I am a PhD candidate and researcher in human-computer interaction at the University of Salzburg, Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Interfaces, advised by Alexander Meschtscherjakov and Manfred Tscheligi. I previously obtained an MSc in human-computer interaction and a BSc in computer science.
My research lies at the intersection of human-computer interaction and automated driving, focusing on passenger-facing in-vehicle intelligent agents in SAE Level 4 automated driving systems. It addresses complex challenges and emerging opportunities in advanced mobility by designing, implementing, and evaluating novel simulation environments to investigate future mobility scenarios. I study how automated vehicles communicate intent and enable cooperative interaction with passengers, particularly in safety-critical contexts, with the broader aim of supporting responsible societal and industrial growth. Using multi-driver simulation and over time studies, my work investigates how trust and reliance on automated vehicles develop over time, combining empirical methods with simulation-based approaches to evaluate their broader societal and systemic impact.
I contributed my expertise to the European Commission, was recognized in the Austrian Federal Ministry’s “35 under 35” initiative, and serve as a STEM (MINT) ambassador and LEA role model in Salzburg. Alongside my research, I actively engage in science communication and have been featured multiple times in national media discussing the future of mobility.
I welcome collaborations with academic and industry partners and am open to supervise Bachelor’s and Master’s students.
Keywords: Human-Vehicle Interaction, Automated Driving, SAE Level 4, Intelligent Agents, Conversational Agents, Safety-Critical Environments
Contact: cansu.demir[at]plus.ac.at / LinkedIn / ORCiD / Google Scholar / ResearchGate
Office: Jakob-Haringer-Straße 1, Techno 1, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
Latest News
Jun 2026: “Zwischen Motorrad und Robotaxi“, ORF Salzburg
Jun 2026: Read my latest interview in ÖAMTC Touring Magazine about the future of automated driving!
Apr 2026: I was invited to speak about the future of mobility at Mozarteum University as part of Social Street Labs (Co-CreART).
Mar 2026: “Autonomes Fahren: Salzburger Nachwuchstalent ausgezeichnet“, ORF Salzburg.
Mar 2026: Salzburger Nachrichten visited me again! Check out the news: “Achtung, hier spricht Ihr Fahrzeug“.
Feb 2026: News article in Salzburger Woche about my research: “Robotaxis sind keine ferne Vision mehr“.
Publications
Beyond Explanation: Deadlock Situations as a Stress Test for Human-Centered XAI in Automated Vehicles. (CHI 2026. Workshop Position Paper)
Demir.
Cooperative In-Vehicle Intelligent Voice Agents in Level 4 Automation (CHI 2026. Read here)
Demir.
Twin the Drive: An HGBR-based Machine Learning Model as a Vehicular Digital Twin for Risk Detection (AutomotiveUI 2025. Read here)
Demir, Mehran, and Meschtscherjakov.
Understanding Driver Expectations and Preferences Around Data Transparency in Vehicular Digital Twins (AutomotiveUI 2025. Read here)
Demir, Leschke, Hannibal, Akil, and Meschtscherjakov.
Cooperative In-Vehicle Intelligent Agents in Automated Driving (AutomotiveUI 2025. Doctoral Colloquium Paper)
Demir.
Unlocking Trust and Acceptance in Tomorrow’s Ride: How In-Vehicle Intelligent Agents Redefine SAE Level 5 Autonomy (Multimodal Technologies and Interaction 2024. Read here)
Demir, Meschtscherjakov and Gärtner.
AutoMate – An Empathic First-Aid Communication System to Reduce the Bystander Effect in Car Accidents (CHI 2023. Read here)
Demir, Lang, Melibeu, and Meschtscherjakov.
Enlightening mode awareness (Personal and Ubiquitous Computing 2023. Read here)
Mirnig, Gärtner, Wallner, Demir, Özkan, Sypniewski, and Meschtscherjakov.
External communication of automated shuttles: Results, experiences, and lessons learned from three European long-term research projects (Frontiers in Robotics and AI 2022. Read here)
Mirnig, Gärtner, Fröhlich, Wallner, Sjörs Dahlman, Anund, Pokorny, Hagenzieker, Bjørnskau, Aasvik, Demir, and Sypniewski.
Mode Awareness Interfaces in Automated Vehicles, Robotics, and Aviation: A Literature Review (🏆 Best Paper Award) (AutomotiveUI 2021. Read here)
Dönmez Özkan, Mirnig, Meschtscherjakov, Demir, and Tscheligi.
Professional Experience
Doctoral Researcher (2024-present)
University of Salzburg, Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Interfaces
Horizon Europe Young Observer (2022-2023)
European Commission, Research Executive Agency
Junior Researcher (2019-2023)
University of Salzburg, Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Interfaces
Frontend Developer Intern (2023-2023)
Salzburg AG, Department Digital Development
UX/UI Designer Intern (2022-2023)
Spar ICS
IT Consultant (2019-2019)
Securitas GmbH
IT Technician (2016-2019)
Polizeisportverein Salzburg
Education
Doctorate / Human-Computer Interaction (2024-present)
University of Salzburg
Thesis: Cooperative In-Vehicle Intelligent Agents in Level 4 Automation
Supervised by Alexander Meschtscherjakov and Manfred Tscheligi
MSc in Engineering / Human-Computer Interaction (2021-2023)
University of Salzburg and University of Applied Sciences Salzburg
Thesis: Shaping the Future of Autonomous Vehicle Experience with In-Vehicle Intelligent Agents (1,0)
Supervised by Alexander Meschtscherjakov
BSc / Computer Science (2017-2021) University of Salzburg
Thesis: Implementing an open-source app to efficiently create video recordings for sign language classes (1,0)
Supervised by Martin Murer
A-Level (Matura) / Informationmanagement & Technology (2012-2017)
Bundeshandelsakademie 1 Salzburg
Thesis: Analysis of e-mobility based on the Mercedes Benz B-Class on business management principles
Teaching
SoSe 26 UV Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction, University of Salzburg (Bachelor)
WiSe 25 UV Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction, University of Salzburg (Bachelor)
Selected Talks
Presentations automatically accompanying published conference papers are not listed.
06/2026. Panel discussion about Responsibility in Modern Society at the Austrian Computer Science Day at TU Wien.
04/2026. Invited talk at Mozarteum University about the future of mobility as part of Social Street Labs.
03/2026. Expert interview on the potential of automated driving as part of the Co-CreART project at Mozarteum University. The exhibition will be on view on-site from March to April 2026.
03/2026. Talk at SALZ 2026, Innovation Salzburg. “Human-in-the-loop in the context of automated vehicles”
02/2026. iDay’26 talk at University of Salzburg: “Wie wir die digitale Welt neu gestalten”
09/2025. Invited presenter at MuC’25 Workshop “Accessible Automated Automotive Workshop Series” at TU Chemnitz
05/2025. Research pitch at SIGCHI Austria Meeting, University of Vienna
02/2023. iDay’23 talk at University of Salzburg: “Stärkung von Frauen in der Technologie – Perspektiven und Wege”
Selected Media Coverage
06/2026. Zwischen Motorrad und Robotaxi, ORF Salzburg
06/2026. Auf Abruf, ohne Fahrer, ÖAMTC Touring Magazine
03/2026. Autonomes Fahren: Salzburger Nachwuchstalent ausgezeichnet, ORF Salzburg
03/2026. Wie ist es in einem selbstfahrenden Auto zu sitzen?, Instagram Salzburger Nachrichten
03/2026. Achtung, hier spricht Ihr Fahrzeug, Salzburger Nachrichten
02/2026. 11. Februar – Internationaler Tag der Frauen* und Mädchen* in der Wissenschaft, PLUS
02/2026. Robotaxis sind keine ferne Vision mehr, Salzburger Woche
02/2026. Cansu Demir. Wiederholt prämiert für Forschung zu autonomem Fahren, Austrian Presse Agentur (APA)
12/2025. Wiederholt prämiert für Forschung zu autonomem Fahren, Salzburger Nachrichten
10/2025. Cansu Demir. Doktorandin in der Automobilforschung, Let’s Empower Austria
2024. Interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit an der DAS Fakultät, YouTube
2022. FH-Studentin ist Young Observer für EU-Förderprogramm, FHS
2022. PLUS Master’s student selected by the EU as Horizon Europe Young Observer, PLUS
Selected Awards, Prizes, Grants and Scholarships
2025. “35 under 35” awarded by the Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism.
2025. ACM Travel Grant to AutomotiveUI (Brisbane, Australia).
2025. Travel Grant to EXPO (Osaka, Japan).
2024. National Finalist of Red Bull Basement Austria 2024 with our Intelligent Mobility Startup.
2024. Marie Andeßner Prize for outstanding and innovative Master’s thesis.
2023. Performance Scholarship for outstanding academic achievement in Master’s program.
2022. Exclusive Salzburg AG Scholarship in the field of technology, innovation and sustainability.
2021. Best Paper Award for research titled “Mode Awareness Interfaces in Automated Vehicles, Robotics, and Aviation: A Literature Review”.
Research Stays
Université de Lausanne. Lausanne, Switzerland. 01/2026 (funded by CIVIS)
Sapienza Università di Roma. Rome, Italy. 06/025 (funded by CIVIS)
Expo 2025. Osaka, Japan. 04-05/2025 (funded by MOZ/PLUS)
Selected Activities
Startup Salzburg Incubator (2025): Adaptive Safety Wearable for Driving Behaviror Change
– Top 10 in Red Bull Basement National Final
– Startup Summit 2025 in Vienna, Austria
Participation in academic workshops:
– CHI’26: Re-examining XAI in the Era of Agentic AI
– AutomotiveUI’25: The UnScripted Trip: Fostering Policy Discussion on Future Human–Vehicle Collaboration in Autonomous Driving Through Design-Oriented Methods
– MuC’25: Accessible Automated Automotive Workshop Series
Selected Research Projects
EXDIGIT: Excellence in Digital Sciences and Interdisciplinary Technologies
– Funded by Land Salzburg
– Partners: Salzburg Research, Innovation Salzburg
– Duration: 04/2022 – 03/2028
HADRIAN: Holistic Approach for Driver Role Integration and Automation Allocation for European Mobility Needs
– Funded by EU Horizon 2020
– University partners: Athens, Granada, Surrey and Delft
– Industry partners: Virtual Vehicles, Ford, ASFINAG
– Duration: 12/2019 – 05/2024
CARA-II: Cooperative and Assistive Driving for Ageing Road Users
– Funded by AAL Programme, the European Commission and the Flemish, Dutch and Austrian authorities.
– Partners: Kuratorium für Verkehrssicherheit Österreich (Austrian Road Safety Board)
– Industry partners: F2S2, SD-Insight, Jesco Auto Training School)
– End-user organizations: EURAG Austria, 50PLUS, KBO-PCOB, NEOS
– Duration: 12/2019 – 04/2021
Digibus Austria: AV Shuttle Research for Regional Mobility Systems
– Funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG and the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology
– Partners: Salzburg Research, ÖBB, Prisma Solutions, Commend, Easy Mile, Kapsch, Fluidtime, Herry, Virtual Vehicle, AIT, BOKU
– Duration: 04/2018 – 03/2021
Thesis Supervision
[to be completed]
Community Service
Reviewer: CHI, HRI, MuC, AutomotiveUI
Student Volunteer: MuC’25, AutomotiveUI’25
Student Member of the Faculty Council at the DAS Faculty at the University of Salzburg
SIGCHI Austria Member
MINT (STEM) Outreach
I am actively involved in MINT/STEM education as a STEM ambassador since 2019 and a LEA (Let’s Empower Austria) role model since 2025 in Salzburg.
Through hands-on workshops, talks, and public events such as the Long Night of Research, MINTwoch, and European Researchers’ Night, I invite children and young people – especially students from grades 7 to 10 – to explore science and technology alongside real researchers.
These activities spark long-term interest in STEM, showcase diverse educational and career pathways, and aim to inspire the next generation of talent, with a special focus on empowering girls and young women in STEM.
– Information on various STEM projects can be found here: https://www.mint-salzburg.at/angebote/
– New MINT dates: https://www.mintlabs.at/termine/
– Following pictures show impressions of the latest MINTwoch, European Researchers’ Night, Kinderstadt Mini-Salzburg etc.
(C) Vivien Wallner, Cansu Demir
Personal
My life goes beyond research! When I’m not riding my Kawasaki Ninja, I’m constantly seeking new opportunities to learn and grow. Statistically, I am also very likely to be found at any automotive event in Austria – or anywhere else where engines make noise.
I’m fluent in German (native) and Turkish (native), with a strong command of English (C1), French (A2), and Croatian (A1).
Gallery
