Jonathan Leuenberger

I am an undergraduate researcher at New Mexico State University pursuing Ph.D. positions within the field of Human-Computer Interaction. I am advised by Dr. Shiva Darian, conducting research on how refugees experience and adapt to mobile technologies while seeking asylum at the US–Mexico Border. I am also working with Dr. Bill Hamilton on phishing scams in short-form video platforms.

Broadly, I am interested in community collaborative work and qualitative methods — exploring how technology intersects with culture, migration, and marginalized communities. I am especially drawn to the role of online communities and systems of control in shaping how people experience digital life.

Major: Anthropology  |  Expected Graduation: May 2027

My CV can be found here. Feel free to reach out if you are interested in collaborating.

Publications and Manuscrips Currently Under Review

1. Transient Non-Use: How People in Migration Experience Digital Disconnection.
   Leuenberger, J., Rajendran, A., Penzo Jara, A., Hoque, TU., Darian, S.M.
   Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '26). April 13–17, 2026, Barcelona, Spain. ACM, New York, NY, USA, 14 pages.


2. Trust, but Verify: Information Seeking and Verification Practices Among People Experiencing Migration.
   Penzo Jara, A., Needle, J., Rajendran, A., Leuenberger, J., Ortiz, G., Darian, S.M.
   Under Review at a top-tier ACM venue.


3. How Tech Workers Perceive and Navigate Ethical Considerations.
   Leuenberger, J., Paque Garns, J.A., White, M., Darian, S.M.
   Under Review as a poster paper at a top-tier ACM venue.


4. I Bet They Know I'm Eating a Banana Right Now'': Everyday Perceptions of Surveillance from People in Migration.
   Rajendran, A., Needle, J., Leuenberger, J., Penzo Jara, A., Hoque, T., Hamilton, W., Darian, S.M.
   Under Review at a top-tier ACM venue.