Kate Starbird is a Professor in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering at the University of Washington. Her research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). She has explored crisis informatics and the dynamics of online rumoring, as well as the impact of toxic online spaces on discourse and democratic values. Her team developed methods for conducting rapid research that assist in resolving emerging rumors. A significant contribution of her work highlights how online disinformation operates as a participatory phenomenon, involving both witting and unwitting contributors. Starbird's research delves into right-wing media's strategies in leveraging partisan dynamics and improvisational performances. She holds a BS in Computer Science from Stanford University and a PhD in Technology, Media and Society from the University of Colorado. She has received multiple awards for her research, including the ACM SIGCHI Societal Impact Award and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Additionally, she is a co-founder and former director of the UW Center for an Informed Public, advocating for resilience against misinformation and propaganda.