Areen Khalaila

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Undergaduate Student at Brandeis University, majoring in CS and minoring in Physics

areenkh@brandeis.edu
@areen_khalaila

Research Area

My research interests lie at the intersection of human-computer interaction, accessibility, and visualization. My work focuses on creating inclusive, user-centered design solutions that provide real-time feedback and guidance. By exploring and addressing the unique challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, I aim to contribute to global accessibility standards and promote the widespread adoption of inclusive practices in both academia and industry.

Positions

2024–present Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA
Student Researcher, HCII, Axle Lab
2023–2024 Brandeis University Waltham, MA
Student Researcher, Visual Analytics Lab
2023–present Crown Center for Middle East Studies Waltham, MA
Website Editor
2022–2022 TAMID Group Technology Consulting Waltham, MA
Software Engineer intern

Education

2021–2025 B.S. in Computer Science, Brandeis University Waltham, MS

Advised by Dylan Cashman.
Thesis: (In progress).
Member of the Visual Analytics Lab.
GPA: 3.8 / 4.0, Magna Cum Laude
Advanced coursework on Data Visualization, HCI, DBMS, and Software Engineering.

Publications [Interactive Version]

Paper

Poster

P3
A Replication of Visual Perception Studies with Tactile Representations of Data for Visually Impaired Users
Areen Khalaila, Lane Harrison, Nam Wook Kim, Dylan Cashman. IEEE VIS, 2024.
Project

Awards

2024 Senior Honors Thesis Award - Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fund Brandeis University

2024 Conference Presentation Award - Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fund Brandeis University

This award supports undergraduate students in presenting their research at professional conferences.

2021 Malkin Fellowship Brandeis University

This award is offered to one student every 4 years and was awarded based on my academic accomplishments and involvements in activities promoting global peace.

2021–Present Dean's List Brandeis University

2021 Best Delegate Award MUN

2021 Outstanding Delegate MUN

Teaching & Mentoring

2024

Head Teaching Assistant - Advanced Programming Techniques in Java

Brandeis University

I led a group of TAs and run weekly recitations. I taught a class of 70+ students the fundamentals of OOP and Data Structure in Java. Spring 2024

2024

Teaching Assistant - Operating Systems

Brandeis University

Conducted weekly office hours and graded homework and exams. [Spring 2024]

2023

Teaching Assistant - Data Structure

Brandeis University

Conducted weekly office hours and graded homework and exams. [Fall 2023]

2022–present

Teaching Assistant - Advanced Programming Techniques in Java

Brandeis University

Conducted weekly office hours and graded homework and exams. [Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Summer 2023, Summer 2024]

2022–2023

Teaching Assistant - Problem-Solving in Python

Brandeis University

Conducted weekly office hours and graded homework and exams. [Spring 2022, Summer 2022, Fall 2023]

2022

Peer Tutor of Computer Science and Math - TRIO SSSP

Brandeis University

Provided one-on-one tutoring to first-gen students in Computer Science and Math. [Fall 2022]

Relevant Coursework

Human-Computer Interaction

Information Visualization

Database Management System

Web App Development

Software Engineering

Data Structures and Algorithms

Discrete Structures

Operating Systems

Object-oriented programming

Probability and Statistics

Linear Algebra

Service

References

Dylan Cashman
Assistant Professor, Computer Science Department
Brandeis University

Iraklis Tsekourakis
Associate Teaching Professor, Khoury College
Northeastern University

Patrick Carrington
Assistant Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Institute
Carnegie Mellon University