Neha Nayak Kennard

I’m a final-year PhD candidate in Computer Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, advised by Prof. Andrew McCallum. My research aims to develop principled ways to leverage large language models in the academic peer review process. By drawing on theories from sociology of science, I aim to reduce the burden of peer review on scientists without disrupting the social mechanisms that underpin it.

During my PhD, I’ve also had the opportunity to teach computer science at the undergraduate level. As of Fall 2026, I am actively seeking a teaching-oriented tenure-track position in computer science.

news

Sep 2026: This fall, I will TA for CICS 127: Public Interest Technology.
Aug 2026: I passed my proposal and I'm finally ABD!
Aug 2026: Paper accepted to AIES 2026.