Dr Marta E. Cecchinato is an Assistant Professor in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) at 51, where she researches how technology shapes work, wellbeing, and inclusivity in the digital age. Her work focuses on equity, digital resilience, and the future of work, investigating how digital tools can both challenge and support diverse working experiences.
Her research has been published in top-tier HCI venues, with several papers receiving awards (Best Paper Awards at , ; Honourable Mentions at , ). Her work has also been featured in New Scientist, The Conversation, BBC Science Focus, DW TV (live interview), and has contributed to UK Parliamentary Inquiries on digital policy and work, including the effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
She is an excellent public speaker with media training, having delivered public engagement talks such as Soapbox Science, stand up comedy events (Bright Club), as well as several presentations at academic and industry conferences.
She is also an active member of the international HCI community and committed to service and leadership in the field. She has recently served as General Chair for hosted at Northumbria, and is currently a member of the and . Within the Department, she is the Athena Swan lead, advocating for gender equity and inclusion in academia.
Before joining Northumbria, Marta worked at Microsoft Research Cambridge, the UCL Interaction Centre (UCLIC), Helsinki University, and the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology (HIIT). She hold a BSc and MSc in Psychology from the University of Padua (Italy) and a PhD in HCI from UCLIC.
Dr Marta E. Cecchinato's work focuses on equity, digital resilience, and the future of work, investigating how digital tools can both challenge and support diverse working experiences.
Rooted in a person-centred philosophy and interdisciplinarity, Marta takes a pragmatic, exploratory approach, often conducting deep dives into systemic issues around contemporary work environments, social justice, and digital inclusion. Her research primarily employs qualitative, (auto)ethnographic, and design methods, but she have also used logging tools, rapid prototyping, and statistical analysis to evaluate interventions and uncover broader insights.
Marta's research spans a range of topics, including:
Lauren Scott Misinformation, communication, and challenges: how technology can be used to support misinformation correction within UK family networks Start Date: 25/08/2022 End Date: 28/02/2025
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