Italo Santos, Ph.D.

I am a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in the Department of Information and Computer Sciences at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. My research lies at the intersection of software engineering, human-computer interaction, open-source software, and responsible artificial intelligence. My primary line of research focuses on human aspects of software engineering, diversity and inclusion, and open-source software. I study how developers, students, educators, and software communities interact with AI technologies and design human-centered tools, practices, and educational interventions to support more effective, inclusive, responsible, and sustainable software development.

My long-term goal is to design theoretically grounded, evidence-based interventions that positively impact the lives of students and future software developers who will create technological innovations and help shape a better society. My research also examines human–AI collaboration in software engineering, software engineering education, developer experience, academic integrity, AI-related technostress, and sustainable AI use. My work has been published in venues including ICSE, FSE, CHASE, ESEM, AIware, SANER, VL/HCC, CSEE&T, EMSE, and IST. I also serve the research community through conference organizations, program committees, journal reviewing, and mentoring undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students.