Zihan Wu

Dr. Zihan Wu is an Assistant Professor in the School of Computing and Information Science at the University of Maine. Her research lies at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Computing Education Research (CER), where she designs and evaluates interactive, engaging, and AI-supported tools to help novices learn programming and technology more effectively. She enjoys creating tools that guide and welcome learners through their learning process. Her work has been published in venues such as CHI, AIED, and ICER, and she enjoys mentoring students through both research and teaching.

Zihan earned her Ph.D. in Information from the University of Michigan and her B.Eng. in Computer Science and Technology from Tsinghua University. At UMaine, she is teaching HCD 101: Introduction to Human-Centered Design in Fall 2025 and is currently recruiting Ph.D. students starting Fall 2026.