Hi, I’m Peiyao
I’m an HCI researcher and PhD candidate in Computational Media at UC Santa Cruz, where I’m advised by Dr. Norman Makoto Su. Before joining UCSC, I earned my master’s degree in Communication from North Carolina State University. And even earlier, I studied Animation as an undergrad.
My work sits at the intersection of workplace technology, social justice, and inclusive design. I use qualitative and mixed methods to explore how digital systems shape workplace communication, decision-making, and the voices of marginalized communities. My current research focuses on redesigning workplace concern reporting channels to be more emotionally responsive and socially accountable, work recognized with a Best Paper Award (CSCW 2026) and an Honorable Mention (CHIWORK 2025). I also collaborate with grassroots communities to co-design speech-AI tools that reflect the lived experiences and values of people who stutter, work recognized with a Best Paper Award (AIES 2025) and an Honorable Mention (ASSETS 2026).
News
Upcoming
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ASSETS 2026, Porto, Portugal
Presenting our honorable mention paper, Designing Beyond Fluency: Imagining Speech Technology through Speculative Design with People Who Stutter.
Recent
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Best Paper Award at CSCW 2026
Our paper, From Mediation to Escalation: Buffer Spaces for Workplace Concern Reporting, with Lynn Dombrowski and Norman Makoto Su, received the Best Paper Award at CSCW 2026. Thanks to everyone who came to the talk in Salt Lake City! [Read the paper]
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Advanced to PhD candidacy
I passed my qualifying exam and advanced to candidacy in Computational Media at UC Santa Cruz. On to the dissertation.
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Honorable Mention at CHIWORK 2025
Our honorable mention work, Emotional Re-Victimization in the Workplace: The Burden of Concern Reporting Systems, co-authored with Norman, has been accepted to CHIWORK 2025. See you in Amsterdam! [Read the paper]
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Best Paper Award at AIES 2025
Our paper, Govern With, Not For: Understanding the Stuttering Community’s Preferences and Goals for Speech AI Data Governance in the US and China, with Jingjin Li, Rebecca Lietz, Ningjing Tang, Norman Makoto Su, and Shaomei Wu, received the Best Paper Award at AIES 2025. [Read the paper]