Welcome!

I'm a PhD Candidate at GroupLens Research, University of Minnesota. I build systems that help people find useful information in social media by inferring interest, influence, and social relationships from "digital traces" that people left online. I also analyze the dynamics of online groups in social media using social psychology theories.

In recent years I have also been lucky enough to work as interns for various industry research labs, including Xerox PARC, IBM Research, and Microsoft Research Asia.

Check out my resume for more details about me, and visit the research project page for some of my recent projects (with pictures and papers).

Before coming to U.S. for my study I spent most of my life in my home city Beijing, China. In my leisure time I enjoy reading history books and playing video games.