Herskovitz joins Department of Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science is pleased to welcome Jaylin Herskovitz as an Assistant Professor, effective December 15, 2025.

Herskovitz joins Tufts from the University of Michigan, where she earned both her PhD and BS in computer science. Her research focuses on accessibility, AI-based assistive technologies, DIY technology, and AR/VR. She works in close collaboration with people with disabilities to design, develop, and evaluate systems that make technology more inclusive. Her projects have introduced innovative tools that enable blind users to interact with a wide range of technologies—from mobile AR applications and collaborative tools like Google Docs to AI-generated image captions.

Her work has been published in leading human-computer interaction (HCI) conferences, including the ACM’s CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, the Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology, and the SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility. During her PhD, she was awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and completed research internships with Apple’s AI/ML Research team and Microsoft Research. Her contributions to the field have been recognized with the Susan Lipschutz Award for social responsibility in research and a departmental service award from the University of Michigan.

Herskovitz has served as a Graduate Student Instructor at the University of Michigan for both undergraduate and graduate level coursework, teaching User Interface Development and Human-Computer Interaction. For both courses, she worked to develop materials such as projects, quizzes, and exams, teaching web development (from HTML to JavaScript frameworks), human-centered design, and HCI research methods. She also worked to develop new lecture materials introducing accessibility in both HCI research and design practice. In her teaching, Herskovitz aims to prioritize hands-on experience through projects, iterative learning, and classroom accessibility.

Herskovitz brings to Tufts a deep passion for advancing accessibility through human-computer interaction. Her arrival marks an exciting addition to the department’s growing expertise in inclusive technology.

Please join us in welcoming Jaylin Herskovitz to the Tufts School of Engineering community.