People
Dr. Samar Sabie
Founder and Director
Samar is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology at the University of Toronto. Her research investigates the role design as a socio-material practice can play in how communities develop an adaptive capacity towards sustainable change. Her research draws on her multidisciplinary training in architecture, software engineering, ethnography, and philosophy.
Mohammad R. Rifat
Research Associate
Rifat is a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science at the University of Toronto, focusing on the ethics of computing and AI. His research aims to develop inclusive technologies that support cultural and value pluralism. He combines computing techniques with qualitative methods to empower marginalized communities. His work has been recognized in leading HCI, CSCW, ICTD, and FAccT venues.
Priyanka Verma
PhD Student
Priyanka is a third-year doctoral student at the Faculty of Information, University of Toronto. Her research investigates and seeks to reimagine the role of data and information technologies in supporting the goals of cooperatives. She is currently investigating participatory forms of algorithmic decision making for fair division of resources. Her work integrates computational and statistical techniques, qualitative interpretive methods, and design-based frameworks. Her work has been supported by Sustainable Development Goals Student Awards, School of Cities Graduate Fellowship and Munk School of Public Policy scholarships at UofT. She has previously worked as a software developer at Oracle India. Her prior academic training is in computer science and economics from BITS Pilani, India.
Ethan Rong
PhD Student
Anvi Nagpal
MArch Candidate
Anvi is a Master of Architecture candidate at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto, where she also completed her undergraduate degree in Architectural Design, graduating with the Academic Merit Award in 2022. Anvi’s current research continues her commitment to integrating pluralistic perspectives into Western feminist theory and examines the intersections of politics and architecture within marginalised communities.
Zhaoyang Li
Research Assistant
Zhaoyang recently graduated from the University of Toronto Mississauga Campus, completing a double major in CCIT and Sociology programs. Her research interests include media, culture, sociology, and education fields. Zhaoyang’s goal is to contribute to the Open Design Collaboratory and pursue media study in the future.
Prajna Pendharkar
Research Assistant
Prajna is an undergraduate researcher based at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology. She is currently researching collaborative design in technology as well as virtual reality. Prajna is passionate about public awareness about the strengths and ethical implications of innovation in society, and has spent extensive time building her diversified expertise around the UofT community. She presented some of her perspectives on industry trends in VR at the Centre for Ethics, and she was also named co-author of a paper innovating on first-year computer science teaching methods in the Association for Computing Machinery. In addition, she devotes her time to various initiatives related to AI ethics around the community, having written for general audiences in the utmONE Scholars journal and The Varsity newspaper, and supporting coordination efforts for the Toronto Ethics in AI symposium and various research lab events. You can keep up with Prajna’s work on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/prajnapendharkar. You can also follow her blog on WordPress: https://unchartedpiques.wordpress.com/.
Clarice Wu
Research Assistant
Clarice Wu is an undergraduate student studying CCIT & Commerce with a minor in Economics, graduating June 2025. She’s passionate about intercultural connection and creative innovation with a focus on sustainable operations, and equitable practices. Her experience with the ODC started in May 2024 with Jackman Scholars-in-Residence which sparked her interest in makerspaces’ value propositions.
Nouran Yahya
Research Assistant
Nouran is a computer engineering student at UWaterloo, currently working on the homeschooling project to promote cultural pluralism in education by leveraging AI. Nouran’s role integrates technologies to create impactful, inclusive learning solutions by merging her technical expertise with meaningful societal applications. Looking ahead, she aims to specialize in AI/ML engineering to create intelligent systems that drive progress in education and beyond.
Neetu Mohan
Industry Collaborator
Neetu Mohan is an Industry Collaborator at the University of Toronto, guiding students in design thinking, UX research, and industry best practices. As a Lead UX Researcher at Scotiabank, she has established UX practices, led strategic discoveries, and mentored teams. With 14 years of experience in UX research and product strategy across E-Commerce and FinTech, she brings a practical, real-world perspective to the classroom. Passionate about bridging academia and industry, Neetu empowers students with hands-on insights into user research methodologies, service design, and design thinking frameworks.