I am a final-year PhD candidate in Information Studies at the University of Maryland’s College of Information (INFO), advised by Dr. Ge Gao.

I am an HCI and CSCW researcher focusing on humans’ capacity to use language as a medium for expression, thinking, and social action. My core research inquiry concerns how people sustain and grow their agency as authors of their own language when working with AI. My broader objective is to contribute conceptual, empirical, and design knowledge about human development in human-AI interaction.

I draw on social science theories of agency, language use, and learning to inform my research. Through these theoretical perspectives, I (1) develop conceptual interpretations of AI-assisted language use and human-AI relationships, (2) identify interaction conditions and design factors for supporting human agency, and (3) translate these insights into the design and development of interactive systems.

Empirically, I conduct mixed-methods behavioral research, ranging from single-session to longitudinal studies with individual or dyadic participants. I investigate: (1) how people make sense of and leverage AI-generated outputs, (2) how AI involvement and interaction methods shape people’s language and communication practices, and (3) how such practices and human capabilities evolve over time. For detailed projects and findings, please see my Research page.

My academic background spans both information and language studies. I received an MS in Applied Data Science and an MA in Linguistic Studies from Syracuse University. I completed my undergraduate studies at Shanghai International Studies University (SISU, 上海外国语大学), where I majored in Information Management & Systems and English. Outside research, I keep a (growing) collection of artsy hobbies (e.g., knitting, sketching, journaling, reading, sewing), while learning the "languages" of different art domains.

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RECENT UPDATES

Jun 2026	I am attending this year's HCIC annual meeting in Estes Park, CO, as one of the sponsored students from UMD.
May 2026	I am serving as an AC for CSCW 2026 Poster Track.
May 2026	I am selected for this year's HCIL Maryland Way Award for Research Excellence. I am honored and grateful for this recognition of my doctoral research.
May 2026	I have proposed my dissertation: Three Pathways Toward Human Agency in AI-Assisted Language Use. Many thanks for the discussion with and guidance from my committee.
Nov 2025	Our work on laypeople's perception of machine translation, conducted at the Language Science Station at Planet Word in Washington, D.C., is published at EMNLP.
Sept 2025	I am presenting two recent projects at UMD's Language Science Day along with my collaborators.
Aug 2025	I am serving as an Assistant to the chairs of CHI 2026 Sucommittee, Understanding People: Mixed and Alternative Methods.
May 2025	I am giving two lightning talks at this year's HCIL symposium at UMD, focusing on AI-mediated communication and human agency.
May 2025	I am attending CHI 2025 remotely and presenting our work on designing for human agency in AI-mediated communication and understanding the cost of agency. I am also participating in this year's virtual Doctoral Consortium.
Jan 2025	I am selected again to be serving as a Chinese language partner. This will be my fourth semester working with undergradate Chinese learners at UMD in this role.
Nov 2024	I am attending CSCW 2024 remotely and presenting our work on the social dynamics and AI involvement in collaborative writing involving native and non-native speakers.
Aug 2024	I am serving as the student representative on the Doctoral Program Committee in my college during the 2024-2025 academic year.

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