Zeyu Yan is a final-year PhD candidate in Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he works with Dr. Huaishu Peng in the Small Artifacts Lab. He previously earned a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, where he worked with Dr. Lining Yao in the Morphing Matter Lab.

His research broadly examines physical interaction and the construction of interactive physical systems. He studies how people design, build, and work with physical interfaces, with an emphasis on the materials, fabrication methods, and system architectures that shape these interactions. More recently, his work focuses on reprogramming physical artifacts that are traditionally inflexible, exploring how components often treated as immutable can be modified, repaired, and repurposed after production.

Zeyu Yan 燕泽宇

Computer Science, University of Maryland

HCI Ph.D. Candidate｜Maker | Car Enthusiast

His research has been published in top-tier venues in Human-Computer Interaction, including CHI, UIST, DIS, and IEEE VR, and has received multiple forms of recognition, including Best Paper Awards, Best Paper Honorable Mentions, Best Demo Awards, and Special Recognition for Sustainability. His work has also received design awards such as 3DP Pioneer of the Decade and Core77, and has been featured in popular media covering technology, manufacturing, and maker communities.

He has been deeply engaged in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Maryland and Carnegie Mellon University, including CMSC 131 (Object-Oriented Programming), CMSC 434 (Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction), CMSC 730 (Interactive Technologies in HCI), CMSC 839 (Haptics and Embodied Interaction Design), CMSC 498J (Human–Robot Interaction), 24-632 (Additive Manufacturing Processing), and 24-785 (Engineering Optimization). In particular, in CMSC 730 and CMSC 498J, he co-developed course curricula and taught lectures and labs covering topics such as 3D modeling, embedded systems programming, advanced fabrication techniques, and robotic system development. Through these courses, he has led student teams whose projects received external recognition, including a Sony SSUP’s “Hack in a Box” Hackathon Series. His teaching contributions have been recognized with University of Maryland Outstanding TA Award.