Hello!

Hi, I’m Shweta (pronounced sh-way-ta). I am a mixed-method researcher, data scientist, and UX researcher currently pursuing my PhD at the University of California, Santa Cruz, under the guidance of Elin Carstendottir in the Interaction Dynamics Lab. My dissertation explores the design of narrative games as interventions to foster a sense of belonging among Indian international students—a topic I am deeply passionate about. To me, cultivating a sense of belonging is not just a moral imperative but a strategic necessity.

I use she/her pronouns and was born and raised in India. I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee , one of India’s premier institutions, graduating in 2018. During my time there, I had the privilege of working with Magy Seif El-Nasr, which sparked my fascination with the intersection of games and research. After graduation, I served as a Senior Data Scientist at Accenture for over three years, collaborating with five major American retail brands. While I excelled in understanding the numbers behind data, I found myself drawn to the human stories they represent—leading me to pursue a PhD to explore this connection further.

Beyond academics and work, I am also a writer who enjoys composing poetry in Hindi, my native language. In my earlier years, I played basketball and competed at the national level in yoga in India. These days, I love sipping coffee while working outdoors.

If you’re interested in my work or simply want to chat, feel free to reach out. Let’s connect!