Dr. Karen Sowon is an assistant professor in Indiana University Bloomington’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Before joining IU, she was a postdoctoral researcher in Carnegie Mellon University’s Privacy and Security Institute-CyLab.
Dr. Sowon’s research spans the areas of HCI (Human-Computer Interaction)—with a special interest on human factors in privacy and security, and Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D). Her work leverages social science methods to identify the opportunities, challenges, and risks of technology use, with the aim of designing appropriate user-centered solutions that prioritize usability, privacy, security and inclusivity, especially for under-served and marginalized populations. Her work has been featured in press such as the Atlantic Council.
Sowon’s expertise spans project design and management, data analysis, and the development and implementation of research tools. She thrives on solving complex problems with a real-world impact, applying her skills in bringing structure to ambiguity and creatively addressing new problems.
