Narges Pourjafarian
I am an Assistant Research Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern University. My research lies at the intersection of human–computer interaction, physical AI, and computational fabrication. I develop intelligent interactive systems by integrating sensing, actuation, machine learning, and computational design into their physical structures. My work investigates how geometry, materials, and embedded sensing can shape what systems perceive, how they interpret physical interactions, and how they respond to the world.
I envision a future in which intelligent systems are not constrained by fixed hardware, but can be computationally designed around the physical environments and interactions in which they operate. To advance this vision, I develop computational methods, learning-based design and optimization techniques, and fabrication technologies for robotic systems, tactile interfaces, wearable devices, and interactive materials. My research spans embodied perception and contact-rich interaction, material-integrated sensing and actuation, and sustainable approaches to building and reconfiguring electronic systems. My work has appeared in leading venues, including ACM CHI, UIST, ToCHI, SIGGRAPH, and IMWUT, and has received multiple Best Paper and Honorable Mention awards. Previously, I conducted research at Cornell University and MIT's Responsive Environments Group, and received my Ph.D. in Computer Science from Saarland University.
