Kumar’s research focuses on the intersection of human-computer interaction and global development. Kumar and her team of students in the TanDEm Lab study mobile, social, and visual media practices in resource-constrained contexts, and use their findings to inform technology design and deployment. The lab works on topics such as access, health, education, and crisis response, and focuses on developing countries in Asia and Latin America.

The ACM Future of Computing Academy (FCA) is a new initiative to support and foster the next generation of computing professionals. As a member of the inaugural class, Kumar will serve as a voice shaping the future of the computing community and society.