and Human-centered Computing from TU Wien, and a bachelor’s degree in Sinology from University of Vienna.

Anna Dobrosovestnova

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I am a researcher specializing in human-robot interaction (HRI), with a focus on real-world deployments and the social, affective, and political dimensions of our interactions with robots. My interdisciplinary background—spanning semiotics, cultural studies, cognitive science, and Science and Technology Studies (STS)—informs my approach to understanding how meaning is produced in human-technology relations. I completed my PhD in 2025 under the supervision of Professor Astrid Weiss at TU Wien, where my research examined Starship delivery robots and their integration into public urban spaces. Building on this, my current work explores the notion of “publicness”—how public spaces are constituted, who gets included or excluded, and how robots reshape these dynamics.

Julia Dominiak

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Contact: julia.dominiak@tuwien.ac.at

Lou Leopold

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Lou is a researcher and psychologist on the ACCESSTECH project. Their main interests are critical disability theory and research methods (for now). In their dissertation, they center disabled perspective on gender-based violence and seek to translate the key outcomes of their research into technological design. Their research approach and methods are guided by the expertise and ideas of disabled people who have experienced gender-based violence.

Contact: marie-louise.leopold@tuwien.ac.at

Paweł W. Woźniak

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Head of Research Unit

Paweł W. Woźniak is professor and head of research unit at TU Wien. Previously, he was associate professor at Interaction design, Chalmers University of Technology, assistant professor for Human-Centred Computing at Utrecht University and postdoctoral fellow at the Chair for Human-Computer Interaction and Socio-Cognitive Systems, University of Stuttgart.

Paweł received his PhD degree in Human-Computer Interaction from Chalmers in 2016. Paweł’s key interests lie in the intersection of technologies, sport and wellbeing. His focus is on understanding the everyday experiences of physical activity to design better technologies that support wellbeing. To this end, he conducts studies in personal informatics, building an understanding of how uses gather, process and reflect upon data about their lives.

Sara Mlakar

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I am a PhD candidate at TU Wien and FH Oberösterreich where I combine interaction design, art, and HCI research under the umbrella of Odd Interactions. In the past, I have been strongly involved in the field of smart textile interfaces which remains a big part of my work to this day. Additionally, I am (co-)organizing many workshops on various topics that focus on co-creating technology with lay people.

More:

Rafael Vrecar

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Rafael Vrecar finished his Bachelor’s degree in Software & Information Engineering in October 2020, the corresponding Bachelor with Honors in 2021, and the following Master’s program Media and Human-Centered Computing in May 2022 – all at TU Wien. He started his PhD in June of 2022.

His research fields include Usable Security and Security Perception (from a Human-Computer Interaction perspective), Security on Apple platforms, and optimizing workflows without compromising security aspects. He also has experience in Human-Robot Interaction.

Michael Pollak

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Michael Pollak in his role as senior lecturer mainly supports the “ways of thinking in informatics” lecture, hosted by the Human Computer Interaction group. He also supervises a number of bachelor thesis and projects as well as the advanced coding course. Besides his work at TU Wien Michael Pollak is a software developer and entrepreneur based out of the woodquater, rural lower Austria. He is specialised in plugin development for the LMS Moodle, specialised e-commerce solutions and prototyping.

Alexander Schmidt

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Contact: alexander.g.schmidt@tuwien.ac.at

Astrid Weiss

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Astrid Weiss is Assistant Professor in the Human-Computer Interaction Group at the Vienna University of Technology. She holds a master’s degree in sociology, a PhD in social sciences and Human-Computer Interaction, and a venia docendi in Human-Computer Interaction from the University of Salzburg. She is particularly interested in the impact technology has on everyday life and what motivates people to reject or accept technology. The reseqrch question currently driving her work is: Do we really perceive and react differently to Embodied Artificial Intelligence than to any other technology? Astrid Weiss is considered one of the pioneers in combining empirical social research and robotics. She has published in conferences such as HRI, RO-MAN, and ICSR and journals such as International Journal of Social Robotics, Autonomous Robots, and the Journal of HRI. She is a regularly member of Program and Organizing Committees related to HRI research.

Brigitte Prem

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Contact

Tel: +43 1 58801 187703
eMail: brigitte.prem@tuwien.ac.at

Argentinierstraße 8, 5. Stock A-1040 Vienna, Austria

Clara-Maria Kutsch

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Contact: clara-maria.kutsch@tuwien.ac.at

Ekat Osipova

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Ekat is a PhD researcher in the project ACCESSTECH. Their doctoral thesis focuses on neurodivergent experiences related to intimacy and technology; it explores the possibilities in research and design for intimacy from a neurodivergent standpoint.

Ekat is passionate about working inter- and transdisciplinarily and applies a range of critical qualitative methods in their work. Their research is guided by queer feminist and crip studies. In their work, they are dedicated to highlighting marginalized perspectives on technologies and scientific knowledge.

Evropi Stefanidi

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Evropi Stefanidi is a PostDoc in the Human-Computer Interaction Group at TU Wien. She holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Crete, Greece, and a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction from the University of Bremen, Germany.

Her main research interests include technologies for well-being and empowerment, with a particular focus on children and families. Her work strives to support and empower marginalized and vulnerable populations. She is also interested in technologies for data tracking and reflection, and how these can support both physical and mental health. She has been involved in conducting multiple literature reviews across a variety of areas in HCI, including technologies for ADHD children and autoethnographic approaches.

Felix Fussenegger

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

With my work I am exploring how technology can be designed to empower people with disabilities to lead self-determined lives. My research examines the transformative potential of new technologies, while critically examining their impact on individuals and society to ensure that they serve as tools for empowerment rather than exclusion.

Contact felix.fussenegger@student.tuwien.ac.at

Florian Stierle

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Contact: florian.stierle@tuwien.ac.at

Geraldine Fitzpatrick

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Contact

Tel: +43 1 58801 - 187 03
eMail: <geraldine.fitzpatrick @ tuwien .ac .at>

Note I am a Retired Professor at TU Wien, as of Oct 2023, and no longer taking on BSc, MSc, PhD students, or peer review requests. I continue working on the Changing Academic Life podcast series (thanks to the HCI Group for support) and doing consulting/training/academic development work towards developing great people and cultures in academia.

What drives me: I focus on people-centred perspectives in complex environments, with an emphasis on enabling positive growth and development and doing more of what is working well. I have expressed this as women-centred midwifery practice in my clinical life as a midwife, as human-centred technology research and teaching in my academic life as a computer scientist, and as facilitating the crafting of a good academic life and of good academic leadership in my professional development work.

Janis Lena Meißner

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

post-doc researcher with a focus on inclusion in processes of digital transformation
currently teaching the courses “Computational Aspects of Digital Fabrication” and “Free and Open Technologies”

Janis joined the HCI research group of TU Wien after obtaining her doctoral degree in Digital Civics at Open Lab (Newcastle University). She holds a MSc in Media Informatics and previously worked in the IT-department of an Austrian governmental institution and as a consultant for a software company.

Katharina Brunnmayr

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Contact: katharina.brunnmayr@tuwien.ac.at

Katharina Werner

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Katharina Werner is project assistant at the HCI group and concentrates her research on the involvement of older people in design and evaluation processes of assistive technologies. She gained vast experience in this area working in a number of national and international research projects. These projects are mainly in the field of Active and (Ambient) Assisted Living (e.g. Give&Take, Softcare, LLM, KSERA and eHoome). Her expertise’s are within the areas of user experience, participatory design methods, human computer and human robot interaction especially in the field of AAL.

Katta Spiel

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Katta is an Assistant Professor for “Critical Access in Embodied Computing” and lead a small team as part of the ERC Starting Grant ACCESSTECH (Experiencing Access with Interactive Computing). They research marginalised perspectives on technology. Their work informs design and engineering in critical ways to support the development of technologies that account for the diverse realities they operate in. Their research is situated at the intersection of Computer Science, Design and Cultural Studies. Drawing on methods from (Critical) Participatory Design and Action Research, they collaborate with deaf, disabled, neurodivergent and/or nonbinary peers in conducting explorations of novel potentials for designs, methodological contributions to Human-Computer Interaction and innovative technological artefacts.

Kay Kender

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Research interests

My research focuses on queer and disabled experiences with social technologies and online communities, applying critical, participatory and speculative design methods, ethnographic methods, as well as other qualitative methods centred around design. My PhD looks at the design of social media through the lens of design power, to understand how technologies can further marginalise queer and neurodivergent people, but also in what ways they support their thriving.

My teaching includes critical design, as well as a diverse range of speculative design and storytelling workshops around the topics of gender and access.

Margit Pohl

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Forschungsinteressen/Research Interests

Human-Computer Interaction, Kognitive Psychologie/Cognitive Psychology, E-Learning, Informationsvisualisierung/Information Visualisation, Gender Studies

Contact

Tel: +43-1-58801-187-53
Fax: +43-1-58801-918703
eMail: margit.pohl@tuwien.ac.at

Argentinierstraße 8, 2. Stock A-1040 Vienna, Austria

Sprechstunde: Nach persönlicher Vereinbarung

Curriculum Vitae

Studium der Wirtschaftsinformatik und Psychologie an der Universität Wien
Diplomarbeit in Wirtschaftsinformatik über “Ein werttheoretisches Modell in einer Leontief-Ökonomie”
Dissertation in Psychologie über “Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede im Sprachverhalten”
seit 1991 tätig an der TU Wien
Habilitation an der TU Wien über “Hypertext und analoge Wissensrepräsentation” (Fach: Human-Computer Interaction)

Education/Ausbildung

Habilitation (Univ.Doz.), Computer Science, Vienna University of Technology, focus on: Human-Computer Interaction, 2002
Doctor of Philosophy (Dr.), Psychology, University of Vienna, focus on: Cognitive Psychology, 1993
Master of Science (Mag.), Information Systems, University of Vienna, focus on: Econometrics,1989
current position: Associate Professor (Vienna University of Technology)

Projekte/Projects (Auswahl)

“Business Awareness on Sustainable Innovation Strategies - BASIS”, 2000-2002. finanziert von: European Commission, Directorate General XIII, Telecommunications, Information Market and Exploitation of Research
“MobiLearn” – Mobile Learning: Medieninformatik Any-Time Any-Where. 2002-2004. finanziert von: Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Kultur (Initiative “Neue Medien in der Lehre an Universitäten und Fachhochschulen”). www.mobilearn.at
“Ecodesign”. 2003 – 2004. finanziert von: Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Kultur / Europäischer Sozialfonds (ESF). www.ecodesign.at/ulg
“Interactive Information Visualization: Exploring and Supporting Human Reasoning Processes”, 2004-2006. finanziert von: WWTF. ieg.ifs.tuwien.ac.at/projects/in2vis
“Visual Analytics - Mastering the Information Age”, 2008-2010, financed by: European Commission, DG Information Society and Media
“VisuExplore - Winning new medical insights based on visual exploration.” 2008-2011, financed by FFG - Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft mbH
“Centre for Visual Analytics Science and Technology (Laura Bassi Centre of Expertise)”, 2010-2017, financed by: FFG -Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft
“GenSiSys – Gendergerechte Gestaltung von Arbeitsplätzen im Bereich sicherheitskritischer Systeme (Gender sensitive Design of workplaces in control rooms) “. 2013 – 2015, financed by: Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft (FFG)
“VALCRI – Visual Analytics for Sense-making in Criminal Intelligence”. 2014 – 2017, financed by the European Commission, Framework Programs
“Urban Food Spots – Development of the basics for gender and diversity sensitive cooling stations for foodsharing in urban areas”. 2015 – 2017, financed by: Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft (FFG)
“PAIR – Pairwise Visual Comparison of Directed Acyclic Graphs: A HCI Perspective” 2016 – 2019, financed by FWF (under the D-A-CH program)
2020 – 2022 SEVA (“Self-Explanatory Visual Analytics for Data-Driven Insight Discovery“), funded by FFG

Publikationen/Publications (Auswahl)

PDF to a comprehensive list of publications by Margit Pohl

Meagan Loerakker

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hello there! I am a PhD student at TU Wien’s Human Computer Interaction research group. Prior to the PhD, I completed my bachelor and master studies in the Netherlands, and briefly studied in Sweden.

My research interests involve the design of technologies for healthcare, sport and well-being. In my work, I aim to study how to design effective feedback in sport and health technologies for a variety of purposes, including performance, mental health and bodily awareness. Besides that, I am also interested in how to design technologies to promote reflection processes, and creating data visualisations that are more understandable and approachable.

Monika Zauner

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Sprechzeiten: MO & DI 08:00–13:00 sowie nach Terminvereinbarung

M monika.zauner@tuwien.ac.at

T +43 (0)1 58801 18703

Naemi Luckner

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Naemi Luckner works at the Vienna University of Technology with a focus on game design, e-learning and sharing technologies. She has contributed work to various projects in these fields, such as ‘Aurora’, an e-learning project with the aim of letting students take responsibility of their own learning process; ‘Give&Take’, a project about creating a platform for skill and knowledge exchange within a neighbourhood; ‘Lebensnetz’, a game to help overcome cognitive decline through a mix of playful activities; or ‘Mirror’ a project developing an interface for physical therapists to use in their practice and games to motivate patients to repeat their physiotherapeutic exercises.

Oliver Suchanek

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Contact: oliver.suchanek@tuwien.ac.at

Paul Panek

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Paul has studied communication engineering at Vienna Univ. of Technology and holds a Dipl.-Ing. degree. Since 1993 Paul has been working in national and EU-funded R&D projects in the area of Rehabilitation Engineering, Assistive Technology and Ambient Assisted Living (AAL).

More about me

My main interests are to develop new assistive solutions together with users and to apply innovative prototype systems in real life settings in order to explore the actual impact and benefit.

Peter Purgathofer

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Forschungsinteressen/Research Interests

Human-Computer Interaction and UX Design, Human-Centered Informatics, Game Design and Positive Impact Games, Digital Culture and Learning, Informatics and Society, Diversity in Informatics

Contact

fon: +43-1-58801-187-23
mail: peter.purgathofer@tuwien.ac.at
my home on the web: peter.purgathofer.net

Sprechstunde/Office hours: Tuesday 10:15-12:00 during the semester; please write email regarding out-of-semester availability.

i am associate professor at the vienna university of technology, faculty of informatics, at the institute of design and assessment of technology, human-computer interaction group.

Robin Angelini

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

My name is Robin Angelini and I am a Deaf PhD researcher on ACCESSTECH project. My research focuses on the intersection of Deaf Technology, critical access, and emerging technologies. Specifically, I’m interested in the relationship between the designing and development of emerging technologies and the acceptance within the deaf communities. I’m dedicated to exploring deaf-centered approaches to technologies, ensuring that designs are created with, rather than for, the deaf communities, prioritizing their desires and needs.

Ruadhan James Flynn

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Contact: ruadhan.flynn@tuwien.ac.at