Leah Findlater

Leah Findlater is a Canadian-American computer scientist specializing in human-computer interaction, mobile computing, and accessible computing technologies. She is currently a professor in Human-Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) at the University of Washington and leads a research team on AI and accessibility at Apple Inc. As the founding associate director of the University of Washington CREATE center (Accessible Technology and Experiences), she focuses on lowering barriers to technology use for individuals with diverse physical, sensory, and cognitive abilities. Findlater has published over 60 peer-reviewed papers in top-tier venues, earning multiple Best Paper and Honorable Mention awards. Her research is supported by funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Defense, and Google, among others. Her work spans topics such as improving text input on touchscreens to interacting with complex machine learning models.

• 2021–Present·Apple Inc.·Research Scientist, Human-Centered AI Research Group
  • Leading AI and accessibility research team focused on adaptive technologies and human-centered artificial intelligence.
• 2017–Present·University of Washington·Professor, Human-Centered Design & Engineering
  • Affiliate Associate Professor in Computer Science & Engineering and Disability Studies; founded and directs the Inclusive Design Lab at UW.
• 2011–2017·University of Maryland iSchool·Assistant Professor
  • Conducted teaching and research in the iSchool and Human-Computer Interaction Lab.
• 2009–2011·University of Washington Information School·NSERC Postdoctoral Researcher
  • Focused on human-computer interaction and accessibility technologies.

• 2005–2009·University of British Columbia·PhD
  • Research Focus: Personalizing graphical user interfaces
  • Advisor: Joanna McGrenere
• 2002–2004·University of British Columbia·Master’s
  • Research Focus: Comparing static, adaptive, and adaptable menus
• 1997–2001·University of Regina·Bachelor’s
  • Major: Computer Science, graduated with honors