LISA ORII

Human-Centered AI Researcher | Digital Transformation | Global Health

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I design, develop, implement, and evaluate human-centered technologies in real-world contexts. I partner with end-users, designers, engineers, and domain experts, and apply qualitative and quantiative methods to identify and translate insights into design guidelines that shape the future of technologies. During my Ph.D., I led and supported digital health initiatives in Malawi’s and Kenya’s clinical contexts.

I received a Ph.D. in Computer Science & Engineering from the University of Washington, where I was advised by Dr. Richard Anderson. I interned at United Nations Human Rights, OMRON SINIC X Corporation, and PATH. I received a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science and Philosophy from Wellesley College.

In have been awarded MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 Japan (2022), the Quad Fellowship (2022), and the Funai Overseas Scholarship (2020).

You can find my CV here (updated Sept 2026).

RECENT UPDATES See all updates →

Sep 2026 Our paper “Co-design of a digital health intervention to provide pharmacy-based, person-centered contraceptive decision support for youth in Kenya” is published in PLOS Global Public Health.
Aug 2026 Moved to Geneva, Switzerland to begin an internship at the United Nations Human Rights office!
Jun 2026 I graduated from UW with a Ph.D. in Computer Science & Engineering!
Apr 2026 I successfully defended my Ph.D. dissertation!
Oct 2025 GeekWire wrote an article featuring our work on designing chatbots for sensitive medical contexts!

RECENT RESEARCH See all publications →

Digital Tools for Contraceptive Decision-Support in Kenya
  1. Co-design of a digital health intervention to provide pharmacy-based, person-centered contraceptive decision support for youth in Kenya
    Elizabeth K Harrington, Lisa Orii, Nelson K Cheruiyot, Merceline Awuor, Cellestine Aoko, Dismas C Ouma, Christine Dehlendorf, Richard Anderson, Elizabeth A Bukusi, and Serah W Gitome
    PLOS Global Public Health, 2026
    HTML PDF
  2. Supporting Contraceptive Decision-Making in the Intermediated Pharmacy Setting in Kenya
    Lisa Orii, Elizabeth K Harrington, Serah Gitome, Nelson Kiprotich Cheruiyot, Elizabeth Anne Bukusi, Sandy Cheng, Ariel Fu, Khushi Khandelwal, Shrimayee Narasimhan, and Richard Anderson
    Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 2025
    HTML PDF
Data Security for HIV Care in Malawi
  1. “They gave us the right to choose.” A qualitative study of preferences for differentiated service delivery location among recipients of antiretroviral therapy at Lighthouse Trust in Lilongwe Malawi
    Lisa Orii, Kate S Wilson, Jacqueline Huwa, Christine Kiruthu-Kamamia, Odala Sande, Agness Thawani, Astrid Berner-Rodoreda, Evelyn Viola, Hannock Tweya, Petros Tembo, Wapu Masambuka, Richard Anderson, and Caryl Feldacker
    PLOS One, 2025
    HTML PDF
  2. HIV Client Perspectives on Digital Health in Malawi
    Lisa Orii, Caryl Feldacker, Jacqueline Madalitso Huwa, Agness Thawani, Evelyn Viola, Christine Kiruthu-Kamamia, Odala Sande, Hannock Tweya, and Richard Anderson
    Proceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 2024
    HTML PDF
  3. eHealth Data Security and Privacy: Perspectives from Diverse Stakeholders in Malawi
    Lisa Orii, Caryl Feldacker, Hannock Tweya, and Richard Anderson
    Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 2024
    HTML PDF

EDUCATION

University of Washington Sep 2021 - Jun 2026

Ph.D. in Computer Science & Engineering – Specialization: Human-Computer Interaction
Graduate Certificate in Global Health of Women, Adolescents, and Children

Wellesley College Sep 2017 - Jun 2021

B.A. in Computer Science and Philosophy