Thanks for stopping by!

I am a second-year Ph.D. student in Computing & Information Sciences at the Rochester Institute of Technology, working with Dr. Hidy Kong. I am affiliated with the Center for Accessibility and Inclusion Research (CAIR) and the Vis-Assistive Technology (Vis-AT) Research Group.

My research lies at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Accessibility, Visualization, and Human-Centered AI. I design, build, and evaluate interactive systems that reduce barriers in digital spaces, and I study how people interpret complex visual data. Recently, my work has focused on human-AI collaboration, specifically investigating how training strategies, risk perception, and trust influence human dependence on AI systems in contexts like deepfake detection. I am also exploring the evolving role of AI in data visualization to make these tools more inclusive and effective.

To recharge outside of the lab, I enjoy skiing, forest hiking, and playing the electric guitar.

🔥 News

2026.03: 🎉 Full Paper accepted to ACM CSCW 2026 in Salt Lake City🇺🇸. “Details TBA”

2026.01: 🎉 Full Paper accepted to ACM CHI 2026 in Barcelona🇪🇸.

“[What Happened to Scenario-Based Design in HCI?: A Scoping Review]”

2025.06: 🎉 Full Paper accepted to ACM CSCW 2025 in Bergen🇳🇴.

“Effect of AI Performance, Risk Perception, and Trust on Human Dependence in Deepfake Detection AI system”

2025.05: 📖 Successfully passed the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam. A huge thanks to my advisor, Dr. Hidy Kong, and my examining committee — Dr. Roshan L. Peiris, Dr. Ji Hwan Park, and Dr. Garreth W. Tigwell for their time and insights.

2024.11: 🎉 Full Paper accepted to AAAI ICWSM 2025 in Copenhagen🇩🇰.

“A Study of Training Strategies on Enhancing Human Detection of AI-Synthesized Faces”

2024.08: 📖 Joined RIT to pursue a Ph.D. in Computing and Information Sciences under the supervision of Dr. Hidy Kong.
2024.05: 🎓 Graduated from Penn State with an M.Sc. in Informatics under the supervision of Dr. John M. Carroll, and supported by a wonderful committee of mentors: Dr. Dongwon Lee, Dr. Aiping Xiong, and Dr. Anna N. Kreisberg.

2023.09: 🎉 Presented a poster at ANFA 2023 in San Diego🇺🇸.

“Impact of Virtual Reality Navigation on Emotional Responses to Virtual Architectural Environments.”

📝 Publications

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Not a Collaborator or a Supervisor, but an Assistant: Striking the Balance Between Efficiency and Ownership in AI-incorporated Qualitative Data Analysis
Anoushka Puranik, Ester Chen, Roshan L. Peiris, Hidy Kong
Preprint | Qualitative Data Analysis, Collaborative Coding, Degree of Delegation, Artificial Intelligence [arXiv]
What Happened to Scenario-Based Design in HCI?: A Scoping Review
John M. Carroll, Jeongwon Jo, Jiyoon Kim, Ya-Fang Lin, Ester Chen
ACM CHI 2026 Design Envisionment, Design Thinking, Human-Computer Interaction, Participatory Design, Design Fiction | [ACM Digital Library]
Effect of AI Performance, Risk Perception, and Trust on Human Dependence in Deepfake Detection AI Systems
Yingfan Zhou, Ester Chen, Manasa Pisipati, Aiping Xiong, Sarah Rajtmajer
ACM CSCW 2025 Deepfake, Human-AI Collaboration, Human-AI Decision Making, Trust | [ACM Digital Library]
A Study of Training Strategies on Enhancing Human Detection of AI-Synthesized Faces
Ester Chen*, Haeseung Seo, Margie Ruffin, Dongwon Lee, Gang Wang, Aiping Xiong (*Co-first author)
AAAI ICWSM 2025 Deepfake Detection, Visual Misinformation, Human-in-the-Loop, Training Strategies | [Paper Link]

Preprints & Working Papers

Exploring the Use of Visualization and AI for Qualitative Data Analysis
Ester Chen, Nikita Bhyri, Vidhi Rathod, Hidy Kong
Under Review Expected Mar 2026
A Comparative Study of Static, Scrollytelling, and Chatbot Visualization Onboarding Techniques for UX Designers
Ester Chen, Aboli Shete, Aditya Anavekar, Roshan L. Peiris, Hidy Kong
Working Paper Expected Jun 2026

📖 Educations

2024.08 - Now, Ph.D. Student in Computing and Info. Sciences, Golisano College of Computing, Rochester Institute of Technology, United States
2024.05, M.Sc. Informatics, College of Information Sciences and Technology, Penn State University - University Park, United States
2019.09, Term Exchange, Department of Computer Engineering, University of Warwick, United Kingdom
2021.06, B.Sc. Mathematics, School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Western Ontario, Canada

💻 Apprenticeships