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Staff Profile

Dr Kovila Coopamootoo

Research Fellow

Background

I am a Newcastle University Research Fellow (UK equivalent of Lecturer or US equivalent of Assistant Professor).

My focus is within the User-Centred Privacy and Security.

Prior to that I was a Lecturer in Cyber Security at the University of Derby (Sep 2016-Apr 2017) where I led and taught MSc modules (the Cyber Security Research Practice module, mainly targeting research methods for cyber security and the Enterprise Security Management module) and the Cyber Security Undergraduate module.

Before that I was a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the SRS Group, Newcastle University (Jun 2013 - Aug 2016), employed on the EPSRC Hyper-DoVe project (investigating privacy for vulnerable groups such as domestic violence survivors) and the European projects FutureID and PrismaCloud research projects (investigating usable privacy and security via mental models, cognition, emotion together with developing empirical methodology).

I researched for my PhD at Cranfield University, UK, with the thesis Effective Online Privacy Mechanisms with Persuasive Communication, via a scholarship through the UK EPSRC Visualisation of Other Methods of Expression (VOME) project & Cranfield University. I completed my MSc in Information Security at Royal Holloway, University of London with Distinction (part funded by the Royal Holloway International Excellence Scholarship) and my B.Eng (Hons) Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Mauritius, with First Class Honours.


Research

My research involves a deep understanding of users and their privacy and security practices. This includes their attitudes, concerns, perceptions, socio-demographics, and other drivers of behaviour and technology use. I am also particularly interested in user groups with specific needs and vulnerabilities, and in developing social, collaborative practices for protection and safety online.

I have published user-centric research at top-tier security and privacy venues, such as ACM CCS, Usenix Security and PoPETs, as well as at inter-disciplinary ones such as USEC, EuroUSEC, STAST, or LASER. Examples include:

See Google Scholar for full list.


Current funded projects:

Co-I on SLUDGE, where we examine young learners mental models of dark patterns online. Funded by UKRI SPRITE £40K.Working together with colleagues from Strathclyde, Bath, Brunel, Northumbria, Bournemouth and Middlesex universities.

Co-I on Digital Technologies, Power & Control, examining how TIPS technology can be developed to lessen the digital divide and balance power and control asymmetries, for marginalised communities. Funded by UKRI SPRITE £50K.Working together with colleagues from The Open University and Sheffield University.

Co-I on FinTrust - Trust Engineering for the Financial Industry, where together with my PDRA, we look into human-centred trust in AI and FinTech, in particular how user perceptions of trustworthy AI intersects with privacy, security, control, and accuracy. Funded by the EPSRC, with 20% of £1M for user-centred research. Working together with colleagues at Newcastle University (both in computing and the business school).

Associate Researcher at the Centre for Digital Citizens - Safe Citizen Theme

Publications