Carrigan Lab Research Team
Dr. Coleen Carrigan
(she/her/hers)
Principal Investigator
Dr. Coleen Carrigan is an Associate Professor of Science, Technology, and Society in the Department of Engineering and Society at the University of Virginia. Using ethnography, her research is focused on broadening participation, combatting inequities, and enhancing public engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Carrigan is a recipient of a five-year National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award for her research into the intersections of gender, race, and social values in computing. Her book, Cracking the Bro Code, is available from MIT Press.
AJ Nicholson
(he/him/his)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
A.J. Nicholson is a fourth-year undergraduate at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He is majoring in Anthropology and Geography with a focus on Environmental Studies and Sustainability. In the lab, he actively explores ongoing research regarding crucial social issues, including gender and sexual harassment and data privacy in the fields of engineering and technology. Additionally, he engages in public discourse that debates and critically examines these topics. He is excited to foster his intellectual growth in the field of science, technology, and society (STS) while also acquiring valuable skills in data management and ethical handling of information. Through gaining various skills in the lab, his aspirations involve conducting further investigations into the social impact of AI, as well as examining the effects of surveillance capitalism and safeguarding data privacy.
Shivam Raigaga
(he/him/his)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Shivam Raigaga is a second-year Chemical Engineering major at the University of Virginia. His research focuses on responsible innovation, ensuring that new materials and processes in Chemical Engineering incorporate ethical considerations and inclusivity. In the lab, he explores how racial and gender disparities, such as the underrepresentation of minorities in leadership roles and unequal access to resources and opportunities, influence the development and implementation of novel engineering technologies. Through ethnographic methods, including thematic analysis and participant observation, Shivam aims to investigate these issues to inform more inclusive engineering practices. His goals include advancing expertise in responsible engineering, fostering collaboration between engineering and social sciences, and developing research-based guidelines to reduce racial and gender disparities in leadership roles, resource allocation, and career advancement within the Chemical Engineering field. Shivam aspires to create technologies and processes that not only optimize efficiency but also promote diversity and equity, ensuring that advancements benefit all communities fairly.
RECENT accomplishments
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Winner
Sophie Klitgaard, former REU Stipend Awardee in the Carrigan Lab, wins National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
“While concerns over privacy are central to many high profile debates surrounding computer science and technology fields, relatively little research has investigated what privacy is or how it operates outside of the limited context of digital communications. My graduate research will address this critical gap in knowledge by examining how conceptualizations of privacy vary as a function of social and environmental contexts. In the coming years, I hope to utilize the findings of this research to push for informed public policy and user privacy protections.” -Sophie Klitgaard
REU Site Participant Award, 2022
Madison Green, National Science Foundation Division of Engineering Education and Centers conference in Virginia
Photo Credit: Dr. Christine Grant
Lab Alumni
Former Doctoral Research Assistants: Burren Peil, Katie Kuhl, Saejin Kwak Tanguay
Former Undergraduate Research Assistants: Elyse Undan, Nifasha Diomede, Henry Allen, Selah Mitchell, Miguel Del Real, Erin McDaniels, Madison Witters Green, Sophie Elizabeth Klitgaard, Clara Atwell, Siena Nicole Parsons, Jet J. Tan, Ell Hundertmark, Abibat Rahman-Davies, Gabriel Medina-Kim, Abigail Craig, Alana Salas-Yoshii, Noah Krigel, Luci Simpson, Mira Ambika Banerjee Brown, Rachel Kangas, Michelle Bardini, Frances Giffrey, Tas Thienpothong, Kelsey Molidor
Former STEM and VISTA Associates: Monica Singer, Emily Liptow, Chris Basurto