Colloquium Computer Science - Dr. Mairieli Wessel, Radboud University

Title: My Code Runs Fine, I Don’t: Understanding the Lived Experiences of Software Developers with Chronic Pain

Abstract:

Software development often requires long periods of focus, problem-solving, and working closely with others. For people living with chronic pain, keeping up with these demands can be challenging. In this talk, I share early findings from an ongoing study on how chronic pain affects the everyday work of software professionals. Based on interviews, I discuss how pain can impact focus, productivity, and collaboration within teams. I also highlight the different ways people adapt, such as pacing their work, changing how they use tools, and managing communication with others. At the same time, many face challenges like stigma and pressure to always be available. I will end by reflecting on what this means for how we design tools, organise teamwork, and think about inclusion in software engineering.

Short bio:

Mairieli Wessel is an assistant professor at Radboud University in the Netherlands and leads the RISEN Lab (Research on Inclusive Software Engineering). She received her PhD in Computer Science from the University of São Paulo and, in 2021, a national award for the best PhD thesis in software engineering in Brazil. Her research focuses on software engineering (SE) and computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW), looking at how people build software together, including open-source communities and AI tools that support developers.