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Hi! I’m Tallal, a Ph.D. candidate at the Information School, University of Wisconsin–Madison, where I work with Dr. Corey Jackson. I’m also a Graduate Fellow at the Institute for Diversity Science and the Holtz Center for Science & Technology Studies.

My research lies at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Responsible AI, and socio-technical systems. I focus on bridging the gap between high-level AI policy and the technical realities of machine learning practice, with the goal of supporting more just, context-sensitive, and actionable frameworks for AI governance.

I’m especially interested in exploring how regulatory and ethical frameworks can be made usable and meaningful for AI/ML developers and practitioners, and how such frameworks can be informed by voices and values from both the Global North and Global South. Currently, I’m leading two qualitative studies that examine practitioner experiences with AI ethics toolkits and fairness frameworks, as well as stakeholder perspectives on AI governance in sectors like health, education, and criminal justice.

Before coming to UW–Madison, I worked as a Research Associate at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and Information Technology University (ITU) in Pakistan. There, I contributed to seven interdisciplinary projects funded by the Gates Foundation, UNICEF, DFID, Women’s World Banking, and Google. These projects spanned HCI, health informatics, financial inclusion, and technology for behavior change — and deeply shaped my commitment to designing inclusive and impact-driven systems.

Outside academia, I’m passionate about cricket, hiking, stand-up comedy, and road-tripping to explore new places and cultures. If I’m not writing or in the field, you’ll probably find me geeking out about cars or rewatching my favorite sitcoms.