Cella (is on the job market)
@cellllla.bsky.social
She/her | CMU HCII PhD Student | Research Assistant @ Data & Society | Previously: UCI Informatics, Big Cartel Workers Union. Tech + Labor + Resistance. Views are my own. http://cella.io
Pinned
Cella M. Sum –
cella.io
✨I’m on the academic job market ✨
I’m a PhD candidate at @hcii.cmu.edu studying tech, labor, and resistance 👩🏻💻💪🏽💥
I research how workers and communities contest harmful sociotechnical systems and shape alternative futures through everyday resistance and collective action
More info: cella.io
I’m a PhD candidate at @hcii.cmu.edu studying tech, labor, and resistance 👩🏻💻💪🏽💥
I research how workers and communities contest harmful sociotechnical systems and shape alternative futures through everyday resistance and collective action
More info: cella.io
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
THRILLED that Brian Chen's new policy brief, "The Big AI State: How the Trump Administration is Shaping US Industrial Policy toward 'Global Technological Dominance'" is live! Trump is not "deregulating"; his admin is intervening in the market BIG TIME to bolster AI. datasociety.net/library/the-...
January 21, 2026 at 3:31 PM
THRILLED that Brian Chen's new policy brief, "The Big AI State: How the Trump Administration is Shaping US Industrial Policy toward 'Global Technological Dominance'" is live! Trump is not "deregulating"; his admin is intervening in the market BIG TIME to bolster AI. datasociety.net/library/the-...
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
Join us for BD&S 2026 Colloquium, Panel 1: Constructing Alternatives through Community Data & Data Activism
Jan 21 | 16:00–18:00 GMT (11:00 AM–1:00 PM EST)
uky.zoom.us/j/85254638887
#DataActivism #CriticalDataStudies #DataJustice
Jan 21 | 16:00–18:00 GMT (11:00 AM–1:00 PM EST)
uky.zoom.us/j/85254638887
#DataActivism #CriticalDataStudies #DataJustice
January 15, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Join us for BD&S 2026 Colloquium, Panel 1: Constructing Alternatives through Community Data & Data Activism
Jan 21 | 16:00–18:00 GMT (11:00 AM–1:00 PM EST)
uky.zoom.us/j/85254638887
#DataActivism #CriticalDataStudies #DataJustice
Jan 21 | 16:00–18:00 GMT (11:00 AM–1:00 PM EST)
uky.zoom.us/j/85254638887
#DataActivism #CriticalDataStudies #DataJustice
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
A new piece I cowrote with my brilliant colleague @cellllla.bsky.social is out! 🙏🙏
The tech industry is seizing on Pittsburgh’s industrial history to sell its AI future. "The endurance of communities forced to survive the boom & bust cycles of other industrial times is now recast as ‘grit,’” write Ana Carolina de Assis Nunes & @cellllla.bsky.social. datasociety.net/points/data-...
January 15, 2026 at 4:21 PM
A new piece I cowrote with my brilliant colleague @cellllla.bsky.social is out! 🙏🙏
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
The tech industry is seizing on Pittsburgh’s industrial history to sell its AI future. "The endurance of communities forced to survive the boom & bust cycles of other industrial times is now recast as ‘grit,’” write Ana Carolina de Assis Nunes & @cellllla.bsky.social. datasociety.net/points/data-...
January 15, 2026 at 3:14 PM
The tech industry is seizing on Pittsburgh’s industrial history to sell its AI future. "The endurance of communities forced to survive the boom & bust cycles of other industrial times is now recast as ‘grit,’” write Ana Carolina de Assis Nunes & @cellllla.bsky.social. datasociety.net/points/data-...
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
Excellent new paper from @js-tan.bsky.social and Kathleen Thelen, on the political economy of the cloud company business model and how it feeds the AI race and techno-nationalism journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Excellent new paper from @js-tan.bsky.social and Kathleen Thelen, on the political economy of the cloud company business model and how it feeds the AI race and techno-nationalism journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
This needs to change. Workers need a voice on the job.
Join us on January 27th, 12-1 pm PST to hear directly about how tech workers are choosing to speak up, lessons they’ve learned in the process, and ways in which you can spark that voice in other colleagues. techequity.us/event/worker...
Join us on January 27th, 12-1 pm PST to hear directly about how tech workers are choosing to speak up, lessons they’ve learned in the process, and ways in which you can spark that voice in other colleagues. techequity.us/event/worker...
Worker Voice: How Tech Workers Are Speaking Up At Work & Beyond - TechEquity Collaborative
Join us to hear directly about how tech workers are choosing to speak up in their workplaces and the lessons they've learned from doing so.
techequity.us
January 12, 2026 at 5:59 PM
This needs to change. Workers need a voice on the job.
Join us on January 27th, 12-1 pm PST to hear directly about how tech workers are choosing to speak up, lessons they’ve learned in the process, and ways in which you can spark that voice in other colleagues. techequity.us/event/worker...
Join us on January 27th, 12-1 pm PST to hear directly about how tech workers are choosing to speak up, lessons they’ve learned in the process, and ways in which you can spark that voice in other colleagues. techequity.us/event/worker...
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
New from @noamscheiber.bsky.social, featuring @emilymazo.bsky.social @js-tan.bsky.social @techworkerscoalition.org @alphabetworkersunion.org & many more: “tech worker activism has continued amid the crackdown, albeit more cautiously”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/b...
Despite Crackdown on Activism, Tech Employees Are Still Picking Fights
www.nytimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 4:25 PM
New from @noamscheiber.bsky.social, featuring @emilymazo.bsky.social @js-tan.bsky.social @techworkerscoalition.org @alphabetworkersunion.org & many more: “tech worker activism has continued amid the crackdown, albeit more cautiously”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/b...
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
When universities stop serving the common good and start serving their corporate interests:
"Deception, deflection, and disregard: How UMich is forcing a data center on Ypsilanti."
#AcademicSky
www.michigandaily.com/opinion/colu...
"Deception, deflection, and disregard: How UMich is forcing a data center on Ypsilanti."
#AcademicSky
www.michigandaily.com/opinion/colu...
How UMich is forcing a data center on Ypsilanti
The combined 144 acres the University seems to have settled on are agricultural or recreational use land. No one deserves to have their local park taken over by a data center.
www.michigandaily.com
December 12, 2025 at 11:30 PM
When universities stop serving the common good and start serving their corporate interests:
"Deception, deflection, and disregard: How UMich is forcing a data center on Ypsilanti."
#AcademicSky
www.michigandaily.com/opinion/colu...
"Deception, deflection, and disregard: How UMich is forcing a data center on Ypsilanti."
#AcademicSky
www.michigandaily.com/opinion/colu...
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
Carnegie Mellon’s literature PhD is being liquidated in favor of “computation,” casualized labor, and AI.
That has profound ramifications for, students, faculty, and program alums like myself.
I wrote it about it (w/ Catherine Evans, a current PhD student).
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
That has profound ramifications for, students, faculty, and program alums like myself.
I wrote it about it (w/ Catherine Evans, a current PhD student).
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
Opinion | A Coup at Carnegie Mellon?
The university is replacing the humanities with more computers.
www.chronicle.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Carnegie Mellon’s literature PhD is being liquidated in favor of “computation,” casualized labor, and AI.
That has profound ramifications for, students, faculty, and program alums like myself.
I wrote it about it (w/ Catherine Evans, a current PhD student).
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
That has profound ramifications for, students, faculty, and program alums like myself.
I wrote it about it (w/ Catherine Evans, a current PhD student).
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
No one wants to watch their PhD program be eliminated. It’s nearly the same story when it’s “innovated” away.
Me & @seeshespeak.bsky.social in the Chronicle. Read it below ⬇️
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
Me & @seeshespeak.bsky.social in the Chronicle. Read it below ⬇️
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
Opinion | A Coup at Carnegie Mellon?
The university is replacing the humanities with more computers.
www.chronicle.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:44 PM
No one wants to watch their PhD program be eliminated. It’s nearly the same story when it’s “innovated” away.
Me & @seeshespeak.bsky.social in the Chronicle. Read it below ⬇️
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
Me & @seeshespeak.bsky.social in the Chronicle. Read it below ⬇️
www.chronicle.com/article/a-co...
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
This report is how I have channeled my rage as the tech industry has grown in wealth and power at the expense of workers, communities, and the environment. The old mechanisms of reform aren’t sufficient in a time of AI ascendance and data center accelerationism datasociety.net/library/turn...
December 10, 2025 at 10:38 PM
This report is how I have channeled my rage as the tech industry has grown in wealth and power at the expense of workers, communities, and the environment. The old mechanisms of reform aren’t sufficient in a time of AI ascendance and data center accelerationism datasociety.net/library/turn...
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
Y'all wanna warn your friends before you get on the "AI companion" bandwagon and warn your friends, help them get informed.
Now imagine sharing your private fantasies with what you believe is a bot that cannot judge or remember. Just that, on the other side, is a man in a one-room home in Nairobi, pretending to be an AI companion.
That man is Michael, and this is his story: data-workers.org/michael/
That man is Michael, and this is his story: data-workers.org/michael/
The Emotional Labor Behind AI Intimacy, by Michael Geoffrey Asia.
Imagine confiding your most private fantasies to what you believe is an unfeeling algorithm that cannot judge or remember. Now imagine that on the other side of that conversation is a man sitting in a...
data-workers.org
December 10, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Y'all wanna warn your friends before you get on the "AI companion" bandwagon and warn your friends, help them get informed.
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
Thrilled to see my book described as “exploring influencer culture,” given that it focuses almost solely on Tila Tequila. A dream of mine since 2008.
December 5, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Thrilled to see my book described as “exploring influencer culture,” given that it focuses almost solely on Tila Tequila. A dream of mine since 2008.
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
Seen on CMU campus ❤️
December 6, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Seen on CMU campus ❤️
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
management pushing dumb ai policies and tools on you?
twc and friends have launched workersdecide.tech to pool resources, stories and strategies to organize and push back.
don’t let the bubble drag your job down with it!
twc and friends have launched workersdecide.tech to pool resources, stories and strategies to organize and push back.
don’t let the bubble drag your job down with it!
November 26, 2025 at 8:17 PM
management pushing dumb ai policies and tools on you?
twc and friends have launched workersdecide.tech to pool resources, stories and strategies to organize and push back.
don’t let the bubble drag your job down with it!
twc and friends have launched workersdecide.tech to pool resources, stories and strategies to organize and push back.
don’t let the bubble drag your job down with it!
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
join science for the people for a collective discussion about what the impacts of AI are, and how we can put workers in control of our work and it's conditions – as well as how to begin organizing our coworkers to join us in this fight. bit.ly/sftp-ai-work...
November 26, 2025 at 6:55 PM
join science for the people for a collective discussion about what the impacts of AI are, and how we can put workers in control of our work and it's conditions – as well as how to begin organizing our coworkers to join us in this fight. bit.ly/sftp-ai-work...
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
BREAKING: 30 more Starbucks locations are joining the strike.
Starbucks workers in 25 cities are jumping into the week-long strike.
Now @sbworkersunited.org members at 95 stores in 65 cities have walked off the job.
Starbucks workers in 25 cities are jumping into the week-long strike.
Now @sbworkersunited.org members at 95 stores in 65 cities have walked off the job.
November 20, 2025 at 8:58 PM
BREAKING: 30 more Starbucks locations are joining the strike.
Starbucks workers in 25 cities are jumping into the week-long strike.
Now @sbworkersunited.org members at 95 stores in 65 cities have walked off the job.
Starbucks workers in 25 cities are jumping into the week-long strike.
Now @sbworkersunited.org members at 95 stores in 65 cities have walked off the job.
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
In 2024, we convened a group of 25 workers and organizers across the transportation supply chain. They traveled over 3 days and 600+ miles across Nevada to tour the frontlines of new lithium mining in the US. Watch our new documentary that follows their journey. climateandcommunity.org/nvfilm
Supply Chain Solidarity: Lessons from the Lithium Frontlines - Climate and Community Institute
Workers and organizers, representing different parts of the transportation supply chain, journey across Nevada to learn first-hand about the impacts of lithium mining for electric vehicle batteries.
climateandcommunity.org
November 18, 2025 at 2:57 PM
In 2024, we convened a group of 25 workers and organizers across the transportation supply chain. They traveled over 3 days and 600+ miles across Nevada to tour the frontlines of new lithium mining in the US. Watch our new documentary that follows their journey. climateandcommunity.org/nvfilm
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
I'm fortunate to be able to teach my new class on "Building Technologies for the Resistance" next semester. If you're a CMU student, consider enrolling! This will be a collaborative, project-based class where you'll get to prototype resistance technologies.
November 19, 2025 at 3:12 AM
I'm fortunate to be able to teach my new class on "Building Technologies for the Resistance" next semester. If you're a CMU student, consider enrolling! This will be a collaborative, project-based class where you'll get to prototype resistance technologies.
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
this is how you do investigative journalism
Microsoft, Google say their data centers create thousands of jobs. Their permit filings say otherwise
https://restofworld.org/2025/data-centers-jobs-microsoft-google-chile/?utm_campaign=row-social&utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_content=1763146621
https://restofworld.org/2025/data-centers-jobs-microsoft-google-chile/?utm_campaign=row-social&utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_content=1763146621
November 15, 2025 at 9:09 AM
this is how you do investigative journalism
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
Alice Wong’s legacy is the political horizon she helped articulate. A horizon where disabled knowledge is central, and care is a shared commitment. She taught us to name grief & rage without collapsing under them, to celebrate disabled brilliance without ignoring the material conditions shaping life
November 15, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Alice Wong’s legacy is the political horizon she helped articulate. A horizon where disabled knowledge is central, and care is a shared commitment. She taught us to name grief & rage without collapsing under them, to celebrate disabled brilliance without ignoring the material conditions shaping life
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
The incredible, indomitable, inspirational Alice Wong has left us.
I'm so grateful to have known her on social media, and so grateful for all the words she shared with us and all the actions she encouraged us into making.
May we live up to her example.
(so you don't have to go to Instagram)
I'm so grateful to have known her on social media, and so grateful for all the words she shared with us and all the actions she encouraged us into making.
May we live up to her example.
(so you don't have to go to Instagram)
November 15, 2025 at 6:13 AM
The incredible, indomitable, inspirational Alice Wong has left us.
I'm so grateful to have known her on social media, and so grateful for all the words she shared with us and all the actions she encouraged us into making.
May we live up to her example.
(so you don't have to go to Instagram)
I'm so grateful to have known her on social media, and so grateful for all the words she shared with us and all the actions she encouraged us into making.
May we live up to her example.
(so you don't have to go to Instagram)
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
I’ll be in conversation with Sana Ahmad next Monday, November 17 at @weizenbauminstitut.bsky.social about our new @commonnotions.bsky.social book on digital workers’ inquiry and my forthcoming @datasociety.bsky.social report on climate action in and against the tech industry
Worker Led Movements Against AI: A Discussion with Tamara Kneese
Mon, Nov. 17, 2025
tickets.weizenbaum-institut.de
November 11, 2025 at 4:04 PM
I’ll be in conversation with Sana Ahmad next Monday, November 17 at @weizenbauminstitut.bsky.social about our new @commonnotions.bsky.social book on digital workers’ inquiry and my forthcoming @datasociety.bsky.social report on climate action in and against the tech industry
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
For my dissertation, I'm looking to interview early-career tech workers about LLMs in the workplace! The interviews for this research study are confidential. If you are interested in being interviewed, or would like to know more, please fill out this form! forms.gle/xGnQthnM7wNZ...
Interview Outreach
Hi! Thank you so much for your interest in participating in my study on generative AI tools in the tech workplace. This form is intended to collect your contact information and give you a little more ...
forms.gle
November 11, 2025 at 2:56 PM
For my dissertation, I'm looking to interview early-career tech workers about LLMs in the workplace! The interviews for this research study are confidential. If you are interested in being interviewed, or would like to know more, please fill out this form! forms.gle/xGnQthnM7wNZ...
Reposted by Cella (is on the job market)
Interested in accessibility, visualization, or data ethics? I'm looking for Ph.D. students to join @data-and-design.org at CU Boulder Info Sci in Fall 2026.
data-and-design.org/recruiting/phd
data-and-design.org/recruiting/phd
Recruiting Ph.D. Students for Fall 2026
We are an interdisciplinary research group at the University of Colorado Boulder that uses design to understand and reimagine socio-technical systems.
data-and-design.org
September 4, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Interested in accessibility, visualization, or data ethics? I'm looking for Ph.D. students to join @data-and-design.org at CU Boulder Info Sci in Fall 2026.
data-and-design.org/recruiting/phd
data-and-design.org/recruiting/phd