I'm Tzu-Yu

As an INFP (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving) 🦋, I’ve always embraced the complexity of human beings. My personality, combined with my interests in design and technology, has prompted me to learn more about how humans interact with technology.

With a background in product management and design, alongside over two years of research in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), I’m passionate about understanding how technology influences human behavior. My work is driven by a desire to uncover pain points for different users and use my UX/UI skills to create impactful real-world solutions that enhance users’ experiences.

I’m currently applying for HCI PhD, with a research interests on accessibility design, privacy and security, and health and well-being (also open to explore more). I am interested in methodologies of mixed method, participatory design, and interviews. If you would like to connect with me, feel free to send me an email or poke me on Linkedin!

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

Paper:

[1] Tzu-Yu Weng, Ananya Gupta, Bart Knijnenburg, Mainack Mondal, Nancy Fulda, and Xinru Page. 2024. Identifying Tensions in Online Cross-Cultural Communication. Presented at IUI SOCIALIZE 2024, South Carolina, United States.

Presentations:

[2] Kirsten Chapman, Tzu-Yu Weng, et al. 2024. An Automated Way to Identify Fake Facebook Profiles. Presented at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) 2024, Melbourne, Australia.

[3] Kirsten Chapman, Tzu-Yu Weng, et al. 2024. Supporting Digital Independence for Young Adults Through Education. Presented at INSAR 2024, Melbourne, Australia.

[4] Tzu-Yu Weng, et al. 2024. Identifying Tensions That Arise in Cross-Cultural Online Communication. Poster presented at the Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research (UCUR) 2024, Orem, Utah.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

BYU Social Technology and Privacy Lab (STaPL)

Undergraduate Research Assistant- July 2022-Present

Advisor: Associate Professor Xinru, Page (Computer Science Department, BYU)

Cross-Cultural Privacy and Communication Project (Team-lead):

Leading a seven-member team in systematic prompt engineering with GPT models to address cross-cultural communication barriers using OpenAI. Actively refining research prompts and slated to begin a grant proposal.
Developed and executed interview protocols, conducting in-depth interviews and qualitative analysis with Dovetail and Python; presented key insights at IUI SOCIALIZE 2024.

Autism and Social Media Project:

Design user-centric interfaces with Figma for an automated system that identifies fake Facebook profiles; the project was accepted for presentation at INSAR 2024.
Conducted targeted user design interviews to optimize the Facebook communication system design for the autism community, enhancing user engagement and accessibility.

WORK EXPEIRENCE

Bloom For Women Internship Project Manager- September 2022- December 2022

Boosted blog post engagement and new client registrations by 60.9% at Bloom for Women through targeted SEO strategies, demonstrating expertise in digital marketing and analytics.
Led three concurrent projects, conducting market research and competitive analysis that drove strategic decisions.

The Next 3D Perception Co Ltd

Content Editor

The Next 3D Perception Co Ltd. Content Editor- August 2022-August 2022

Translate and edit the book “International Report of Supportive Environment on Artificial Intelligence Courses in K-12.”
Communicate with the author to ensure accuracy in translation and professional concepts.
Independent background research on the topic to understand the key objectives of the book.

BYU Independent Study Instructional Design Assistant – September 2021- August 2022

Enhanced BYU’s independent study STEM courses by applying advanced Canvas design tools and HTML, demonstrating strong design acumen and technical proficiency.
Rapidly mastered basic HTML and copyright laws within three days, accelerating the publication of courses and showcasing exceptional self-learning capabilities.

BYU UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CONFERENCE

2024: “Identifying Conflicts that Arise in Cross-Cultural Online Communication”- Explored cultural communication barriers via interviews, offering solutions for enhanced digital interaction.
2023: “A Privacy Paradox? Willingness to Disclose Health Status Through Technology”- Examined privacy impacts on COVID-19 status sharing, identifying factors that influence disclosure decisions.
2022: “Effects of Interpersonal Interaction in Electronic Learning”- Studied e-learning’s effect on student interaction and learning, revealing key insights into digital education dynamics.

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

BYU Chinese Students and Scholars Association

BYUCSSA President- February 2022- Present

Developed and managed BYUCSSA’s first website and social media platforms, growing followers to over 500 and assisting 100+ students with BYU applications.
Led weekly meetings, delegated tasks aligning with member skills, and organized a major event that drew over 100 participants, revitalizing association activity after two years of stagnation.
Initiated and co-hosted BYU’s first “Chinatown” event with a faculty member, drawing 100+ attendees; designed promotional materials and led event planning.

Teach English to Children in China Project Founder

Led a project that recruited 30+ volunteer teachers and secured a long-term partnership with the Children’s Home, showcasing effective project management and collaboration skills.
Streamlined educational content by organizing and enhancing training manuals, multimedia aids, and materials for children’s programs, ensuring engaging and effective instructions.

StressWatch App

This is an app designed to provide practical choices for reducing stress. From our research, we found that current stress apps connected to smartwatches show an 85% increase in stress after just one week of use. To address this, we developed StressWatch, featuring a unique “panic attack button” that sends vibrations to the user’s watch, providing an external distraction during intense situations. StressWatch aims to offer a more effective and user-friendly approach to managing stress.

App design, Email marketing plateform, social impact

Mailato

Mailato is an email marketing system designed to improve response rates for non-profit organizations. Often, these organizations’ important messages get neglected due to a lack of assistance and proficiency in email marketing. After interviewing many non-profits, we developed Mailato to address this issue. The system uses AI to prioritize email subjects based on readers’ interests and reading habits. Additionally, users can manually select the themes they need, ensuring that their most urgent and relevant messages receive the attention they deserve.

Twilight

Twilight is an exchange program that connects seniors with caregiving and nursing students, who provide services in exchange for free accommodation. We collaborate monthly with senior support groups to understand their needs deeply. Many seniors prefer not to move to senior living facilities but still require some assistance. Twilight addresses this by offering a solution that supports both the seniors in need and the caregivers who require personal time.

Product Presentation

Sandbox Demo Day

In 2023, I stepped out of my comfort zone to compete in a hackathon as a product manager, collaborating with a software engineer and a designer to build a product from scratch. I was honored to be selected as one of the PMs for a year-long startup incubator program, where I worked closely with other top candidates to develop a startup. This video is our final demo day, where we presented one of our projects to the audience.

4NEAT

At the hackathon, I took the lead on “4 Neat,” a calorie tracking product designed to help users effortlessly log their food intake by scanning receipts or taking pictures of their meals. As a product manager, I guided our team through the initial stages, exploring user needs via interviews and surveys, and validating our findings. I collaborated closely with a programmer and a designer to develop a high-fidelity prototype, and we conducted user interviews to refine our product. Our slogan, “For Your Eat, For Your Need,” encapsulates our mission to make calorie tracking simple and intuitive.