Rita Orji

Rita Orji is a Nigerian-Canadian computer scientist, currently a Professor at the Faculty of Computer Science at Dalhousie University and holds the position of Canada Research Chair in Persuasive Technology. She is the director of the Persuasive Computing Lab. Her research areas include human-computer interaction, persuasive technology, artificial intelligence, and digital interventions for health and well-being. She focuses on designing user-centered interactive systems to motivate actions beneficial for individuals and communities, with a special emphasis on underserved populations. Rita has received more than 70 national and international awards and serves as a STEM diversity ambassador, promoting the participation of women and minority groups in computing. Her work aims to advance societal and public good through personalized and adaptive technologies.

• 2020–Present·Dalhousie University·Canada Research Chair, Professor
  • Leads the Persuasive Computing Lab, researching personalized and adaptive digital interventions for health and well-being.
• 2016–2017·University of Waterloo·Banting Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Investigated the design of persuasive technologies to promote societal and public good.
• 2014–2016·McGill University·Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Conducted research on technological interventions in behavior change systems.

• 2009–2014·University of Saskatchewan·PhD
  • Specialized in Computer Science with research on human-computer interaction and persuasive technology.
• 2006–2009·Middle East Technical University·MS
  • Focused on research in the field of Computer Science.
• 2001–2005·Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria·BS
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, graduated with First-Class Honors.

• 2024 Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship (NSERC)
• 2021 Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women
• 2020 Member of the College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada
• 2019 Dalhousie University President’s Research Excellence Award
• 2017 Named one of Canada’s Top 150 Women in STEM