Kate Starbird is an Associate Professor at the Department of Human-Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) at the University of Washington (UW). Dr. Starbird's research sits in the emerging field of crisis informatics—the study of how social media and other communication technologies are used during crisis events. Currently, her work focuses on the production and spread of online rumors, misinformation, and disinformation in the context of crises and other disruptive events. Starbird is a co-founder of the UW Center for an Informed Public.