About Me

I am an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Stevens Institute of Technology. [News: I am actively looking for Ph.D. students to join me starting Fall 2026!]

Before this, I obtained my Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, co-advised by Professors Karrie Karahalios and Hari Sundaram.

My research is motivated by the goal of empowering everyone to thrive in a rapidly changing future through education. My work contributes to human-computer interaction (HCI), human-centered AI (HAI), and education technology. Currently, I ask and answer questions regarding the interplay between education and algorithmic systems via a sociotechnical lens:

(1) “Algo -> Education”: Should emerging algorithmic systems be adopted in education, and how should they be used and deployed?
I work with stakeholders and audit algorithmic educational systems to identify and address challenges in interaction and deployment that stakeholders face, promoting effective and responsible use (e.g., managing algorithmic errors). In the long run, I aim to establish meaningful relationships between emerging algorithmic systems and stakeholders in education (e.g., self-regulated learning with generative AI).

(2) “Education -> Algo”: How can education and knowledge of human learning prepare people for a future where they co-exist with algorithmic systems?
I leverage theories and knowledge in human learning to support people’s critical use of algorithmic systems in various scenarios (e.g., information seeking, decision making). I am also interested in (re-)designing HCI and HAI educational programs to prepare diverse groups for an algorithmic future.

My research adopts an interdisciplinary approach. I conduct human-subject experiments, build innovative interactive systems, and perform quantitative (e.g., Bayesian statistics and causal inference) and qualitative analyses.

If you are a student interested in exploring these questions, here are some ways to work with me:
— I am looking for Ph.D. students starting in Fall 2026!
— I like working with self-driven and curious undergraduate and master’s students with a strong interest in research!

Please fill out this survey (click here) so that I can learn more about you.

If you are a researcher or industry partner looking to collaborate, I am always excited to explore new ideas from all disciplines! Please email me at wli69 [at] stevens [dot] edu.