His work involves understanding how people think about their interactions with computers, and their interactions with other people through computers, with a particular focus on security and collaborative systems. He is PI on three NSF grants (including a CAREER award), studying home computer security, crowdfunding systems, and online communities. He completed his PhD at the School of Information at the University of Michigan. Prior to studying information, Rick completed his masters degree in Computer Science from the University of Michigan, and his bachelors degree in Computer Science from Case Western Reserve University.