Work With Me

I am always excited to work with motivated students and researchers who share interests in Human-Computer Interaction, AI, and interdisciplinary computing research. If you’re interested in joining our group, here are the current opportunities and how to apply:

Open Positions

  • PhD Students (Fall 2026)
    We are recruiting PhD students to join the lab in Fall 2026. Please apply through the Boston University CS PhD application portal. The application deadline is December 15, 2025. Feel free to email me if you have questions.

  • Undergrad / Graduate RAs, Visiting Researchers (Flexible Starting Date)
    • BU Students: If you are currently at BU, please email me with your CV and transcript, and we can schedule a meeting to discuss opportunities.
    • Non-BU Students: It is occasionally possible to host external RAs or visiting researchers, though opportunities are limited. The best way to explore this is by starting a conversation about an idea that aligns with our research vision (e.g., via email or at a conference). If this evolves into a compelling research question, hosting a collaboration or visit becomes much more feasible.

  • Postdocs (Flexible Starting Date)
    Please email me directly.

Alternatively, you can also express your interests by filling out this form

Research Directions

We are exploring several exciting areas and look forward to having you join us. Current and future directions include:

  • Sensing & Fabrication (e.g., TEI 25, CHI 24, CHI 21, SIGGRAPH 19, SIGGRAPH 18.). Including, but not limited to
    • Computational sensing methods for new forms of interaction
    • Sensing for sports movement
    • Tangible interaction
    • AI-driven fabrication

  • Human-AI Interaction (e.g., CHI PLAY 25, UIST 24, ICCV 21). Including, but not limited to
    • Novel interactive applications enabled by AI
    • Human-AI collaboration in multimodal creative systems
    • AI for gaming
    • AI for XR or embodied interaction

  • HCI for AI (e.g., UIST 25, SIGGRAPH Asia 24). Including, but not limited to
    • Evaluating AI systems with human-centered metrics
    • Understanding human factors
    • Abstraction layer of user interaction
    • Improving AI models/systems driven by human factors.

  • Other Interdisciplinary Topics
    Especially those bridging HCI, AI, and Visual Computing.

FAQ

Q: What type of applicants are you looking for?
A: We welcome applicants who are curious, motivated, and interested in exploring new ideas. We especially value those who are excited to learn new things, open to collaboration, and eager to apply their skills to both advancing knowledge and addressing real-world challenges.

Q: What skills or background are you looking for?
A: We do not have strict requirements for background or skills. What we value most is the ability to learn quickly and adapt, especially in leveraging AI as a tool for exploration and discovery. Given the fast pace of change in technology, the capacity to pick up new knowledge and apply it effectively is often more important than specific prior experience.

That said, it is helpful if applicants have experience in at least one of the following areas, or are able to use AI to strengthen these skills:

  • Hardware building
  • Strong programming/Rapid prototyping (or vibe coding?)
  • 3D modeling and 3D printing
  • Fine-tuning or training AI models, or developing AI agents
  • Game or XR development
  • User study design and execution

Q: Do I need publications to apply for the PhD program?
A: Not necessarily! While publications are valuable and certainly appreciated, they are not the only way to demonstrate research ability. Other forms of work can also showcase your experience, such as open-source projects, software or extensions you have built, or demos (whether replicating existing ideas or developing your own).

Q: I am not from Computer Science background, can I still apply?
A: Absolutely! We welcome applicants from diverse academic backgrounds. HCI is inherently interdisciplinary, and perspectives from different fields are highly valued in our research.