Manami Nakagawa Bunbun

Profile CV (Updated on Jan 2026)

Manami is a PhD student in the Department of Computer Science at the University of California, Davis. Her research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), and she is currently working with Prof. Kwan-Liu Ma at UC Davis. Before starting her PhD, she completed a BSc in Computer Science at the University of Bristol, UK, where she received guidance from Dr. Pete Bennett. She was also fortunate to receive research mentorship through internships with Dr. Shigeo Yoshida (OMRON SINIC X) and Dr. Keita Higuchi (SB Intuitions).

Please feel free to contact her for any collaborations.

Interests:
  • AI-mediated Communication
  • Human AI Interaction
  • Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)

Publication

ACM MobileHCI 2025
UbiLearn Project Image

UbiLearn:
Supporting English-as-a-Foreign-Language Learners in Reflecting on Conversations Using a Smartwatch

Riku Arakawa, Manami Nakagawa, Hiromu Yakura

DOI Japanese Blog
LAPPI Project Image

LAPPI:
Interactive Optimization with LLM-Assisted Preference-Based Problem Instantiation

So Kuroki, Manami Nakagawa, Shigeo Yoshida, Yuki Koyama, Kozuno Tadashi

arxiv

Projects

Pointfo Project Image

Pointfo

Mar-Apr 2024

Displaying information on paintings with a pointing motion to lower the hurdle for information recognition.

Vinterview Project Image

Vinterview

Mar-Sep 2023

An application that allows users to engage in mock interviews with avatars, with customizable scenarios including social pressure levels

Demo App (no longer managed) Product Hunt
AI-Checker Project Image

AI checker

May 2022

A feature that quantifies the condition of damages on products listed on a flea market app, providing an objective indicator for buyers

Presentation Slide Github (Demo in README)
MITOU JR Image

MITOU Jr

May - Oct 2017

An application designed to streamline communication within educational settings

Project

Experience

SB Intuitions Corp. — HCI Research Intern Oct - Dec 2025
OMRON SINIC X, Corp. — HCI Research Intern Jun - Sep 2025
The University of Tokyo, OMRON SINIC X, Corp. — Visiting Researcher Jun - Aug 2024
OMRON SINIC X, Corp. — HCI Research Intern Apr - Sep 2023
Google STEP — Student Training in Engineering Program May - Jun 2023
Souzoh, Inc., Mercari group — Software Engineering Intern   Blog Aug - Sep 2022
Matsuo Institute, Inc., Matsuo Lab, The University of Tokyo — Software Engineering Intern Jun - Sep 2022
Planning Inspectorate, Wales government, UK — Team Project in Collaboration with Industry Oct 2021 - June 2022

Education

University of California, Davis — PhD Computer Science Sep 2024 - Present
University of Bristol — BSc Computer Science Sep 2020 - Jul 2024

Talk & Blog

  • Around Humans and Computers (Japanese)   PIS Lab Seminar Nov 2025
  • 3 waves of HCI (Japanese)   note Dec 2023
  • AIST Creative HCI Seminar #4   Archive Jun 2023

Awards & Achievements

  • Best user interview award at a Hackathon(100Program) Mar 2023
  • Best Prize at 1week Hackathon(Build@Mercari2022) May 2022
  • Natural Language Programming Open Course– Matsuo Lab, The University of Tokyo Mar 2021
  • GCI 2020 Summer Open Course – Matsuo Lab, The University of Tokyo May - Aug 2020
  • The Physical Society of Japan Jr Mar 2018
  • ELCAS – Kyoto University Oct - Jan 2018

Other Experiences

100 Program — Alumni Mentor Aug 2023 - Aug 2024
The University of Tokyo's Metaverse School of Engineering, Design x Engineering — TA Nov 2022 - Aug 2023
Technovation Girls Japan — Coding Mentor Mar - May 2022
Shinagawa Shouei High School — Part-time Programming Teacher Apr - May 2021