RESEARCH
My research focuses on technology and safety, and the kinds of relationships that form between people, information, and AI technologies.
I use qualitative and mixed methodologies to study AI systems' design, experience, and social impacts to develop model, policy, and design interventions.
My work asks questions like “How does the design of information and digital technologies shape social, safety, and data relations?” And “How can we develop algorithmic systems that result in a more democratic and just society?”
PUBLICATIONS
*denotes equal authorshipConference Proceeding Papers
Debiasing Text Safety Classifiers through a Fairness-Aware Ensemble
Proceedings of the 2024 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing: Industry Track
O. Sturman, A. Joshi, B. Radharapu, P. Kumar, & R. Shelby
Understanding Help-Seeking and Help-Giving on Social Media for Image-Based Sexual Abuse
33rd USENIX Security Symposium (USENIX Security ‘24)
M. Wei, S. Consolvo, P. Gage Kelley, T. Kohno, T. Matthews, S. Meiklejohn, F. Roesner, R. Shelby, K. Thomas, & R. Umbach
Painting with Cameras and Drawing with Text: AI Use in Accessible Creativity
ACM Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ACM CHI) 2024
C. Bennett*, R. Shelby*, N. Rostamzadeh, & S. Kane
Generative AI in Creative Practice: ML-Artist Folk Theories of T2I Use, Harm, and Harm-Reduction
ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (ACM CHI) 2024
R. Shelby, S. Rismani, & N. Rostamzadeh
How Knowledge Workers Think Generative AI Will (Not) Transform Their Industries
ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (ACM CHI) 2024
A. Woodruff, R. Shelby, P. Kelley, S. Rousso-Schindler, J. Smith-Loud, & L. Wilcox
In Whose Voice? Examining AI Agent Representation of People in Social Interaction Through Generative Speech
ACM Conference on Designing Interactive Systems (ACM DIS) 2024
A. Hsing-Chi Hwang, O. Siy, R. Shelby, & A. Lentz
Creative ML Assemblages: The Interactive Politics of People, Processes, and Product
ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work (ACM CSCW) 2024
R. Shelby, R. Srinivasan, K. Burgdorf, J. Lena, & N. Rostamzadeh
Sociotechnical Harms of Algorithmic Systems: Scoping a Taxonomy for Harm Reduction (Honorable Mention Best Paper Award Winner)
AAAI/ACM Conference on AI, Ethics, and Society (ACM AIES) 2023
R. Shelby, S. Rismani, K. Henne, A. Moon, N. Rostamzadeh, P. Nicholas, N. Yilla-Akbari, J. Gallegos, A. Smart, E. Garcia, & G. Virk
Beyond the ML Model: Applying Safety Engineering Frameworks to Text-to-Image Development
AAAI/ACM Conference on AI, Ethics, and Society (ACM AIES) 2023
S. Rismani, R. Shelby, A. Smart, R. Delos Santos, A. Moon, & N. Rostamzadeh
Infrastructuring Care: How Trans and Non-Binary People Meet Health and Well-Being Needs through Technology (Best Paper Award Winner)
ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (ACM CHI) 2023
L. Wilcox, R. Shelby, R. Veeraraghavan, O. Haimson, G. Erickson, M. Turken, & B. Gulotta
AI’s Regimes of Representation: A Community-Centered Study of Text-to-Image Models in South Asia
ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (ACM FAccT) 2023
R. Qadri, R. Shelby, C. Bennett, & E. Denton
From Plane Crashes to Algorithmic Harm: Applicability of Safety Engineering Frameworks for Responsible ML
ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (ACM CHI) 2023
S. Rismani, R. Shelby, A. Smart, E. Jatho, J. Kroll, A. Moon, & N. Rostamzadeh
Proceedings of the 2024 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing: Industry Track
O. Sturman, A. Joshi, B. Radharapu, P. Kumar, & R. Shelby
Understanding Help-Seeking and Help-Giving on Social Media for Image-Based Sexual Abuse
33rd USENIX Security Symposium (USENIX Security ‘24)
M. Wei, S. Consolvo, P. Gage Kelley, T. Kohno, T. Matthews, S. Meiklejohn, F. Roesner, R. Shelby, K. Thomas, & R. Umbach
Painting with Cameras and Drawing with Text: AI Use in Accessible Creativity
ACM Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ACM CHI) 2024
C. Bennett*, R. Shelby*, N. Rostamzadeh, & S. Kane
Generative AI in Creative Practice: ML-Artist Folk Theories of T2I Use, Harm, and Harm-Reduction
ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (ACM CHI) 2024
R. Shelby, S. Rismani, & N. Rostamzadeh
How Knowledge Workers Think Generative AI Will (Not) Transform Their Industries
ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (ACM CHI) 2024
A. Woodruff, R. Shelby, P. Kelley, S. Rousso-Schindler, J. Smith-Loud, & L. Wilcox
In Whose Voice? Examining AI Agent Representation of People in Social Interaction Through Generative Speech
ACM Conference on Designing Interactive Systems (ACM DIS) 2024
A. Hsing-Chi Hwang, O. Siy, R. Shelby, & A. Lentz
Creative ML Assemblages: The Interactive Politics of People, Processes, and Product
ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work (ACM CSCW) 2024
R. Shelby, R. Srinivasan, K. Burgdorf, J. Lena, & N. Rostamzadeh
Sociotechnical Harms of Algorithmic Systems: Scoping a Taxonomy for Harm Reduction (Honorable Mention Best Paper Award Winner)
AAAI/ACM Conference on AI, Ethics, and Society (ACM AIES) 2023
R. Shelby, S. Rismani, K. Henne, A. Moon, N. Rostamzadeh, P. Nicholas, N. Yilla-Akbari, J. Gallegos, A. Smart, E. Garcia, & G. Virk
Beyond the ML Model: Applying Safety Engineering Frameworks to Text-to-Image Development
AAAI/ACM Conference on AI, Ethics, and Society (ACM AIES) 2023
S. Rismani, R. Shelby, A. Smart, R. Delos Santos, A. Moon, & N. Rostamzadeh
Infrastructuring Care: How Trans and Non-Binary People Meet Health and Well-Being Needs through Technology (Best Paper Award Winner)
ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (ACM CHI) 2023
L. Wilcox, R. Shelby, R. Veeraraghavan, O. Haimson, G. Erickson, M. Turken, & B. Gulotta
AI’s Regimes of Representation: A Community-Centered Study of Text-to-Image Models in South Asia
ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (ACM FAccT) 2023
R. Qadri, R. Shelby, C. Bennett, & E. Denton
From Plane Crashes to Algorithmic Harm: Applicability of Safety Engineering Frameworks for Responsible ML
ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (ACM CHI) 2023
S. Rismani, R. Shelby, A. Smart, E. Jatho, J. Kroll, A. Moon, & N. Rostamzadeh
Peer-reviewed Journal Articles
Terms-We-Serve-With: Five Dimensions for Anticipating and Repairing Algorithmic Harm
Big Data & Society (2023)
B. Rakova, R. Shelby, & M. Ma
Situating Questions of Data, Power, and Racial Formation
Big Data & Society (2022)
R. Shelby & K. Henne
The Datafication of #MeToo: Whiteness, Racial Capitalism, and Anti-Violence Technologies
Big Data & Society (2021)
K. Henne, R. Shelby, & J. Harb
Technology, Sexual Violence, and Power-Evasive Politics: Mapping the Anti-Violence Sociotechnical Imaginary
Science, Technology, and Human Values (2021)
R. Shelby
The Prevalence and Correlates of Labor and Sex Trafficking in a Community Sample of Youth Experiencing Homelessness in Metro-Atlanta
Social Sciences (2021)
E. Wright, A. LaBoy, K. Tsukerman, N. Forge, E. Ruel, R. Shelby, M. Higbee, Z. Webb, M. Turner-Harper, A. Darkwa, & C. Wallace
Whiteness in and through Data Protection: An Intersectional Approach to Anti-Violence Apps and #MeToo Bots
Internet Policy Review (2021)
R. Shelby, J.Harb & K. Henne
Whose Rape Kit? Stabilizing the Vitullo Kit Through Positivist Criminology and Protocol Feminism
Theoretical Criminology (2020)
R. Shelby
Techno-Physical Feminism
Feminist Media Studies (2019)
R. Shelby
Obscuring Sexual Crime: Examining Media Representations of Sexual Violence in Megan’s Law
Criminal Justice Studies (2014)
R. Shelby & A. Hatch
Big Data & Society (2023)
B. Rakova, R. Shelby, & M. Ma
Situating Questions of Data, Power, and Racial Formation
Big Data & Society (2022)
R. Shelby & K. Henne
The Datafication of #MeToo: Whiteness, Racial Capitalism, and Anti-Violence Technologies
Big Data & Society (2021)
K. Henne, R. Shelby, & J. Harb
Technology, Sexual Violence, and Power-Evasive Politics: Mapping the Anti-Violence Sociotechnical Imaginary
Science, Technology, and Human Values (2021)
R. Shelby
The Prevalence and Correlates of Labor and Sex Trafficking in a Community Sample of Youth Experiencing Homelessness in Metro-Atlanta
Social Sciences (2021)
E. Wright, A. LaBoy, K. Tsukerman, N. Forge, E. Ruel, R. Shelby, M. Higbee, Z. Webb, M. Turner-Harper, A. Darkwa, & C. Wallace
Whiteness in and through Data Protection: An Intersectional Approach to Anti-Violence Apps and #MeToo Bots
Internet Policy Review (2021)
R. Shelby, J.Harb & K. Henne
Whose Rape Kit? Stabilizing the Vitullo Kit Through Positivist Criminology and Protocol Feminism
Theoretical Criminology (2020)
R. Shelby
Techno-Physical Feminism
Feminist Media Studies (2019)
R. Shelby
Obscuring Sexual Crime: Examining Media Representations of Sexual Violence in Megan’s Law
Criminal Justice Studies (2014)
R. Shelby & A. Hatch
Book Chapters
Hesitancy, Solidarity, and Whiteness: The Limits and Possibilities of Rape Reporting Apps
Technocreep: The Creep of Caring Relations (Forthcoming)
R. Shelby
Value-Responsible Design and Sexual Violence Interventions
The Handbook on Public Criminologies (2020)
R. Shelby
The Pharmacy Prison: Auditing Prison Pharmaceutical Regime
Silent Cells: The Secret Drugging of Captive America (2020)
A. Hatch & R. Shelby
Sex Trafficking, Inequality, and Our Evolving Legal Consciousness
Focus on Social Problems (2020)
R. Shelby
Feminism, Intersectionality, and the Problem of Whiteness in Leisure and Sport Spaces and Scholarship
The Handbook of Feminisms in Sport, Leisure, and Physical Education (2018)
M. McDonald & R. Shelby
Technocreep: The Creep of Caring Relations (Forthcoming)
R. Shelby
Value-Responsible Design and Sexual Violence Interventions
The Handbook on Public Criminologies (2020)
R. Shelby
The Pharmacy Prison: Auditing Prison Pharmaceutical Regime
Silent Cells: The Secret Drugging of Captive America (2020)
A. Hatch & R. Shelby
Sex Trafficking, Inequality, and Our Evolving Legal Consciousness
Focus on Social Problems (2020)
R. Shelby
Feminism, Intersectionality, and the Problem of Whiteness in Leisure and Sport Spaces and Scholarship
The Handbook of Feminisms in Sport, Leisure, and Physical Education (2018)
M. McDonald & R. Shelby
Proceedings Workshops + Tutorials
“What is Safety?”: Building Bridges Across Approaches to Digital Risks and Harms
ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work (ACM CSCW) 2024
A.M. Walker, M.A. DeVito, K. Badillo-Urquiola, R. Bellini, S. Chancellor, J.L. Feuston, K. Henne, P. Gage Kelley, S. Rismani, R. Shelby, R. Zhang
What is Sociotechnical AI Safety? A participatory workshop about defining and expanding responses to sociotechnical risk in AI Safety
ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (ACM FAccT) 2024
A. Smart, S. Ahmed, J. Metcalf, A. Kasirzadeh, L. Belli, S. Rismani, R. Dobbe, A. Jacobs, J. Kroll, D. Martin Jr., R. Shelby, H. Khlaaf, & G. Smith
ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work (ACM CSCW) 2024
A.M. Walker, M.A. DeVito, K. Badillo-Urquiola, R. Bellini, S. Chancellor, J.L. Feuston, K. Henne, P. Gage Kelley, S. Rismani, R. Shelby, R. Zhang
What is Sociotechnical AI Safety? A participatory workshop about defining and expanding responses to sociotechnical risk in AI Safety
ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (ACM FAccT) 2024
A. Smart, S. Ahmed, J. Metcalf, A. Kasirzadeh, L. Belli, S. Rismani, R. Dobbe, A. Jacobs, J. Kroll, D. Martin Jr., R. Shelby, H. Khlaaf, & G. Smith
Commentaries
The Conjoined Spectacles of the Smart Super Bowl
Engaging Science and Technology Studies (2020)
R. Shelby, S. Barnes, N. Parvin & M. McDonald
‘I Incite This Meeting to Rebellion’: Sexual Violence, Law Enforcement, and the Radical Feminism of the 1909 Board Game Suffragetto”
ROMChip: Journal of Game Histories (2019)
R. Shelby
Lab Meeting: How Black Lives Matter in Forensic Matter
Catalyst: Feminism, Theory, and Technoscience (2017)
Engaging Science and Technology Studies (2020)
R. Shelby, S. Barnes, N. Parvin & M. McDonald
‘I Incite This Meeting to Rebellion’: Sexual Violence, Law Enforcement, and the Radical Feminism of the 1909 Board Game Suffragetto”
ROMChip: Journal of Game Histories (2019)
R. Shelby
Lab Meeting: How Black Lives Matter in Forensic Matter
Catalyst: Feminism, Theory, and Technoscience (2017)
Public Sociology
Access and Opportunity (Chapter 15)
The Ethics of Advanced AI Assistants (2024)
S. Bergman & R. Shelby
Data, Power, and Racial Formation: Situating Data within Interlocking Systems of Oppression
Big Data & Society Blog (2022)
R. Shelby & K. Henne
Apps Against Sexual Abuse Have Been Tried Before. They Don’t Work
The Conversation (2021)
K. Henne, J. Harb, & R. Shelby
Bonus Episode: Rape Kits
Stuff Mom Never Told You (2019)
R. Shelby
The Ethics of Advanced AI Assistants (2024)
S. Bergman & R. Shelby
Data, Power, and Racial Formation: Situating Data within Interlocking Systems of Oppression
Big Data & Society Blog (2022)
R. Shelby & K. Henne
Apps Against Sexual Abuse Have Been Tried Before. They Don’t Work
The Conversation (2021)
K. Henne, J. Harb, & R. Shelby
Bonus Episode: Rape Kits
Stuff Mom Never Told You (2019)
R. Shelby
Preprints
Harm Amplification in Text-to-Image Models (2024)
S. Hao, R. Shelby, Y. Liu, H. Srinivasan, M. Bhutani, B. Karagol Ayan, S. Poddar, & S. Laszlo
Safety and Fairness for Content Moderation in Generative Models (2023)
S. Hao, P. Kumar, S. Laszlo, S. Poddar, B. Radharapu, & R. Shelby
S. Bergman & R. Shelby
S. Hao, R. Shelby, Y. Liu, H. Srinivasan, M. Bhutani, B. Karagol Ayan, S. Poddar, & S. Laszlo
Safety and Fairness for Content Moderation in Generative Models (2023)
S. Hao, P. Kumar, S. Laszlo, S. Poddar, B. Radharapu, & R. Shelby
S. Bergman & R. Shelby