Dr Junnan Yu is an Assistant Professor in the School of Design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and directs the Little Design Lab. Residing at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction, Learning Sciences, and Design, his research focuses on studying and designing creative technology-mediated learning experiences for young people, investigating the roles that social context plays in children’s learning, and innovating design research in educational contexts. Some of his research and design practices also go beyond learning and children’s contexts and extend to broader HCI research, such as reflecting on HCI research methodologies and addressing emergent technology-related challenges in people’s everyday lives. His research has been published and recognized in top-tier venues for Human-Computer Interaction and Child-Computer Interaction, such as the ACM CHI, CSCW, and IDC conferences.  

Before joining PolyU Design, Dr Yu was a Temporary Research Faculty in the Department of Information Science at the University of Colorado Boulder and once a research intern at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, Harvard University. Dr Yu earned his Ph.D. in Information Science from the University of Colorado Boulder, a Master’s degree in Design from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from Zhejiang University. 

Dr Yu is looking for Ph.D. students interested in interactive learning technologies, computing education for children, and child-centered AI design. For those interested, you may want to check and consider applying for the PolyU postgraduate fellowships. Note these fellowships are highly competitive. Finally, Dr Yu also welcomes postdocs through the RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme. Feel free to reach out if you are interested.

• Ph.D. in Information Science, University of Colorado Boulder
• Master in Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
• Bachelor in Industrial Design, Zhejiang University

• Interaction Design
• Interactive Media