I'm Ishika (she/her), a PhD Student in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. I broadly research Human-AI Interaction. I come from the beautiful city of New Delhi, India.

What connects me to HCI is my intrigue for the tales of human experiences. I approach these experiences from a reductionist perspective, focusing on the fundamental elements that shape, influence, and evolve them. As Marshall McLuhan said, "We shape our tools, and thereafter our tools shape us." I’m fascinated by the bidirectional influences between human factors like values, culture, philosophies, and environments, and their interactions with complex social actors like technology.
In addition to being a researcher, I'm also a designer and developer. I take great joy in using my creative and technical skills to design solutions that amplify and enhance these human experiences, with technology as my creative material.
Previously, I completed my Bachelor’s in Technology in Computer Science and Design from IIITD in 2023. I have conducted research in Interactive Computing, Social Computing, and Human-AI Interaction, with publications at venues like CHI, CSCW, and SIGCSE-TS.I’ve had the privilege to explore these interests through various opportunities at IIITD, Cornell Tech and Adobe. My research include collaborations with Dr. Pushpendra Singh (Melange Lab, IIITD), Dr. Aman Parnami (Weave Lab, IIITD), Dr. Tapan Parikh (Cornell Tech) and Dr. Dhruv Kumar (IIITD),

Outside of research, I find peace in stuff like photography and videography (lots of it), learning different languages (こんにちは), trying different art styles, engaging in art history or works of philosophers and sociologists, sometimes painting, watching a lot of anime or just randomly staring at the sky and reflecting:)