So, who we are? What kind of students thrive in the lab?

  1. Think beyond one discipline.

    You might come from design, CS, psychology, education, art, accessibility, or something else entirely, but you’re most excited when ideas connect across fields rather than staying in one box.

  2. Care about people and meaning.

    You want visualization to help people think, feel, reflect, express, or make sense of their lives. You believe data is not just numbers, but a human experience.

  3. Are curious, creative, and comfortable with big questions.

    You like exploring new paradigms and asking “why,” not just “how.” You’re not afraid of ambiguity, and are excited by possibility.

  4. Want to design for the real world, not just the lab.

    You care about everyday contexts, messy data, diverse minds, emotions, accessibility, and impact. You want visualization that actually works for the rest of us.

  5. Value both rigor and imagination.

    You enjoy theory and building. Research and design. Systems and story. You don’t think you should have to choose.

  6. Seek purpose and impact.

    You want your work to matter, to change how people understand, connect with, or act on information in real life.

How do we work in the lab?

As a member of the Lived Data Collective, you’ll find that our collaborations are grounded in care, clarity, and mutual learning. Everyone’s journey looks a little different depending on their role, goals, and availability, but all members contribute to the lab’s shared mission of making data more accessible, relatable, and human.

1. As a PhD student or Postdoc, you’ll meet regularly with Dr. Wu for 1:1s and play an active role in lab meetings and projects.

2. As a Master’s student, you may have occasional 1:1s depending on your project’s scope and will usually participate in project meetings. You’re always welcome to join lab meetings and broader discussions.

3. As an Undergraduate student, you’ll typically work closely with graduate mentors on a project and are invited to attend lab meetings when relevant.

What does Dr. Wu offer as an advisor?

  1. A purpose-driven research environment.

  2. Freedom to explore, with structure to support you.

  3. Mentorship that develops your voice and research identity.

  4. Growth not just in research, but in your career and impact.

  5. A lab culture built on inclusion, care, and originality.

Now, a few logistics…

1. When you first join the lab (as an MS or undergrad),
We’ll begin with a short trial period, typically a few weeks to a semester, to get to know each other’s working styles and interests. During this time, you might join meetings, shadow ongoing work, or take on a small task. The goal is to ensure a mutually good fit, followed by a brief check-in in the end to decide how to continue.


2. If there’s nothing specific to discuss in a given week,
You’re always welcome to skip or cancel a 1:1 meeting in advance. Our meetings are meant to support your progress, not add pressure.


3. If at any point you feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or realize the lab may not be the right fit, 
Please feel free to communicate openly with Dr. Wu. We can talk through options, adjust expectations, or, if needed, conclude the collaboration on good terms. Honesty and care come first.


4. If you are exploring or collaborating with multiple labs,
That’s great. Interdisciplinary work enriches our research. However, to keep mentorship and commitments clear, we ask that everyone have one primary lab home. Cross-lab projects are always welcome with open communication.


5. If you need time to rest, recharge, or focus on life outside of research,
Please do so. Sustainable creativity requires balance. We value quality and wellbeing over constant busyness. Just be mindful of core submission deadlines (e.g., IEEE VIS, ACM CHI, ACM ASSETS). Please plan your work with enough lead time before deadlines so you’re not rushing at the last minute and can maintain a healthy rhythm.