Joy Qiuyue Zhong
Portrait of Joy Qiuyue Zhong, HCI Ph.D. student at UMass Amherst

Research interests

Human-Centered AI Positive & Social Computing AI Alignment & Governance

Joy Qiuyue Zhong

Computer Science Ph.D. Student in HCI @ UMass Amherst

Hello, and welcome to my work and world! I’m Joy Qiuyue Zhong, a Computer Science Ph.D. student in Human-Computer Interaction at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, advised by Professor Ravi Karkar.

It’s so exciting and freeing to explore research questions through both humanistic and technical lenses! I hold an M.S. in Information Systems from Northeastern University and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Washington University in St. Louis. Together with my earlier experience in business and entrepreneurship, this training shapes how I think about people’s needs, organizational practices, and the legal and ethical dimensions of technology.

This generalist mindset guides my research in human-centered AI. Drawing on psychology, sociology, and philosophy, I ground the design and evaluation of AI and interactive technologies in people’s needs, values, and lived experiences.

Work in positive and social computing explores how AI and interactive technologies can support human flourishing, including individual and collective well-being. Studies of everyday well-being practices and technology-mediated social interactions inform the design of systems that respond to changing needs, support agency, and enable meaningful social connection.

Research on AI alignment examines how personal values, societal priorities, and the principles underlying law can guide AI design and evaluation. This work explores tensions among stakeholder perspectives and aims to translate empirical findings and ethical and legal insights into guidance for AI development, deployment, and governance.

Publications

Beyond Counting Blessings: Tracing the Evolution of Gratitude Practices and Technology Needs

arXiv preprint, 2026Joy Qiuyue Zhong, Jeongah Lee, Drishti Goel, Violeta J. Rodríguez, Dong Whi Yoo, Koustuv Saha, Ravi Karkar

Details PDF arXiv

Can LLMs identify and repair ruptures? Comparison between clinician practices and LLM behaviors

CHI 2027 under reviewLee, J., Zhong, Q., Goel, D., Rodriguez, V. J., Yoo, D. W., Saha, K., & Karkar, R.

Inform, Coach, Relate, Listen: Auditing LLM Caregiving Support Roles

EMNLP 2026D., Goyal, A., Duddu, V., Pal, O., Lee, J., Zhong, Q. J., ... & Saha, K.

RubRIX: Rubric-driven Risk Mitigation in Caregiver-AI Interactions

ACL 2026Goel, D., Lee, J., Zhong, Q., Rodriguez, V. J., Brown, D. S., Karkar, R., ... & Saha, K.

AI on My Shoulder: Supporting Emotional Labor in Front-Office Roles with an LLM-based Empathetic Coworker

CHI 2025Das Swain, V., Zhong, Q. J., Parekh, J. R., Jeon, Y., Zimmermann, R., Czerwinski, M. P., ... & Hernandez, J.

Experience

2026

Graduate Teaching AssistantTeaching

UMass Amherst

  • CS 571 Data Visualization & Exploration
  • CS 563 Internet Law and Policy
  • CS 389 Intro to Machine Learning
2022

CEL ConsultantIndustry

Teachfloor · Silicon Valley, CA, United States

Formulated product development and market expansion strategies for educational software.

2020

Investment Banking InternIndustry

CITIC Securities · Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

Supported IPO preparation, industry research, and financial/legal due diligence for an education technology company.

2019

Legal AssociateIndustry

Jingsh Law Firm · Beijing, China

Worked on litigation and capital market legal services.

2018

Assistant to the General ManagerIndustry

Beijing China International Travel Service Co., Ltd. · Beijing, China

Coordinated business development, negotiated with suppliers, and worked with senior leadership to implement organizational strategy.

2016–2017

Co-FounderIndustry

Baidu Sales Department's Vendor · Beijing, China

Led a team to create user-friendly websites for Baidu’s sales team.

2015–2016

Sales and Marketing InternIndustry

Mobvoi (HKEX: 02438) · Beijing, China

Supported sales and marketing strategies for smart hardware and e-commerce platforms.

Curiosity & Exploration

“Life is not what one lived, but what one remembers and how one remembers it in order to recount it.”
— Gabriel García Márquez, Living to Tell the Tale

During my gap year, I traveled solo across countries, sharing stories, laughter, and adventures with people from different backgrounds. These encounters deepened my curiosity about people and the world—especially how people remember and make sense of their experiences, and how the stories they tell shape their future choices. That curiosity continues to guide my HCI research.

I also enjoy climbing, surfing, diving, skiing, and exploring caves. These activities teach me to stay curious when I’m unsure, learn from others, and adapt when my first approach doesn’t work. I bring the same patience and openness to research, working through difficult problems and revising my ideas as I learn.

Enjoying the sunset by the ocean in Hawaii
Surfing in the ocean
Rock climbing outdoors
Scuba diving underwater
Exploring the mountains