Mikaela O'bryan
Doctoral student

Presentation

I am a second-year PhD student in Computer Science with a focus on the design of digital solutions that support individuals in making more sustainable energy choices. My research is situated within the broader context of the energy transition, where phasing out fossil fuels depends not only on new infrastructure, but also on changes in how we use and manage energy in our everyday lives, such as reducing overall consumption and shifting usage to off-peak hours.

My main interest lies in how digital interfaces—, ike energy applications and smart home solutions, can be designed to encourage and support these behavioral shifts. I approach this from a Human-Computer Interaction perspective, combining user-centered and intervention-centered methods to explore how techniques such as nudging and gamification can influence sustainable behavior, and how users engage with these tools in practice.

In addition to my research, I teach in university courses related to innovation and user research at both bachelor’s and master’s levels.