From Anthropology to Computing Science: Paige Tuttösí's Unconventional Path to a PhD at SFU

Paige Tuttösí's journey to a PhD in Computing Science was anything but a straight one. It was a path marked by curiosity, exploration, and a willingness to embrace new challenges. Her academic career began in a completely different field, Archaeology, where she was captivated by history, ancient civilizations, and the excitement of excavation. With a Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology from SFU, Paige worked as a forensic anthropologist, applying scientific techniques to uncover and interpret human remains, and unearthing secrets of the past.

However, as is often the case, life had other plans. As Paige’s interests evolved, she decided to return to SFU for a second degree, studying statistics, French, and engineering, a combination that sparked her growing fascination with technology. Unafraid of charting new paths, she continued her academic journey and eventually made the bold decision to pursue a PhD in Computing Science.

During her doctoral studies, Paige focused on research in adaptive voices for human-robot interaction. Specifically, she explored how a robot should sound when teaching a second language. By using psychoacoustic techniques and human studies, she worked to make the robot’s voice more expressive and intelligible, blending fields such as engineering, signal processing, cognitive science, and linguistics. She is currently building on this research at her current company, Enchanted Tools, where she is incorporating aspects of her voice work into a robot they are developing.

Paige's research has garnered numerous accolades, including the Mitacs e-Accelerate award, which helped her collect a substantial dataset now published in Computer Speech and Language Journal. She also received the CS Diversity Award for her work on the Blackfoot Revitalization Project, as well as the France-Canada Research Fund, which enabled her to live and conduct research in France for two years. Additionally, Paige was awarded a Mitacs Globalink and has earned several publications, along with a Best Demo award at the Human-Robot Interaction conference. Her team also received the Breaking Barriers Grant from the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAS) at SFU for an ongoing project. Most recently, Paige’s thesis was recognized as pioneering work in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) at the HRI conference, and she has been selected as the General Chair for next year’s program.

As Paige prepares to cross the stage at convocation this June, she reflects on the experiences that shaped her academic journey, the lessons learned, and her future career.

What was your most memorable moment from your time at SFU?

I’ve been at SFU for a long time, since 2010—and I’ve completed every degree here, except for an unfinished master’s in the UK. One of the most significant experiences for me was my work-study job as a lifeguard at the pool. I spent almost 12 years there before it closed for renovations, and it was where I made some of my closest friendships. It also helped me support myself during my undergrad. Additionally, I worked for eight years in the Archaeological Repatriation Lab, even while pursuing my engineering and statistics degrees. It kept me connected to something I truly loved. I've also had the opportunity to travel frequently for conferences and summer schools, meeting incredible colleagues in the human-robot interaction community. Karaoke at conferences is a big tradition, and some of my most memorable moments during my PhD were shared in those moments.

How has your experience at SFU prepared you for your career path?

My supervisor, Angelica Lim, played a key role in helping me make the connections that have shaped my career. She is the reason I live in France today through a scholarship program that I never left, and it’s also how I landed my current job. Beyond the technical aspects of research, SFU taught me the importance of self-promotion and networking. I also learned how to navigate academia and the broader academic-industrial landscape. It helped me become more self-sufficient in my work and gave me invaluable experience in organizing projects, supervising teams, and seeing projects grow from the ground up.

What are your future plans?

I’m currently juggling several roles. I continue as a research assistant at Institut FEMTO-ST, where I’ve been for nearly two years. I’m also working part-time as a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Linguistics at SFU. My primary role, though, is as an AI engineer in human-robot interaction at Enchanted Tools in Paris, where I’m contributing to exciting advancements in the field.

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming students, what would it be?

You don’t always have to follow your first plan, but you do need a plan, both for how to financially support yourself and how to take care of your mental well-being. It won’t always be easy, but having a plan will help you navigate the ups and downs.

Congratulations, Paige, on your graduation and new role and welcome to the SFU alumni community!