WVXU: Transgender and gender diverse people can struggle to sound like themselves. An app aims to help
UC professor discusses her latest research on smartphone apps
Vesna D. Novak, PhD, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science at UC, spoke with 91.7 WVXU for a news broadcast about her latest research on transgender and gender diverse communities.
Novak coauthored a study which suggests that transgender and gender diverse people may benefit from better-designed smartphone apps that offer voice and communication training software that help lessen voice-gender incongruence for transgender individuals. The study is available in the Journal of Voice and includes the results of a 57-question survey and interviews of 21 transgender and gender diverse individuals focusing on voice, technology app usage, surgery, voice training and gender expression and identity.
Tristan Vaught, an adjunct faculty member in the UC Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, also spoke with WVXU about use of smartphone apps among transgender and gender diverse communities.
Listen to the full WVXU interview online.
Learn more about Novak’s latest research online.
Featured image is courtesy of Unsplash.
Related Stories
Major grant expands apprenticeship opportunities at UC
August 31, 2026
UC will expand registered apprenticeship opportunities in AI, semiconductor, and nuclear-energy infrastructure through a major U.S. Department of Labor grant partnership led by JFF.
Heavy social media use linked to depression
August 31, 2026
U.S. News and World Report, Yahoo! News, MSN, USA Today and other national media highlight a new study by the University of Cincinnati and Northwestern University that found a correlation between heavy social media use and depression in adults.
These teeny spiders are social media stars
August 28, 2026
The New York Times turned to a University of Cincinnati professor to explain the appeal of jumping spiders on social media.