Rick Wash

Rick Wash is a professor in the School of Information at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing his research on understanding how people think about and use technology, particularly in the areas of information security, crowdsourcing, and online communities. His work explores the role of human decisions in cybersecurity, including password selection, software updates, and phishing detection. Professor Wash has received accolades such as the SOUPS Impact Award and the Google Security and Privacy Research Award for his contributions to usable security and has led numerous NSF-funded research projects. His research highlights the importance of leveraging user mental models to design safer socio-technical systems.

• 2025–Present·University of Wisconsin-Madison·Professor (with tenure)
  • Professor in the School of Information, researching information security and social computing
• 2024–Present·University of Wisconsin-Madison·Associate Director of Research
  • Associate Director of Research at the School of Information, responsible for research management
• 2023–2025·University of Wisconsin-Madison·Associate Professor (with tenure)
  • Associate Professor in the School of Information, focusing on user security behavior research
• 2016–2023·Michigan State University·Associate Professor (with tenure)
  • Associate Professor in the Department of Media and Information, leading BITLab research
• 2015–2016·Michigan State University·Associate Professor (with tenure)
  • Joint appointment in the School of Journalism and the Department of Media and Information
• 2010–2015·Michigan State University·Assistant Professor
  • Assistant Professor in the School of Journalism and the Department of Media and Information
• 2009–2010·Michigan State University·Visiting Assistant Professor
  • Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Telecommunications, Information Studies, and Media

• 2009·University of Michigan·PhD
  • School of Information, specializing in home computer security incentives
• 2005·University of Michigan·Master's Degree
  • Computer Science
• 2002·Case Western Reserve University·Bachelor's Degree
  • Computer Science