IMAGE OF Kate Tsui

Kate Tsui, Ph.D.

Computer Science ’04, ’08, '14, User Experience Researcher, Toyota Research Institute

Research Interests

Human-Robot Interaction, Human Computer Interaction Research

Education

Ph.D.'14, MS'08, BS'04: Computer Science, UMass Lowell

Biosketch

Katherine Tsui, Ph.D., is a Human Robot Interaction and User Experience Researcher. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (2014) and was a postdoctoral associate at Yale University (2014­-2016). 
Over the last decade, she has worked with clinicians and endorsers from several special populations, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, teenagers and young adults with Cerebral Palsy, adults and seniors with brain injury, and deaf infants. Her Human Robot Interaction and Human Computer Interaction Research interests stem from the cross section of Computer Science, Robotics, and Assistive Technology. She is passionate about increasing the quality of life for all people using robotic devices.
In 2016, Tsui, Ph.D., joined Toyota Research Institute as a User Experience Researcher. Her research investigated Human Robot Interaction in the context of automated driving technologies and users both within the automated vehicle (AV) and outside of the AV.
In 2018, Tsui, Ph.D., focused her research on how technology can help give older adults increased mobility within their residence and when away. In both her AV and robotics research she is the liaison between future potential users and the engineering teams. By leading focus groups, performing contextual inquiries, and testing prototypes in person with future potential users, her research studies how best to design thoughtful and positive user interactions and experiences.