I have been fortunate to learn from multiple advisors with different mentoring styles, including Prof. Michael Twidale and Prof. Jessie Chin, as well as mentors such as Prof. Benjamin Cowan and Prof. Dakuo Wang. Their diverse approaches to running research labs have shaped my own mentoring philosophy. Through these experiences, I have adapted and integrated elements that resonate with my goals of fostering independent, ethical research that positively influences society.

One of the greatest rewards of working with students is the opportunity to continually learn from them. I am committed to this ongoing learning and evolution, aspiring for it to enhance both my research and my ability to support student growth.

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What I Look For

I welcome students from all backgrounds, but to be most effective, I seek students with at least one of two core competencies:

Design Skills: UX design, graphics, user research, or related design experience

Technical Skills: Machine learning, AI development, or conversational AI implementation

I believe students from any background can develop these competencies with dedication and the abundant resources available today. For PhD positions, I require some prior research experience, while for research assistant roles, I am happy to work with any motivated student interested in learning about research or conversational AI.

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Available Opportunities

PhD Students: I am recruiting one PhD student for Fall 2026 through the Interdisciplinary Design and Media PhD program at CAMD. More information available at: https://camd.northeastern.edu/programs/interdisciplinary-design-and-media-phd/

Research Assistants: I actively seek graduate and undergraduate students at Northeastern to assist with ongoing projects.

Visiting Researchers: Students from other labs or universities interested in collaborative projects are welcome.

Mentorship Positions: Opportunities are available for students worldwide with strong potential who want to learn more about HCI research and lab culture.

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How to Apply

If this research direction excites you, please reach out with the following:

• CV and portfolio (if relevant)
• Specific research interests and how you plan to contribute
• Clear indication of the role you're seeking (RA, PhD, Visiting Researcher, etc.)
• Detailed explanation of why you want to join the lab and how your past experiences connect to our work

I encourage you to be as specific as possible about your interests and goals. This helps me understand how we might work together and whether there's a good mutual fit.

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Are We a Good Fit?

CHAI Lab operates as a "research-as-play" environment where we take our work seriously, but not ourselves. We're building a creative lab that collaborates, shares expertise, and explores creatively wild ideas. Here's how to know if we might work well together:

• You'll thrive here if you:
• We might not be the right match if you:

Remember, there's a right lab for everyone that can bring out your best work—it might not be this one, and that's perfectly okay. The goal is finding where you can do your most meaningful and impactful research.

Email at [email protected] to join us

Note: I am grateful for the significant interest in our lab! Given the volume of emails I receive, I can only respond to inquiries that demonstrate strong alignment with our research areas and approach. Please review our research approach carefully before reaching out.