Manuela Züger

I received my MSc degree in computer science from the University of Zurich in 2013. My current research as research assistant and doctoral students in the Software Engineering Group builds upon my master thesis, titled "Exploring a Developer’s Brain Activity Patterns". During my studies, I worked as a web developer at clip interactive, as a teaching assistant for the lecture "Informatik für Ökonomen I" and started my own dance school.

My main research interest is how knowledge workers (in particular, software developers) can be supported in handling interruptions. Interruptions are necessary and helpful, e.g. to resolve problems quickly. However, they can also disrupt the interrupted person, lead to longer task completion times or frustration. I investigate how a developer's mental load can be measured and used to prevent costly interruptions during unsuitable moments. For this purpose, my research goals are to use biometric sensors and also the activity on the computer, compare measurement techniques and develop helpful tools.