Hi! I'm Meghna, a 3rd year PhD Student in the Department of Human Centered Design and Engineering at the University of Washington, where I am fortunate to be advised by Prof. Julie Kientz.

My research interests lie in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW), particularly focusing on examining the emerging socio-technical practices and digital behaviors within the context of deeply personal and intimate familial relationships. In my work, I love to think about questions related to digital safety and privacy, children and families, and emotionally-responsive AI systems. To achieve this, I predominantly use mixed-methods in my research, with a strong emphasis on ethnographic techniques such as interviews, observations, and surveys.

Prior to that, I spent incredible 2.5 years as a Research Fellow at Microsoft Research India, where I worked with Dr. Indrani Medhi Thies and Dr. Mohit Jain in the Technology and Empowerment Group (TEM). At MSR, I worked on research problems around information, communication, and technologies for development, especially in the Global South.

I’m currently exploring full-time or part-time research opportunities for Summer or Fall 2026 in Trust & Safety, AI safety, children–AI interaction, and family-centered design. You can check out my CV or publications, and I’m always happy to chat about potential opportunities or collaborations. Just send me an email!

Recent News

Jan 2026
Thrilled to be awarded the OpenAI Mental Health Grant award for our ongoing work on AI Companions and Children!
Jan 2026
Dec 2025
Awarded the HCDE Doctoral Research Grant Award for our work on Investigating Emerging AI Companions in Children's Play Environments with Aayushi Dangol.
Oct 2025
Honored to have received a Special Recognition for Outstanding Review for CHI 2026.
Oct 2025
So excited to be awarded the Google Academic Research Award for our work on Designing Family-Centered Safety Tools for Teen-AI Companion Interactions with Julie Kientz and Franziska Roesner!
Apr 2025
Our paper "Being a nanny isn't just caregiving": An Analysis of How Nannies Seek Support in Online Communities like /r/Nanny has been accepted at CHIWORK 2025!
Jan 2025
Our paper Echoes of Care: Unveiling the Intertwined Tensions between Childcare Work and Voice Assistants has been accepted at CHI 2025!

Selected Publications

Consent under Constraints: Negotiating Photography and Media Sharing in Institutionalized Childcare

Meghna Gupta, George Zhang, Sophie Stephenson, Franziska Roesner, and Julie Kientz

CHI 2026 (conditionally accepted).

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