Jessica Teurn

(she/her)

PhD Student

Research Interests

  • Algorithmic Auditing

Education

  • MS in Computer Science, Northeastern University (Align Program)
  • BA in Political Science, San Jose State University

Biography

Jessica Teurn is a doctoral student at the Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University, advised by Christo Wilson. Her doctoral research, which she began in 2021 and expects to complete in 2026, focuses on algorithmic auditing.

After spending her undergraduate education on a political science track, then working more than seven years in marketing, reception, concierge services, technical support, and database management, Teurn switched gears. She took computer science courses at a community college for a year while searching for a suitable master’s opportunity, which she found in Khoury College’s Align Program. While there, Teurn rekindled the CS passion of her early years, and even served as a TA.

She also found the legal and ethical implications of technology to be a meaningful overlap with her political science background. Now, Teurn aims to use algorithmic auditing, data privacy, and cybersecurity concepts to make the world safer. She is a member of Khoury College’s Algorithmic Auditing Research Group, as well as a STARS Fellowship recipient.

Outside of academia, Teurn is a classically trained singer, and has a passion for community service that she cultivated at San Jose State University’s chapter of Alpha Phi Omega. While there, she won the Presidential Service Award for going above and beyond in her work.