Naba Rizvi
PhD Student, University of California-San Diego
Bellevue, Washington, USA / Asian/Middle Eastern
👩 she/her/hers
🎓 University of Toledo, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Magna Cum Laude
🎓 University of California, San Diego, Master of Science in Computer Science, Magna Cum Laude
🎓 University of California, San Diego, PhD in Computer Science
😁 Naba grew up in four countries: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and the US.
Naba makes artificial intelligence more inclusive for autistic people.
ABOUT HER WORK
Naba’s research focuses on the design of AI apps for autistic users. Her work promotes a more neurodiverse view of autism as a difference and not a deficit. Naba has spoken on neurodiversity panels at conferences such as GHC, Tapia, SigCSE, and NeurIPS. Her work has been recognized with awards from NCWIT, Google, and Adobe, and she founded the women’s chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery. Nabia is also studying gender bias in politics and looking at how the landscape of women in politics has changed over the years.
WATCH & DISCUSS
Watch: 2020 State of the University Address: Naba Rizvi
Why did Naba create the women’s chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery?
How is Naba's work in computer science helping with gender bias in politics?
What is Naba doing to make sure the field of computer science is more diverse?
OTHER RESOURCES
2020 State of the University Address: Naba Rizvi (Naba’s journey to discovering her passion in computer science)
ARTICLES
Making Connections: Engineering Student Interns in Silicon Valley (training computers to recognize topics in written text with an algorithm)
Our Experience as Speakers at the Grace Hopper Conference (discussion on how to navigate disabilities in the context of education and employment)
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
ADVICE TO YOUNGER SELF
Naba first learned computer science after high school.
“I would tell my 21 year old self to not listen to my ex-boyfriend, who told me computer science is "too hard" for women because one day I will graduate at the top of my class and end up getting a PhD in the field. I would tell my teenage self to not be afraid of pursuing my passion for STEM because I was afraid I don't "look" like a scientist. Skirts, dresses, and the color pink do not impede my ability to write great code!”
