Researching who belongs in computing — and why it matters

Putting students at the centre of computing research

I am a PhD student in the School of Computer Science at University College Dublin, where my research sits at the intersection of computing education, diversity, and student experience. My work is supervised by Professor Catherine Mooney and Dr. Camile Nadal, and was previously co-supervised by the late Dr. Brett A. Becker.

My research focuses on sense of belonging — the degree to which students feel accepted, valued, and that they fit within their academic community. Belonging is one of the strongest predictors of student persistence and wellbeing, yet it is unevenly distributed in ways that track gender, race, socioeconomic background, and how students entered university.

Across my published work I have investigated how belonging shifts through the COVID-19 pandemic, how university entry routes shape belonging from day one, and how factors like mathematical confidence, gender identity, and minoritisation compound these effects in computing and other sciences. My 2025 scoping review synthesises this growing field, offering researchers and educators the clearest evidence base yet for designing inclusive interventions.

Beyond my work in computing education, I am deeply interested in expanding my research into women's health, with a particular focus on pregnancy, postpartum depression, Alzheimer's, and dementia.