About Me
I am an Assistant Professor of Organizational Communication and Technology at the University of Texas at Austin, and a Senior Fellow at Wharton People Analytics of the University of Pennsylvania.
My research investigates the dynamics of communication and social relationships in teams and organizations, with a specific focus on leveraging digital technologies in the workplace to improve organizational productivity and employee well-being. I apply statistical and computational methods, surveys, interviews, and focus groups to understand team processes and organizational structure from a network perspective. My current project focuses on identifying communication patterns and relational mechanisms in flexible work arrangements.
Keywords: Networks, Digital Collaboration Technologies, Teams, Remote & Hybrid Work, Organizational Communication
Research Focus
How digital technologies mediate communication, collaboration, and networks at work
- Studying how employees create, dissolve, and reactivate network ties when organizations shift to remote and hybrid work
- Examining how (mis)alignment in perceptions of communication technologies shape information sharing
- Analyzing attention dynamics on enterprise social technologies
- Investigating how healthcare professionals use Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and secure chat messaging to manage patient care
In my research, I've partnered with organizations across industries, including IT, manufacturing, biotech, healthcare, aviation, and financial services, spanning startups, Fortune 100 companies, non-profits, and hospitals.
How I conduct research
- Computational methods
- Digital trace / communication log analysis
- Social network analysis
- Psychometric and sociometric survey design
- Field experiments
- Interviews and qualitative fieldwork
Research support
- National Science Foundation
- National Institute of Health
- Mack Institute Research Fellowship
- Wharton People Analytics
Selected Publications
Recent peer-reviewed work on networks, technologies, and the future of work.
-
2026
How remote work is reshaping the office
-
2026
Attention dynamics on social technology platforms in organizations: An empirical study of structural and temporal mechanisms
In the Media
Selected coverage of my research and commentary.
Education
- PhD Northwestern University, Media, Technology, and Society
- MS Northwestern University, Statistics
- MA Northwestern University, Media, Technology, and Society
- BS Cornell University, Information Science & Communication (magna cum laude)
Teaching
University of Texas at Austin
- Graduate Seminar on Social Networks
- Using Communication Technology at Work (Undergraduate)
- Social Networks (Undergraduate)
Previously
- Social Capital and Networks, Northwestern University
- Social Network Analysis (Lab Instructor), Northwestern University
- Bargaining and Negotiation (Teaching Assistant), Northwestern University
Leisure Interests
I value the power of sharing time and space with others through live performing arts.
- Flute playing: I enjoy flute practice on a regular basis. I've been, as part of Penn Flutes and Austin Flute Choir, drawn to perform in a range of community spaces, including museums, churches, retirement homes, and cultural festivals, using instrumental music as a way to connect with diverse audiences.
- Theater: I directed one major production and was a leading actress in two at Cornell. Theater arts allow me to explore different roles and stories, traverse into historical contexts, and reveal various aspects of human connections through shared performances.