Overview

My research is conducted primarily through the lens of User Experience (UX) design and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). My work focuses on conversational and voice user interfaces, virtual agents, the inclusive design of technology for older adults, issues of social marginalization, and virtual reality. My research aims to reduce barriers to technology access and adoption and prevent design-based marginalization of underrepresented users such as older adults. Many of my recent publications investigate ways to avoid Digital Design Marginalization in emerging technologies.

I have published at multiple venues including conferences such as CHI, CUI, and MobileHCI, and journals such as the Journal of Human-Computer Interaction.

Feel free to check out my work on Google Scholar or follow my updates on Twitter (@jcsynnn).

You can also view a list of my work under the Publications page.

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES & SErvice

• ACM Conversational User Interfaces (CUI) Conference Series:

  • CUI 2026: Accessibility Chair

  • CUI 2025: General Chair

  • CUI 2024: Accessibility and Diversity Chair

  • CUI 2023: Papers Co-Chair

  • CUI 2022: Accessibility and Diversity Chair, Senior Program Committee Member

  • CUI 2021: SV & Diversity Chair, Program Committee Member

  • CUI 2020: SV & Diversity Chair, Reviewer

• ACM International Conference on Mobile Human-Computer Interaction (MobileHCI) Conference Series:

  • MobileHCI 2023: Full Papers Associate Chair

  • MobileHCI 2022: Social Media Co-Chair

  • MobileHCI 2021: Registration Co-Chair

• ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI):

  • CHI 2026: Full Papers Associate Chair

  • CHI 2025: Full Papers Associate Chair

  • CHI 2024: Full Papers Associate Chair

  • CHI 2023: Late-Breaking Work Associate Chair

  • CHI 2022: Late-Breaking Work Associate Chair, Student Volunteer

• ACM Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing (CSCW) Conference Series:

  • CSCW 2022: Poster Associate Chair

• ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS) Conference Series:

  • ASSETS 2025: Technical Program Committee Member

• ACM CUI Workshop Series:

  • CUI@CHI 2023: Lead Organizer

  • CUI@CHI 2022: Organizer

  • CUI@CHI 2021: Organizer

  • CUI@IUI 2021: Organizer

  • CUI@CSCW 2021: Organizer

  • CUI@CHI 2020: Organizer

  • CUI@IUI 2020: Organizer

• ACM In-Cooperation Conference on Graphics, Visualization & HCI (GI):

  • GI 2025: Web and Publicity Chair

• EduCHI Symposium @ CHI:

  • EduCHI 2022 Symposium @ CHI 2022: Accessibility Co-Chair

  • EduCHI 2021 Symposium @ CHI 2021: Technical Program Assistant

  • EduCHI 2020 Symposium @ CHI 2020: Social Media Chair

  • EduCHI 2019 Symposium @ CHI 2019: Paper Session Chair

• University of Toronto iSchool PhD Research Days 2021: Organizer

• External Reviewer: CHI, CSCW, CUI, ASSETS, MobileHCI, DIS, International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction (IJHCI), among other venues