👋 Hi, I’m Ren.

I build AI-augmented tools for practitioners and everyday users to critique sociotechnical systems.

I am a Ph.D. student in Human-Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University, advised by Dr. Andrew Begel in the Variability Lab.

I design AI-augmented practices and tools that help multidisciplinary teams surface risks, reason together, and make better decisions. My dissertation, SAFER-AI, combines contextual inquiry (surveys, interviews, observations) with participatory design and lightweight prototyping (video/whiteboard plugins; conversational agents) to detect misunderstandings, scaffold inclusive critique, and increase trust in high-stakes, computational work.

I have worked with organizations (Deloitte, Google, and venture capital groups) on technology design,education, and entrepreneurship projects.

📣 Hiring? I am on the 2025-26 job market for applied industry research / engineering internships. Reach out if you want to chat!