Experience
2016-present
Director of Research
Directing research efforts at Oki Pie Lab, a research and design hub exploring the power of characters as facilitators of children’s learning experiences. I founded this lab for rapid research & development turning workshop data into immediate, actionable intelligence for the global education and children’s media communities. Our Lab goals are:
🌸 DESIGN - Creating character-themed resources and expressive arts workshops for children
🌸 DISCOVERY - Researching the impact of characters on children’s creativity & self-expression
🌸 DISSEMINATION - Reporting actionable research to learning designers & media creators
2016-2026
Children’s Media Research Consultant
Researched the role of characters as facilitators of children's learning experiences. Explored character research in a broader scope (books/ tv/ gaming) before specializing in AI-powered characters (tutors/ assistants/ toys/ apps) in educational context.
Advocated for (and published peer reviewed research about) the term "AI characters" instead of "AI companions" because not all characters are designed for companionship. This work was presented at organizations such as: Stanford GSE, PennGSE, HGSE, National Geographic EDUlab, and UNICEF Communities of Practice.
2025
Children’s Media Researcher
AI literacy, ethics, and compliance advisor for the animated series Project Olii. Proposed AI Ratings system informed by child development guidelines. Conducted caregiver survey to assess the need for an AI literacy program and AI powered life skills assistant for thoughtful use of tech, without any potential for emotional dependence.
2025
Research Fellow
Selected as one of 20 scientists from across the world to participate in 2025 Falling Walls Foundation's 'Female Science Talents Intensive Track' program to support significant career breakthroughs. During this one-year fellowship my research explored the impact of AI character interactions on children's learning experiences.
2023-24
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor at Penn State LDT for two courses: The 'Learning Design Studio' course helped students design LX portfolios with personally meaningful and career-relevant projects using the most optimal tools for their work. This course supported masters and doctoral students with backgrounds as K12 teachers, Higher Ed and Corporate Instructional Designers, and LX Consultants. The ‘LX within CMS’ course helped educators design thoughtful online learning experiences within the opportunities and limitations of course management systems. This course supported masters and doctoral students who were interested in teaching remotely at universities and/or as independent coaches or consultants. Students designed sample courses for a community of their choice.
2003-12
Character Designer
Worked in the SF Bay Area gaming industry as a character designer across studios such as Storm8, AiryLabs and Pennypop Games (with shorter gigs with startups that got acquired or shit down). Prior to that I worked as a junior character designer and design generalist in India for studios such as The Agence, Maya Entertainment, and Zee Telefilms. After several years of design work I took a break for full-time caregiving to family members with critical health conditions. During this unexpected break, I continued sketching characters for personal joy, many of which have now become part of the Oki Pie storyverse.
Recommendations
Evren Yigit
Founder & CEO | Mako Kids
Sonia Tiwari is a wonderful person and an esteemed member of our KidsAI Consultants Hub. After having worked with her on multiple initiatives, she continues to amaze me with her expertise in AI and media for children, bringing together deep research skills and a thoughtful, human-centered approach that makes her a trusted voice in this emerging space. Sonia creates solutions and research that truly reflect children’s perspectives, ensuring their needs and rights are at the heart of the conversation (which makes me love her even more). Her work with us has included researching caregiver and educator needs, developing child–AI interaction frameworks, creating assessment models, age ratings, and design guidelines, and fostering meaningful partnerships for research and advocacy in the US. She connects academic insight with real-world application, ensuring ideas are not only innovative but also ethical and developmentally sound. On every project, she brings clarity, warmth, and vision, she is the kind of collaborator who makes complex work feel both meaningful and inspiring. I’m also grateful to have her as an ongoing consultant for our AI assistant for children, a role where her perspective continues to add real value to our AI assistant’s design and development.
Sandra Falque
Founder | Jules stories
I had the pleasure of speaking with Sonia recently, and I was deeply impressed by her expertise, generosity, and clarity. She generously gave several hours of her time to share thoughtful insight into AI characters, ethics for children, and how to design safer, more meaningful experiences for kids. What stood out most was how Sonia didn’t just talk in high-level theory, she worked with me to brainstorm concrete ideas for making Jules more useful for parents, offering practical suggestions grounded in empathy and experience. Her perspective is both visionary and grounded. If you’re building something that touches children, learning, or ethical AI, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more thoughtful, caring, and insightful partner than Sonia. I highly recommend her them to others.
LaVar McCline
STEAM Educator
Creative, thorough and innovative are words I would use to describe Sonia. Her deep understanding of child development and learning theories, along with strong research skills – enabled her to help me develop my STEAM-based educational platform and product. I have no doubt that Sonia will continue to make significant contributions to the field of children's education via her expertise of incorporating play-based learning, storytelling, and the perfect mix of interactive elements. I highly recommend Sonia for any role where her creativity, research acumen, and passion for learning can be put to good use.
Brinleigh Murphy-Reuter
Founder | Science to the People
Sonia has been a valuable thought partner and informal collaborator on a novel theoretical framework I am developing around children and AGI. After learning about her background and expertise through a talk she gave at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, I knew I needed to speak with her, and she graciously agreed to meet. She not only provided valuable feedback and evidence-based insights, but Sonia has gone above and beyond by supporting my work and providing new and unique approaches to tackle my framework development. I have found her mentorship invaluable and am seeking more opportunities to work with her in formal (through my work at Boson Children's Hospital's Digital Wellness Lab) and informal capacities in the future!
Sierra Noakes
Director of Ed Policy | Digital Promise
Sonia was deeply informed, visionary, and passionate in our collaboration around the role of AI in learning. I greatly valued the expertise she brought to the table and her thought partnership!
Tom Bertino
Graduate Director at AAU | Former Animation Director at ILM
Sonia is one of the more remarkable all-around creative souls it's ever been my pleasure to encounter. She is greatly skilled in several varied disciplines and, most importantly, has an ever-questing imagination. She lives in the realm of possibilities and revels in "what-if?" In an age where we stand to make great discoveries, it won't surprise me when some of those discoveries are made by Sonia.
