People

Meet Brian Smith, the Lab's Director

Brian A. Smith is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University and the director of the Computer-Enabled Abilities Laboratory (CEAL). He is a member of the Data Science Institute and Center for Smart Streetscapes.

His research goal is to develop computers that center and elevate the human experience. Rather than simply making computers smarter, he focuses on the experiences they create and how to make them more meaningful. His expertise spans computer science, psychology, and game design, with work in accessibility, social computing, augmented reality, and smart cities.

He received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Columbia University. He has been recognized as a Kavli Fellow and has received several honors including the NSF CAREER Award, Columbia Engineering's Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award, and Columbia Engineering's Avanessians Diversity Award for advancing undergraduate engineering programs.

He considers advising to be one of the most fulfilling parts of his job and is passionate about bringing people together to make their greatest impact on the world. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, video games, the arts, and being embarrassingly bad at responding to email.