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Kevin Shao

1st-year PhD Student at Electrical and Computer Engineering

University of Washington

About Kevin

My name is Kevin Shao, and I am a first-year Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Washington, Seattle. I hold a Master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the same institution, and a Bachelor's degree, with Magna Cum Laude honors, from The Ohio State University, Columbus. My research focuses on human-computer interaction and STEM education, with a specific focus on developing inclusive and responsible AI technologies. My research aim to enhance the accessibility and provide personalized learning experience for post-secondary STEM students.

Research Interests

  • Human-computer Interaction

  • Responsible AI

  • Educational Technology

  • Accessibility

Education

  • Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Expected graduation: 2028/06)

    University of Washington, Seattle

  • MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering

    University of Washington, Seattle

  • BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering

    The Ohio State Univeristy, Columbus

Academic Research Experiences

PhD Student Researcher

University of Washington

September 2024 – Present · Seattle, WA

  • Research in Human-Computer Interaction (Education Technologies), STEM Education (post-secondary), and Accessibility.
  • Advisor: Denise Wilson, Sep Makhsous

Graduate Research Assistant

University of Washington

March 2023 – September 2024 · Seattle, WA

  • Researched on how NLP technologists' design decisions impact fairness, representation, and bias particularly among linguistically and ethnically diverse user groups.
  • Surfaced practical recommendations for industry-wide standards and best practices in NLP dataset production, emphasizing equitable and responsible AI development.
  • Advisor: Jay Cunningham, Julie Kientz, Daniela Rosner

Undergraduate Research Assistant Lead

The Ohio State University

August 2021 – May 2022 · Columbus, OH

  • Demonstrated the array placement strategy and DoA estimation techniques presented in Ohio State University (OSU) invention disclosure T2022-060.
  • Designed, constructed, and operated a narrowband sparse sensor array to estimate direction of arrival (DoA).
  • Utilized MATLAB programs and MLE estimator to determine DoAs from relative phases of each sensor in the linear and planar sparse array geometries.
  • Advsior: Lee Potter

Selected Projects

EquityEngine: A Pathway to Inclusive and Personalized Engineering Education

EquityEngine is a multi-phase research initiative aimed at enhancing the educational experience for engineering students, particularly those with attention disorders such as Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), in post-secondary education. By leveraging the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and adopting a participatory design approach, the research seeks to augment learning accessibility and provide tailored support through a multifunctional AI-driven platform, bridging the gap between existing resources and needs of these students.

DawgSense

DawgSense supports dog owners in managing their pets' reactive behaviors in stressful situations by providing tools for real-time response and insight into preventive measures. This dual approach enhances immediate handling of behavioral challenges and fosters long-term understanding, boosting owner confidence and strengthening the pet-owner bond.

Responsibility and Representation in Natural Language Processing (NLP) Data Practice

This research study is pioneering collaborative methods to develop culturally competent and equitable AI solutions for AAVE speakers. This project emphasizes democratic collaboration with communities to create inclusive technologies and policies, aiming to empower historically marginalized groups while fostering fairness, equity, and sustainability in AI development.

Making Electric Vehicle Charging Fun

The project aimed to create the ideal EV charging experience. The team worked with a 2023 Mach E GT to provide a reliable and accurate assessment of whether or not chargers are working, to generate a more positive charging experience for EV owners; the long-term goal is to develop an end-to-end plan for the charging experience of tomorrow — from modeling in-vehicle hardware and software enhancements that will improve battery capacity and range to making recommendations for grid integration and infrastructure updates.

Teaching Experiences

Graduate Teaching Assistant

University of Washington

January 2023 – Present · Seattle, WA

  • Serve as EE 215 Lead TA starting from Winter 2024.
  • Prepare review materials, conduct quiz/review sessions, and prepare exam/quiz problems.
  • Hold regular office hours, tutor students, and manage and respond to course-related emails.
  • Served courses: EE 215: Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering, Engineering Switzerland Study Abroad 2023 (led by Prof. Karl Böhringer).

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

The Ohio State University

August 2019 – May 2022 · Columbus, OH

  • Explored and led in-depth on various classical topics and design projects in the engineering field ranging from designing self-protection devices to safer storage system for grains with instructional team and students in the phase of the problem definition involved research plan, user needs, and value proposition, concept development, and detailed design.
  • Attended assigned class and lab session to assist students in their development of basic skills in laboratories and lectures.
  • Graded assignments, hold office hours, and conducted review sessions to help students prepare for exams.
  • Joined in SILT(Student Instructional Leadership Team) Mentorship Program to share experience with new teaching assistants and freshman in the College of Engineering.
  • Served courses: Fundamentals of Engineering 1181 and 1182.

Recent Publications

Talks & Presentations