Steph Buongiorno, PhD, designs computational approaches to large-scale social problems by integrating multiple disciplines to generate new knowledge beyond the boundaries of individual fields. Her research focuses on the development of methodologies for building, engaging, and reshaping complex systems using:

Video Games and Multi-Agent Systems that address social issues. She created Dark Shadows, a noir-style detective video game where players fight the real-world problem of human trafficking using game mechanics wrapped in fictional conceits. Dark Shadows serves as the testbed for novel AI frameworks and participatory designs.

Pedagogy that Bridges Disciplines and empowers students to deconstruct and utilize the language-based systems that impact our society, from social discourse to programs driven by generative AI. She achieves this by using interactive technology to teach cross-disciplinary thinking.

Tools for Citizenship like the Democracy Viewer web application that enables researchers and the public to systematically analyze large volumes of social, political, and cultural data at scale.

Her work has been supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).