Nicola Dell

About Nicola's Work

Nicola Dell is a computer and information scientist developing technology interventions to address the specific needs and concerns of overlooked populations, in particular survivors of intimate partner violence and home healthcare workers. Dell’s work spans the fields of human-computer interaction, computer security and privacy, and information and communication technologies for development. She carries out her research in sustained partnership with affected communities to deepen her understanding of the challenges they face and to devise solutions that respond to both technological and social factors at play.

One major line of Dell’s research focuses on the security and privacy of people experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). Abusers often exploit technology to surveil, threaten, impersonate, or harass the targeted person. Dell conducted qualitative studies of survivor experiences through a partnership with the New York City Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. To investigate the tactics abusers employ, her lab also analyzed hundreds of posts in public online forums where potential perpetrators discuss strategies and spyware for surveilling their partners. Her team’s research revealed that security and privacy mechanisms on widely used devices and platforms fail to anticipate and prevent attacks from people with intimate knowledge of or access to the targeted individual. Dell’s exploration of this problem exposed flaws in conventional security threat models—which are designed to guard against technologically sophisticated and distant adversaries, such as governments—and contributed new frameworks for security and privacy research to address closer, more personal types of threats. Dell co-founded the Clinic to End Tech Abuse (CETA) to translate her research into practice and support IPV survivors through one-on-one “clinical computer security” consultations. Trained CETA volunteers check survivors’ devices for spyware, disentangle joint accounts, and provide other forms of privacy and safety guidance. Dell also advises tech companies about risks posed by frequently exploited products, and her research has informed legislation to ensure more robust protections against tech abuse. 

In another line of research, Dell investigates how technology could improve patient outcomes and working conditions for home healthcare workers. These essential caregivers are often among the most isolated and underresourced workers within healthcare systems. Dell’s group is exploring the benefits of computer-mediated peer support programs, technologies to better integrate home health aides in the healthcare team, and access to electronic training resources. Through her human-centered approach to technology innovation, Dell informs real-world policies and systems that empower people in their daily lives.