Welcome, April Yi Wang

Professor Wang, what were the essential factors in your decision to choose ETH Zurich?

What drew me to ETH Zurich is its strong support for early-career faculty members in establishing their research labs. ETH Zurich’s reputation for academic excellence is crucial for my lab’s growth. This grants me access to a pool of talented and motivated students, which is essential for the success of any research lab. Additionally, the university provides substantial funding support, which is vital for the growth and sustainability of my research projects. This allows me to explore innovative ideas and initiatives. Lastly, ETH Zurich has a diverse community of colleagues I see as potential collaborators, mentors and role models. This collaborative atmosphere is of immense value for both my research and career development.

I also like the university’s location. Zurich is a beautiful and safe city to live in. The climate reminds me of my hometown, and the city is close to the mountains so that I can enjoy all kinds of winter activities. Moreover, Zurich has fantastic career opportunities for my partner and provides an ideal environment for our dog.

What motivated you to pursue a career in academia?

My curiosity about the world was the reason why I decided to pursue an academic career. Research, to me, is all about asking meaningful and challenging questions and then putting in the effort to uncover answers and solutions. What excites me about academia is the freedom to chart my own path in the journey of inquiry, exploration and discovery. Moreover, it is immensely satisfying when the knowledge we generate can inspire and guide future researchers and tool designers.

What are your current research interests?

My current research interests revolve around making programming tools more usable and effective, considering the evolving demands of education and the professional world. Fields like data science programming and creative programming are constantly evolving. As a result, there are new workflows and media for programming environments. I investigate how these changes impact the usability of programming tools.

I am also interested in the transition from traditional face-to-face interactions to online platforms like Zoom. How do programmers work together, and how do instructors teach programming? I explore the implications of these shifts for the usability of different tools. In addition, integrating AI-assisted coding offers exciting opportunities to provide intelligent support for programmers and learners. I delve into how emerging technologies such as AI can enhance the usability of programming tools.

Finally, I design programming tools that are customised to meet the specific needs of different user groups. These include children learning computing literacy, computer science students preparing for their future professional careers and end-user programmers tackling domain-specific tasks.

What fascinates you most about your area of research?

The field of human-computer interaction (HCI) focuses on understanding and improving the human experience with technology. What captivates me is the user-centric approach, where users play a central role, from identifying research problems to the iterative design and evaluation processes. Additionally, HCI is inherently interdisciplinary, bridging fields like psychology, design, computer science, education and more. This interdisciplinary aspect presents exciting opportunities to collaborate. Furthermore, the rapid pace of technological advancement keeps the field dynamic and continuously challenging. As technology evolves, HCI researchers are pushed to adapt and find innovative solutions to address emerging technologies, which often have direct and tangible real-world implications.

Could you tell us more about the impact of your research on society?

I view programming as a way to instruct computers to perform tasks for humans. While writing code directly is one approach, it is not the only way to interact with computers. My research is geared towards lowering the barriers that might hinder the general public in using programming. I aim to make programming tools more accessible and user-friendly for a broader range of individuals.

In our increasingly technology-driven world, possessing a general knowledge of computing technology has become an essential skill. My research concentrates on developing scalable tools that enable inclusivity in computer science classrooms and engage learners from diverse backgrounds.

Are there any potential collaborations or interdisciplinary projects you look forward to or hope to participate in?

Absolutely! Specifically, I look forward to working with researchers from the fields of AI, software engineering and programming languages. One exciting prospect is the opportunity to collaborate with the ETH AI Center to explore the possibilities of AI-assisted programming support in educational settings. This cross-disciplinary partnership holds great promise for advancing our understanding and application of AI in the field of programming and education.

What do you see as the most significant opportunities or challenges in the field of computer science?

I am personally excited about how artificial intelligence can revolutionise educational technology by delivering personalised learning experiences. This offers learners immediate and adaptive feedback and provides them with data-driven insights. However, along with the opportunities, there are also challenges, such as so-called "hallucinations" and ethical concerns related to data privacy and bias. These challenges must be carefully addressed to ensure the effectiveness of AI-assisted educational technology.

What specific goals do you have as a professor here at ETH Zurich?

My goals revolve around conducting impactful research in the fields of HCI and educational technology. In addition, I want to create a healthy and productive lab and mentor doctoral students to develop their own research skills and prepare them for their professional careers. It is also important to me to improve the quality of education by developing and delivering courses that align with my expertise.

What courses are you most excited to teach at ETH Zurich?

I am thrilled to teach the Human-Computer Interaction course, a core component of the Bachelor’s programme. My goal is to provide students with a fundamental understanding of user-centred design principles relevant across the tech world. Even if they do not plan on becoming UX designers, HCI knowledge can empower them to create technology responsibly and effectively.

Do you have any specific teaching philosophies and approaches that are important to you as a professor?

Three main pedagogical principles guide my teaching and mentoring philosophy. First, I want to create a collaborative learning environment in the classroom that encourages students to engage with their peers. I believe in the value of working together on shared projects and receiving immediate feedback. Second, it is essential for them to combine theoretical knowledge with hands-on practice to help students gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Finally, I focus on maximising the intrinsic motivation of the students. I want to inspire them to take initiative and develop their skills. I design syllabus content, assignments and projects to be flexible and adaptable to students’ interests. I also constantly reflect with students on best practices in programming, user experience design and research methods so that we can generalise the knowledge and experience to a broader context. As a research mentor, I encourage students to cultivate their own research interests and take ownership and initiative to implement research plans. At the same time, I tailor my mentorship style towards their needs.

What advice would you give to students just starting out in computer science?

Don’t be shy to practice your coding skills and talk to your more experienced peers or mentors when you encounter challenges. Also, be open to various areas within computer science and don’t limit yourself to one specialisation too early.

What book, podcast or movie related to technology or computer science would you recommend to students and colleagues?

I would recommend the movie ‘Hidden Figures’. It is an excellent movie about brilliant women who contributed significantly to the early days of computing. It highlights the power of problem-solving skills, determination and passion in achieving remarkable accomplishments, even in the face of adversity.

Do you have any hobbies or interests you would like to share with the D-INFK community?

I used to stay at home, play video games and watch TV shows. But now that I have moved to Zurich, I’m all about expanding my horizons with some non-screen time hobbies. I’ve been tackling snowboarding for a solid year now, and I’m determined to keep at it until I can finally ditch my turtle pad. Plus, I’ve got a soft spot for window shopping – it’s like the only “sport” where I can wander around, not break a sweat and still feel active.