What inspired you to pursue a role graduate degree?

My core motivation was a desire to go deeper into human-centered research. The HCI program at UCSC gave me exactly the kind of environment I was looking for, and it has shaped how I think about research in ways I did not fully anticipate when I started. 

"I love stepping away from my own research and immersing myself in a completely different field, particularly physics and psychology."

How would you describe your main research focus to someone outside your field?

I study how people think, learn, and engage with technology, particularly with AI systems and serious games. My goal is to understand how we can make these systems more meaningful, ethical, and context-aware. The broader themes that guide my work are metacognition, psychological wellbeing, and resilience. 

How did your interests lead you to your current research area in Computational Media/HCI?

I think I have always been driven by one central question: how can we make things better for humanity, especially for people who are often overlooked or underrepresented? That question is really what brought me here. No matter what project I am working on, I try to ask how I can put humans at the center of it. 

With AI evolving as rapidly as it is, I feel a sense of responsibility to speak on behalf of people through my work, and to push back when the field moves too fast without thinking carefully about human impact. I will also say, I try to avoid using the word "user" when I can, especially with how the market is evolving these days. Personally, I find it to be a very product-driven word that tends to strip away empathy and reduce people to a function. That is a small thing, but it reflects a broader idea and commitment I carry into the research I do. 

What has been the most rewarding or exciting moment in your research so far?

It was having my position paper accepted at the CHI 2026 Healthcare and AI Workshop. The title of the paper is Relationship-Centered Care: Relatedness and Responsible Design for Human Connections in Mental-Health Care . 

The paper makes a case for why a user-centered approach is simply not sufficient when AI systems are being deployed in mental healthcare, and it introduces a new model I proposed to address that gap. The response was very encouraging by the community. People resonated with the argument and with the model, which meant a lot to me. That feeling of putting something out into the community and having the community respond to it meaningfully, is really rewarding. 

"My goal is to understand how we can make [AI] systems more meaningful, ethical, and context-aware."

What are your career goals now that you've completed your degree?

My long-term goal is to become a professor and remain in academia. I want to keep doing human-centered research and contribute to the field in a way that has lasting impact. My short term goal is to do more research around psychological well-being, serious games and generative AI. 

What would you say to students who are considering joining our lab?

I would tell them to explore as much as you can, and find the projects that really excite you. The lab has a lot of resources and deep expertise across many areas, so take advantage of that. Do not hesitate to ask for help. Everyone here is really supportive and responsive. If you have been given the opportunity to be a part of this lab, you are already in good hands. Just show up, stay curious, discuss your ideas openly, and put in the work. That is really all it takes.