EDUCATION

2020 Aug - 2022 May
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Master of Science in Information (Human Computer Interaction)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0/4.0
Advisor: Prof. Steve Oney

2016 Sept - 2020 May
University of Wisconsin - Madison
B.S in Computer Science, Certificate in Graphic Design & Mathematics


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

May 2023 – Now
Moderna, Inc
Software Engineer

Jul 2022 – May 2023
Zoom Video Communications, Inc
Front-end Engineer

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

SI579: Building Interactive Applications

SI106: Programs, Information and People


About Me

My name is Shiyu (Rayne) Xu. I am currently a software engineer working at Moderna. Previously, I earned my Master’s degree from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor’s School of Information, focusing on the Human-Computer Interaction track. I also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, with minors in Mathematics and Graphic Design. During my Master’s, I was lucky to have Prof. Steve Oney as my advisor for research and thesis, and I was fortunate to work with Prof. Yaxing Yao as a research assistant.

My research interest lies in human-computer interaction, specifically in designing technology that better understands and facilitates human needs, in the areas of mental health and education.

Publications


How Pairing by Code Similarity Influences Discussions in Peer Learning

Shiyu Xu, Ashley Ge Zhang, Steve Oney
CHI 2023 Late-Breaking Work

[PDF] [Paper]

This paper investigates how grouping students with similar or different coding solutions impacts the quality of discussions in peer learning within programming courses, aiming to identify the most effective grouping strategies to enhance student learning outcomes.

“It would probably turn into a social faux-pas”: Users’ and Bystanders’ Preferences of Privacy Awareness Mechanisms in Smart Homes

PK Thakkar, S He, S Xu, DY Huang, Y Yao
CHI 2022

[PDF] [Paper]

This research explored how to effectively deliver privacy-related notifications in smart homes to both users and bystanders. By surveying 136 users and 123 bystanders, the study examined their preferences for receiving privacy notifications and evaluated four mechanisms to increase privacy awareness, such as Data Dashboards and Ambient Light.