Headshot of Arnavi Chheda-Kothary, wearing a maroon top and smiling at the camera.

Researcher, software engineer, and more...

Hello! I'm Arnavi Chheda-Kothary, a third-year PhD student in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science at the University of Washington. My co-advisors at UW are Professor Jon Froehlich and Professor Jacob Wobbrock. My research interests lie in utilizing applied artificial intelligence and novel interactions to create accessible technologies for people with disabilities. As a part of my PhD, I have held research intern positions at Microsoft Research, working with Dr. Ed Cutrell and Dr. Martez Mott on the Inclusive Futures team, and at the Allen Institute for AI, working with Dr. Jonathan Bragg on the ASTA team.

I was recently also an Engineering Manager at the Allen Institute for AI (2023-2025), where I led a frontend team helping researchers create real-world applications for their scientific advances. Prior to my PhD, I worked at Microsoft as a Software Engineer and a Software Engineering Manager (2016-2021), after which I pursued a Master's degree in Computer Science from Columbia University (2021-2023). At Columbia, I was a graduate student researcher in the Computer-Enabled Abilities Lab advised by Professor Brian Smith. My Master's thesis explored techniques to enable equivalent access to web user interfaces for people who are blind or have low vision. I also hold Bachelor's degrees in Computer Science and Human Centered Design and Engineering from the University of Washington (2012-2016).

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