| Name | Rebecca Balebako |
| Expertise | Privacy Engineering |
| Experience | 20 Years |
| Resume | academic cv |
| Name | Rebecca Balebako |
| Expertise | Privacy Engineering |
| Experience | 20 Years |
| Resume | academic cv |
I am a privacy engineer at Google. Previously, I did privacy research at the intersection of software engineering and public policy.
I was a software engineer at startups and universities for 10 years before doing privacy research.
Thesis: Identifying and Communicating the Risks of Smartphone Data Sharing
Thesis: Using Distributed Computing to solve the 0-1 Knapsack Problem
Double Major: Math and Asian Studies
Review and advise on privacy sensitive features related to Google accounts.
Lead research on international privacy attitudes, requirements for secure communication networks, data retention policies, and technologies for the criminal justice community.
Developed and taught classes on Privacy Engineering
I worked as a programmer at various startups and universities. I developed web applications in Java and perl.
What do users want when it comes to digital privacy? How do they make sense of privacy notices and privacy policies? Do privacy protections actually work? What are the real risks of privacy invastions? Do software engineers consider privacy when they develop smartphone apps? My interdisciplinary research has explored these questions in the following areas..
My involvement in community projects and volunteering have pushed me to learn new skills and improve others. I describe a few projects below that required communication, teamwork, creativity, transparency, organization, and tenacity.
I enjoy teaching all skill levels. I have taught several classes in the Privacy Engineering masters at Carnegie Mellon University. Other diverse teaching opportunities have incltraining in Togo, teaching astronomy labs to undergraduates, and teaching community classes on backyard composting and soccer.
I was an advocate for family leave and student parents at Carnegie Mellon University. I am proud that Carnegie Mellon University did enact a paid maternity leave for graduate students in 2015. I do wish that it included all parents and all families, and I hope future students and faculty will advocate for that change.
As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo, I organized the first summer student camp to teach computer skills to high school children. I led all aspects of the camp organization, from curriculum, lodging, fundraising, and selecting games for the campers. I learned lessons about inter-cultural communication and expectations.