Researcher based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Currently conducting human-centered research at Oracle.

Carolyn Pang (PhD, MSc, BTech) is a Canadian author and researcher with over 15 years of experience in user experience, human-computer interaction, and collaborative technologies.

Her research spans social and urban computing, collaborative systems, and communication technologies, with a focus on how people engage with digital tools in complex environments. She studies user behaviours, social interactions, group collaboration, and information-sharing practices in both enterprise and everyday contexts.

Dr. Pang is both an applied researcher and experienced practitioner whose career has focused on advancing digital transformation in the public sector and urban environments. Her work spans enterprise software, smart cities and digital government, with a focus on how people interact with technology in complex civic and organizational contexts. As a researcher, she integrates methods from design, sociology, psychology, and computer science to study user trust, inclusion, and the ethical dimensions of emerging technologies. In her professional role, she collaborates with cross-functional teams to design and evaluate user-centered solutions that drive impact across enterprise systems.

Dr. Pang holds a PhD and MSc in Human-Computer Interaction from Simon Fraser University, where she studied with Dr. Carman Neustaedter. She also holds a Bachelor of Technology in Applied Computer Science from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). Dr. Pang completed a postdoctoral fellowship at McGill University with Dr. Karyn Moffatt, focusing on user experience and collaborative technologies. She has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications in top HCI venues and regularly presents her work at international conferences. Dr. Pang is also the co-editor and contributing author of the forthcoming HCI in the Wild: Measuring UX within the Product Ecosystem (Springer, 2026), a collection of applied industry research studies.

In addition to her academic and professional contributions, Dr. Pang is the author of the forthcoming children’s picture book, Always With Us (2026), a gentle story that supports young children and families navigating grief after pregnancy or infant loss.

Education

Postdoctoral Researcher in Accessibility and Aging (2018-2021)
ACT Research Group, School of Information Studies, McGill University

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human-Computer Interaction (2013-2018)
Connections Lab, School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University

Master of Science (MSc) in Human-Computer Interaction (2011-2013)
Connections Lab, School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University

Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in Applied Computer Science, HCI specialization (2008-2010)
School of Computing, British Columbia Institute of Technology

Awards & Recognitions

  • The NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships – Doctoral (PGS D) program provides financial support to high-calibre students who are engaged in an eligible doctoral program in natural sciences or engineering.

  • Through the Women Techmakers Scholars Program - formerly the Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship Program - Google is furthering Dr. Anita Borg’s vision of creating gender equality in the field of computer science by encouraging women to excel in computing and technology and become active leaders and role models in the field.

  • The province of British Columbia has funded BC Graduate Scholarships (BCGS) in any field of study, with emphasis on research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields

  • The GRAND NCE (Graphics, Animation and New Media Network of Centres of Excellence) was created in 2009 through the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program to employ an interdisciplinary and interconnected approach to address Canada’s technological, creative, socio-economic, legal and cultural challenges in digital media.

  • This award goes to PhD students who have made excellent progress in their degree, completing all university and program requirements.

  • SFU's Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies offers merit-based awards to graduate students who have achieved high academic achievement.

  • This award is intended to provide financial support for a student pursuing a graduate degree in research relevant to the area of Intelligent Systems.

  • The Special Graduate Entrance Scholarship (SGES) is intended primarily as a means of recruiting outstanding applicants for admission.

  • Best Paper Awards are presented at many ACM conferences to authors whose work represents groundbreaking research in their respective areas. By recognizing these select papers for their ingenuity and importance, ACM highlights some of the theoretical and practical innovations that are likely to shape the future of computing.

Get in Touch.