Work With Me

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

Note: Due to the large volume of inquiries, I may not be able to reply to every email or provide feedback on every application. For PhD applications, please apply directly through the BU portal, and I will make sure to review all materials that mention my name.

Open Positions

  • PhD Students (Fall 2026)
    We are recruiting 2-4 PhD students to join the lab in Fall 2026. Please apply through the Boston University CS PhD application portal, and list my name on your application. I will carefully review all applications that mention my name. The application deadline is December 15, 2025. There is no need to email me beforehand unless you have specific questions, but you are welcome to give me a heads-up after you have submitted your application. (Note: you may consider apply fee waiver if you meet these conditions.)

  • Undergrad / Graduate Research Interns, Visiting Researchers (Flexible Starting Date)
    • BU Students: If you are currently at BU, I encourage you to enroll in my class, CS 599 X1: AI Agents and Human-AI Interaction, which will cover diverse research topics in HCI/AI and provide a foundational understanding of conducting research. You may also email me your CV and transcript, and we can schedule a meeting to discuss opportunities.
    • Non-BU Students: It is occasionally possible to host external interns or visiting researchers, though opportunities are limited. The best way to explore this is by starting a conversation around an idea that aligns with our research vision (e.g., via email or at a conference, or visit my office if you are around Boston area). If this evolves into a compelling research question, hosting a collaboration or visit becomes much more feasible.

  • Postdocs (Flexible Starting Date)
    Please email me your CV directly. Candidates with their own funding will be given priority; however, I do have funding for one position and am also willing to support applications for postdoctoral fellowships.

Research Directions

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

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, sensor signal processing
  • 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
  • LLM evaluation
  • User study design and execution
  • Computational Social Science

Q: Can we have a meeting online to discuss PhD opportunities?
A: I generally find little benefit, for both students and faculty, in scheduling meetings before the application deadline. It is most effective to review applications once all materials are submitted and use that time for focused interviews. However, feel free to email me if you are unsure about the fit or have other specific questions not covered on my website.

Q: Can you provide feedback on my application materials?
A: Unfortunately, it is impossible for me to fully evaluate applicants without their complete application package, including the letters of recommendation and the statement of purpose. These documents are crucial for understanding applicants’ prior experience, research interests, and potential future research trajectory. GPA and test scores are less important to me than these materials. Due to the volume of email, I cannot provide further individualized feedback.

Q: Do I need publications to apply for the PhD program?
A: Strong applicants usually have publications at top-tier venues such as CHI, UIST, SIGGRAPH, NeurIPS, or comparable conferences; these signal that you can take a project to polished, peer-reviewed contribution. Meanwhile, publications are not the only way to demonstrate research potential. A compelling portfolio of open-source systems, software/hardware, demos, or other artifacts that show deep technical execution and insight can also make you a competitive candidate.

Q: Is the PhD position funded?
A: All newly admitted PhD students will receive a 5-year fellowship offer, which may be a combination of a non-service fellowship, teaching fellowship or doctoral research assistant.

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.

Q: Where does the lab publish at?
A: The publication venue will mainly depend on the nature of the work. Primarily, we will publish in ACM conferences on Human-Computer Interaction, such as CHI and UIST, and sometimes SIGGRAPH. We will also publish in AI venues like NeurIPS, ICLR, and CVPR if we believe the work is more suitable for that audience.