Contact Info
Phone
(773) 702-4029
Office
Crerar 325

Diana Franklin is an Associate Professor in Computer Science. Her research agenda explores ways to create curriculum and computing environments in ways that reach a broad audience for both computer science and quantum computing. She is a recipient of the NSF CAREER award, NCWIT Faculty Undergraduate Mentoring Award, four teaching awards, and four best paper awards (ICER ’20, ICER ’17, IPDPS ’14, and Computing Frontiers ’13).

Franklin received her Ph.D. from UC Davis in 2002. She was an assistant professor (2002-2007) and associate professor with tenure (2007) in Computer Science at the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, during which she held the Forbes Chair. From 2008-2015, she was tenured teaching faculty at UC Santa Barbara. Upon joining UChicago, she was Director of Computer Science Education at UChicago STEM Education from 2015-2020. Her research interests include computing education research, quantum computing education research, and ethnic and gender diversity in computing. She is the author of “A Practical Guide to Gender Diversity for CS Faculty,” from Morgan Claypool.

Research

Focus Areas: Computer Science Education, Quantum Computing Education

I am focused on three overall areas at this time. First, I am interested in how students learn computer science concepts, especially at the elementary school level. In particular, I explore how to create learning strategies, curriculum and development environments that can reach a broad spectrum of learners, including students from underrepresented ethnic and gender populations and students struggling academically. Second, I am advising graduate students who are exploring how to improve instruction of theoretical computer science subjects such as discrete math and algorithms. Finally, I am exploring how to convey quantum computing concepts in an intuitive way, minimizing the physics and mathematics required to understand them. My research is housed in the CANON (Computing for ANyONe) Research Lab.

Research

Computing Education

Seeding inclusive computing education for the next generation, from grade school to grad school

Human Computer Interaction

Exploring the interfaces between people and technologies

Labs & Groups

EPiQC (Enabling Practical-Scale Quantum Computing)

Fred Chong
A multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional NSF Expedition in Computing, led by UChicago, that spans quantum algorithms, software, and physical machines.

CANON (Computing for Anyone) Lab

Diana Franklin
Researching innovations in computational thinking education with an emphasis on equity and inclusion for all underrepresented populations.

News & Events

Virtual Bakery Game Serves Up Both Cupcakes and Quantum Concepts For K-12 Students

Mar 27, 2023

Associate Professor Diana Franklin Named ACM Distinguished Member

Dec 07, 2022

Prof. Diana Franklin Discusses Quantum Computing Education on Entangled Things Podcast

Nov 03, 2022

High School Students in College Prep Program Visit UChicago CS

Aug 23, 2022

Postdoc Kate Smith Receives IEEE Early Career Award in Microelectronics

Jun 28, 2021

Two UChicago CS PhD Students Receive 2021 Harper Fellowship

Jun 07, 2021

Three EPiQC Papers Chosen By IEEE Micro for Annual Top Picks Awards

May 27, 2021
Mar
11

Greg Nelson (Washington) – Learning Technology for Formal Systems

Mar 11, 2021
Feb
22

Yu Huang (Michigan) – Objectively Measure Developers’ Cognitive Activities: Code, Biases, and Brains

Feb 22, 2021

Four UChicago CS Students Selected for Rising Stars Program

Oct 17, 2020

Why TIPP&SEE Works: CANON Lab Research Wins Best Paper at CS Education Conference

Oct 15, 2020

University of Chicago and UIUC Lead New Quantum Education Program

Aug 05, 2020
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