Isabela Figueira - PhD Student Researcher

Hi, I'm Isabela

PhD Student Researcher

I am an Informatics PhD candidate studying accessible computing and human computer interaction at the University of California, Irvine. I am passionate about research that makes an impact in my local community and beyond.

About

I am an Informatics PhD Candidate studying accessible computing at the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) where I am advised by Dr. Stacy Branham in the INsite group.

My research interests include HCI and accessible and inclusive computing. In particular, I study how people with disabilities use or acquire technology while undergoing multiple life transitions such as acquiring disability or changing educational systems. I am especially driven by research projects that are centered on working with local communities.

🎓 MS in Computer Science from UC Irvine

🎓 BS in Computer Science and Engineering from Santa Clara University (SCU)

Select Publications

(to appear) "Coder first, advocate second, college student third": The Liminality of Going to College as a Blind Computing Student

I. Figueira, J.M. Cisneros, S.M. Branham
ASSETS 2026

The Intersecting Liminality of Technology Adoption and Disability during Life Transitions

I. Figueira, W. Sanka, K. Phan, Y. Cha, S.M. Branham.
TACCESS 2026

Where are the Disabled Students?: A Literature Review of Disability Inclusion in Computing Education Research

I. Figueira, J.M. Cisneros, J.L. Weber, W. Sanka, K. Phan, J. Wong-Ma, S.M. Branham.
SIGCSE TS 2026

Inspiring Blind and Low Vision High School Students and their Teachers to Access STEM in College

I. Figueira, J.M. Cisneros, J. Lindo, V.H. Luong, S.M. Branham.
RESPECT 2025
medal icon Exemplary Paper Award

Intersecting Liminality: Acquiring a Smartphone as a Blind or Low Vision Older Adult

I. Figueira, Y. Cha, S.M. Branham
ASSETS 2024
medal icon Best Paper Nominee

"Do you want me to participate or not?": Unpacking the Accessibility of Software Development Meetings for Blind and Low Vision Professionals

Y. Cha, I. Figueira, J. Ayala, E.J. Edwards, J. Garcia, A. van der Hoek, S.M. Branham.
CHI 2024

Media

From Grad Cohort for Women to ASSETS: How Mentorship and Community Helped Shape a Rising Researcher, CRA News, February 2025, Vol. 37/No. 2

Accessing STEM in Higher Education, UCI ICS News, July 16, 2024

Yes, People Who Are Blind Can Be Software Engineers: UC Irvine’s Accessibility Research Collective works to shatter assumptions and empower people with disabilities, UCI ICS News, July 17, 2023

Let's Connect

i dot figueira at uci dot edu