Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao

Dr. Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Centered Design at Cornell University and the founder and director of the Hybrid Body Lab. Her research focuses on integrating cultural and social perspectives into the design of on-body interfaces, advancing inclusive designs, and digital fabrication techniques for soft wearable technologies such as smart tattoos and electronic textiles. She is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award and has earned multiple Best Paper and Honorable Mention awards at premier computer science conferences such as ACM CHI, UIST, and ISWC. Dr. Kao's work has received extensive media coverage, including in Forbes, CNN, TIME Magazine, and Wired. Her creations have also been showcased in international art exhibitions, such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris, New York Fashion Week, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

• 2025–Present·Cornell University·Associate Professor
  • Teaching and conducting research in human-centered design; directs the Hybrid Body Lab.
• 2019–2025·Cornell University·Assistant Professor
  • Developed digital fabrication techniques; researched interdisciplinary design for skin interfaces and electronic textiles.
• 2013–2018·MIT Media Lab·Researcher
  • Contributed to multiple wearable technology projects, including the development of smart tattoos and body decoration technologies.

• 2013–2018·MIT Media Lab·Ph.D.
  • Specialized in wearable technology and human-computer interaction research.
• 2011–2013·National Taiwan University·Master's Degree
  • Majored in Computer Science.
• 2007–2011·National Taiwan University·Bachelor's Degree
  • Dual degree in Computer Science and Technology Management.