Research Areas
My research focuses on the human factors of software work. I study how emerging technologies and workplace practices shape people's experiences of software development—including productivity, cognition, collaboration, agency, and well-being—and how we can design healthier and more human-centered ways of working.
Emerging Technologies & Developer Experience
Investigating how new tools and practices reshape the way people (developers or designers) create software, and how these changes affect developers' lived experiences, productivity, agency, and well-being.
Full Paper: Impact of Copresence Collaboration Practices on Developers with ADHD
View Description
Explores how software engineers with ADHD utilize co-presence practices (body doubling and pair programming) to manage cognitive demands. We map these experiences to copresence theory and examine implications for AI-supported workplace collaboration.
Full Paper: Good Vibrations? A Qualitative Study of Co-Creation, Communication, Flow, and Trust in Vibe Coding
View Description
Investigates "vibe coding"—an emerging natural language programming paradigm prioritizing flow and experimentation over strict specification. We examine how AI trust influences developer delegation versus co-creation and surface key trade-offs in reliability, debugging, collaboration, and developer experience.
Short Paper: Generative Design and Vibe Coding, Rethinking the Design-Development Divide for UI Prototyping
View Description
Evaluates a 60-minute designathon at CHI 2026 where 100+ attendees built and deployed websites using generative tools like V0 and Lovable. We analyze how generative tools reshape traditional design and development workflows and influence people's experiences of software creation.
Inclusive Software Work
Understanding how people with different cognitive and physical needs experience software work and designing practices and technologies that enable more inclusive participation.
Full Paper: Leveling the Playing Field, Temporal Video Segmentation for Individuals with ADHD in Computing Education
View Description
Evaluates a post-hoc video processing system that chunks instructional videos into single steps with fixed pauses to lower cognitive load. A study with 27 participants showed that the intervention significantly reduced errors and hesitations for learners with ADHD.
Short Paper: Reflections and Recommendations on AI Adoption Practice from a Mixed-Ability Research Group
View Description
Reflects on how a mixed-ability research team adopts generative AI in daily academic workflows. We present recommendations for balanced AI adoption that respects disability-related needs, manages disability tax, and preserves researcher agency.
Short Paper: A Longitudinal Autoethnography of Email Access for a Professional with Chronic Illness and ADHD
View Description
Presents preliminary insights from a 14-year autoethnography examining workplace communication barriers for a professional with ADHD and chronic illness. Introduces "Mail++," a customized workflow for managing executive function challenges and health flares.
Feel free to email me (pimenova at umich dot edu) with questions on any of my projects or ongoing work!