LAB

Join my Lab 🤩

I’m actively recruiting students interested in combining human–computer interaction (HCI) with large language models (LLMs) and agentic systems to build responsible AI tools that augment—not replace—professional expertise in complex real-world practice.

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Research Areas

My group studies how emerging AI technologies can augment--not replace--human expertise. We design, build, and evaluate AI systems that support people as they learn, make decisions, communicate, and deliver services in complex and consequential settings. Our work spans domains such as health and rehabilitation, education, caregiving, high-stakes professional training, and more.

I am particularly excited to work with people who want to combine rigorous technical development with careful attention to human needs, professional workflows, and societal consequences. You can learn more about my research on the Research page.

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Prospective Ph.D. Students

I am recruiting prospective Ph.D. students to join my research group at Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST).

Strong candidates are intellectually curious, self-directed, and excited about research at the intersection of AI and people. You do not need to have experience in every method or application area. I value students who are willing to develop both technical depth and a thoughtful understanding of the people, practices, and communities that AI systems are meant to support.

Students with backgrounds or interests in a mix of the following areas are especially encouraged to reach out:

  • Human-computer interaction, human-AI interaction, interaction design, or UX research
  • Artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, multimodal AI, or computer vision
  • Interactive systems, full-stack development, data science, or AI engineering
  • Social science, behavioral science, education, health, communication, or design research
  • Mixed-methods research, fieldwork, participatory design, or evaluation of technologies in real-world settings
  • AI applications that support professional learning, decision-making, communication, training, care, or service delivery

Prospective Ph.D. students should apply through the relevant Penn State IST graduate program. Please indicate your interest in working with me in your application materials where appropriate.

You are also welcome to email me at qpz5159@psu.edu with the subject line:

[PROSPECTIVE PHD] Your Name

Please include

  1. Your CV or resume
  2. A brief description of your background and research interests
  3. A short note on why you are interested in working with my group
  4. Representative publications, projects, writing samples, or a portfolio, if available

I read prospective-student emails carefully, and I will reach out if your background seems like a potential good fit. A prior email is welcome but is not required for admission consideration.

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Current Penn State Students

I welcome inquiries from current Penn State undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students interested in joining my group. Research projects may involve designing and evaluating AI systems, developing prototypes, analyzing multimodal data, conducting interviews or field studies, collaborating with experts, and contributing to publications. Students from IST, computer science, engineering, education, health-related fields, social science/communication, design, and related areas are all welcome.

To inquire about research opportunities, please email me with the subject line:

[PSU] Your Name

Please include your program and year, relevant coursework or experience, a CV or resume, and a short note describing the research directions you would like to explore.

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What It Is Like to Work With Me

My group aims to build AI systems that are technically rigorous, empirically grounded, and genuinely useful to the people who rely on them. I encourage students to develop a strong research identity while gaining experience across system building, human-centered research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and scholarly communication.

I am especially excited to mentor students who want to ask ambitious questions, work closely with real communities and professionals, and help shape AI systems that are responsible, practical, and worthy of trust.

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About Penn State IST

Penn State IST offers an interdisciplinary environment for studying how people, information, and technology shape one another. Students in my group benefit from opportunities to collaborate across computing, design, education, health, and the social sciences.