Designing technology for more of the world.

Over nearly 18 years at Microsoft Research India, including as a Principal Researcher, I led research on technologies for low-literate, emergent, and underserved users. My work brings together human–computer interaction, user-centered design, and technology for global development.

My research has been published in leading international venues and recognized with honors including the ACM SIGCHI Social Impact Award (now the Societal Impact Award) and MIT Technology Review's TR35. My work on text-free user interfaces was featured in the Museum of Modern Art's online exhibition Design and the Elastic Mind.

Today, I advise and mentor researchers, startups, and social-impact initiatives, with a particular interest in inclusive and culturally grounded approaches to AI and interaction design.

I joined Microsoft Research India's Technology and Empowerment group (formerly Technology for Emerging Markets) in Bangalore shortly after its founding in 2005 and remained until 2023. I also spent a period working from Microsoft Research New England in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while continuing as part of the India research team.

My work has explored interfaces for people with limited literacy or digital experience, conversational agents, accessibility for people with visual impairments, social media use, and crowdsourcing in low-resource environments.

Beyond my research role, I served for more than a decade on the board of Digital Green, mentored startups including Navana.AI, and supported the ideation and spinout of Karya.

I continue to collaborate with academic researchers and support early-career researchers through mentoring, advisory work, and academic service.

I've delivered talks at TEDx events and institutions including MIT, Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Washington, UC San Diego, IIT Bombay, IISc, NYU Abu Dhabi, and the Gates Foundation.

Selected academic and professional engagements:

My background spans architecture, design, and computing. I hold a PhD from the Industrial Design Centre at IIT Bombay, a master's degree in design from the Institute of Design at Illinois Tech, Chicago, and a bachelor's degree in architecture from VNIT Nagpur.

I grew up in Guwahati, Assam, and trained in fine arts from an early age at the Assam Fine Arts and Crafts Society. My family's roots in Mangaldai, Assam, and its tradition of public service remain important to me.