Getting to Know Laporsha Dees

I build technology with a purpose. Not just to push code, but to make opportunities for others. My work always circles back to one question: how can technology empower the communities it touches?

I am a UX Researcher and aspiring researcher with 4+ years of experience designing and conducting mixed-methods human-subject research across AI, machine learning, HCI, HRI, and educational technologies. My work spans usability testing, interviews, surveys, and behavioral data analysis, with a focus on generating insights that improve user experiences and inform the design of human-centered technologies.

My path began with tutoring and student advocacy at Tufts University and grew through educational technology research at Boston College’s DevTech Lab, before continuing at Toyota Research Institute, where I collaborated on human-focused studies involving AI and interactive systems. Across my work, I am interested in how technology can be made more accessible, ethical, and empowering—particularly for communities that have historically lacked the resources and opportunities to help their students and members thrive. This work has led me to have 8+ published papers at major peer-reviewed conferences.

I currently continue my research and professional development through several part-time programs and research roles. I am a Researcher with Algoverse AI and Lead Researcher for the Conversational Speech AI Team at ResearchDen, where I explore AI research and human-centered applications of emerging technologies. I am also a participant in the Aspire Leadership Program and UN Women’s Young Feminist AI School. Through the Young Feminist AI School, I will develop a capstone project focused on the responsible use of AI in schools, with particular attention to privacy, consent, and students' rights.

My research interests center on human-centered AI, accessibility, and educational technology. Long-term, I hope to lead an Educational Technology and Responsible AI research lab that partners directly with communities to design and evaluate interactive technologies that advance equity in education and beyond.