Contact Info
Phone
(773) 834-3034
Office
Crerar 363

I am an associate professor of computer science at the University of Chicago. I founded the UChicago SUPERgroup, an interdisciplinary research collective with dozens of incredible members. Our research spans computer security, privacy, human-computer interaction (HCI), and ethical AI. We are especially interested in developing data-driven methods for helping users make better security and privacy decisions, as well as making complex computer systems more usable for non-technical users. Our work has been supported by seven NSF grants, as well as grants from Mozilla Research and the Data Transparency Lab.

I have been fortunate to receive a Quantrell Award for Undergraduate Teaching (2021)NSF CAREER Award (2021), SIGCHI Outstanding Dissertation Award (2018), three best paper awards (CHI 2017USENIX Security 2016, and UbiComp 2014), five honorable mentions for best paper (CHI 2021CHI 2021CHI 2020CHI 2016, and CHI 2012), the John Karat Usable Privacy and Security Student Research Award (2016), an NDSEG Fellowship (2012), and a Fulbright Scholarship (2010). Jointly with the other core members of the CMU passwords group, I also received the Allen Newell Award for Research Excellence (2020) and the IEEE Cybersecurity Award for Practice (2018). I have strong interests in teaching and outreach to high school students, particularly for broadening participation in CS.

I earned a PhD in 2016 from Carnegie Mellon University’s Societal Computing program, where I was advised by Lorrie Cranor. My dissertation focused on supporting users’ password-security decisions with data. Earlier, I earned an AB in computer science from Harvard University and worked for three years at Rutgers University on outreach and diversity programs.

My first name is pronounced “blaze,” and my full name is pronounced “blazer.” I strongly prefer to be called Blase rather than Professor Ur or Dr. Ur, both of which sound ridiculous. (Note, just Blase, not Professor Blase or Dr. Blase). I use he/him pronouns.

I am also a musician and photographer, and previously a theatre designer. I ride my bicycle (almost) everywhere, collect recordstravel, and drink too much coffee. I’m from somewhere in the swamps of Jersey.

Research

Focus Areas: Human Computer Interaction, Privacy, Security

The SUPERgroup (Security, Usability, & Privacy Education & Research group) is an interdisciplinary research collective comprising dozens of members at the University of Chicago and is organized by Blase Ur. We collaborate with (and were formerly combined with) the AIR lab. We work at the intersection of computer security, privacy, and HCI, as evidenced by our recent publications. Current projects focus on data-driven methods to improve online security and privacy, as well as improving interaction for both the Internet of Things and machine learning systems.

Research

Human Computer Interaction

Exploring the interfaces between people and technologies

Security & Privacy

Understanding and defending against emerging threats in our increasingly computational world

Labs & Groups

Systems Group

A vibrant, collaborative research community with diverse, synergistic research interests spanning systems, programming languages and software engineering, software and hardware...

SUPER (Security, Usability, & Privacy Education & Research) Group

Blase Ur
Focused on data-driven methods to improve online security and privacy and improving interaction for IoT and machine learning systems.

CERES Center for Unstoppable Computing

Andrew A. Chien
A dynamic community focused on reducing the fragility and complexity of computing systems, while also increasing their efficiency and lifetime.

Awards & Honors

2021
CAREER Award
Quantrell award for excellence in undergraduate teaching
2020
Best reviewer award
Allen Newell award for research excellence

News & Events

UChicago CS News

University of Chicago Computer Science Researchers To Present Ten Papers at CHI 2024

May 06, 2024
UChicago CS News

UChicago Researchers Win Internet Defense Prize and Distinguished Paper Awards at USENIX Security

Sep 05, 2023
Past Event

Blase Ur (UChicago)-“Can Privacy Exist in a Data-Driven World?”

May 08, 2023
UChicago CS News

PhD Student Kevin Bryson Receives NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to Create Equitable Algorithmic Data Tools

Apr 14, 2023
UChicago CS News

Computer Science Displays Catch Attention at MSI’s Annual Robot Block Party

Apr 07, 2023
UChicago CS News

UChicago / School of the Art Institute Class Uses Art to Highlight Data Privacy Dangers

Apr 03, 2023
UChicago CS News

High School Students in College Prep Program Visit UChicago CS

Aug 23, 2022
UChicago CS News

UChicago CS Labs Join Museum of Science & Industry For Robot Block Party

Apr 20, 2022
Past Event

Blase Ur – Statistics for HCI Researchers

Mar 08, 2022
In the News

Asst. Prof. Blase Ur Discusses the “Metaverse” on Chicago Tonight

Nov 05, 2021
UChicago CS News

Five UChicago CS Students Named to Siebel Scholars 2022 Class

Sep 23, 2021
UChicago CS News

Asst. Prof. Blase Ur Receives Quantrell Award for Teaching Undergraduates

May 20, 2021
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