Vera Khovanskaya

Vera Khovanskaya is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Information, University of Toronto, and an Academic Fellow at the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society. She holds cross-appointment positions in the Department of Computer Science and the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources (CIRHR). She is the Director of the Labour Process and Technology Lab (Labour Lab) at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on the intersection of labor rights and technological tools, particularly how unions use workplace data and the impact of data tools on modern labor organizing. Vera's research methodologies combine qualitative, quantitative, community-driven, and design approaches, paired with historical analysis, to support workers and organizers in building democratic and sustainable data tools. Previously, she was a CRA/NSF Computing Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, San Diego, and she completed her Ph.D. at Cornell University, with research concentrating on embedded computing and the design of labor-related technologies.

• 2023–Present·University of Toronto·Assistant Professor
  • Teaching in the Faculty of Information and serving as an Academic Fellow at the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society. Research focuses on labor tech tools and community-driven design.
• 2021–2023·University of California, San Diego·Postdoctoral Researcher
  • As a CRA/NSF Computing Innovation Fellow, contributed to the Design Lab and Just Transitions Initiative, studying data practices and technological innovation within labor organizations.
• 2014–2021·Cornell University·Graduate Researcher
  • Conducted doctoral research in the Department of Information Science, specializing in personal informatics and critical design.

• 2014–2021·Cornell University·Ph.D.
  • Information Science, focusing on embedded computing and data practices in labor organizations.
• Undergraduate | Cornell University | Bachelor’s Degree
  • Information Science, conducted research in the Interaction Design Lab.