CSSE faculty member inducted into Sigma Xi research honor society
Published: Aug 25, 2026 11:30 AM
By Joe McAdory
Daniela Marghitu joins the world’s largest general research honor society, whose members include more than 200 Nobel Prize recipients.
Daniela Marghitu relishes the opportunity to access new resources and collaborative opportunities with colleagues worldwide. She’ll get that chance as a newly elected member of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Honor Society.
Marghitu, director of Auburn University’s Laboratory for Education and Assistive Technology (ALEA) and a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, joins the world’s largest general research honor society, whose members include more than 200 Nobel Prize recipients.
Founded in 1886, Sigma Xi is a multidisciplinary organization for research scientists and engineers. Full membership, by nomination only, recognizes researchers who have demonstrated noteworthy achievements through scholarly contributions such as peer-reviewed publications, patents and other significant research accomplishments.
“I am excited about collaborating with such amazing colleagues and sharing my professional experience with them based on my 30 years of teaching and well-funded research at Auburn University,” Marghitu said. “One of my latest research topics explores how artificial intelligence (AI), augmented and virtual reality, and intelligent assistive robots can make K-20 STEM education more effective, engaging and accessible. I always wanted to extend my collaborations with amazing national and international colleagues and learn about their research and innovation.
“I love to inspire students, but my students also inspire me. Recent research has involved 11 of my latest doctoral and master’s students, and five of those are now professionals applying knowledge and skills they developed right here at Auburn. I also recently created an innovative course in assistive and accessible computing and I am updating our web development curriculum to better prepare students for the career opportunities they will encounter after graduation.”
Since 2024, Marghitu has served on the State of Alabama’s Governor’s Advisory Council for Computer Science Education, where she helps form strategies and policies geared to develop a unified state vision for computer science education.
“We need to continue to build systems that support students with disabilities from the moment they enter school all the way through to their careers,” she said. “This includes training programs, mentoring and resources that empower students to advocate for themselves, skills that ultimately prepare them to become leaders.”
Media Contact: , jem0040@auburn.edu, 334.844.3447