Julie Hui

Julie Hui is an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School of Information, focusing on researching and designing sociotechnical systems to support career development, particularly in self-directed forms of employment such as micro-entrepreneurship, freelancing, and the gig economy. Her areas of expertise include Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), social computing, crowdsourcing, and learning sciences. Julie collaborates with small business owners and community organizations in Detroit to develop more accessible structures for skill advancement and social support. She holds a bachelor's degree in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University. Julie's research and projects have been recognized with honors, including NSF research funding and academic awards.

• 2020–Present·University of Michigan School of Information·Assistant Professor
  • Designed and studied sociotechnical systems to support career development, focusing on micro-entrepreneurship, freelancing, and the gig economy.
  • Partnered with communities and small businesses in Detroit to develop skill-building and digital engagement initiatives.

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow | Social Innovations Group | Co-mentor: Tawanna Dillahunt

  • Conducted research on sociotechnical systems in employment and social support contexts.

• Intern | Microsoft Research and Facebook | HCI/UX Researcher

  • Engaged in research and development in Human-Computer Interaction and user experience design.

• 2011–2017·Northwestern University·PhD
  • Mechanical Engineering with research areas in Human-Computer Interaction, crowdsourcing, and social computing.
• 2007–2011·Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)·Bachelor’s
  • Physics with a minor in Mechanical Engineering.