keerthana govindarazan

I am an architect turned UX researcher passionate about understanding how design and technology shape human cognition, emotion, and behavior.

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Currently, I am a Ph.D. student in Mass Communications at Penn State, specializing in human–AI interaction, media psychology, and user experience research. My work investigates how users interact with emerging technologies such as generative AI, and immersive environments, with a focus on trust, agency, and behavioral outcomes.

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My ongoing projects explore:

• How customization features in generative AI platforms influence user trust and sense of agency.

•  The ad-to-prompt effect, where subtle brand cues in user prompts bias AI responses

• LLMs as synthetic participants, developing new qualitative research methodologies

• AI modality differences, examining how user experience changes across devices like phones vs laptops

 

With a background in architecture, computational design, and psychology, I bring an interdisciplinary lens to UX research. Previously, I founded TUKO Design House, where I provided UX, graphic, and AR design solutions for startups and small businesses.

 

Outside of research and design, I am a trained Indian classical dancer with 25 years of experience in Bharatanatyam and Kathak.