Songlin Xu


Assistant Professor

Department of Computing

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

My research leverages data-driven technologies to augment human capabilities, address societal challenges, and advance scientific discovery.

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About

I am an Assistant Professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Before joining PolyU, I completed my PhD at the University of California San Diego in 2026 and my bachelor at the University of Science and Technology of China in 2020.


Research Interest: My research lies at the intersection of AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and human-computer interaction (HCI). Specifically, I develop AI-powered cyber-physical systems that augment human intelligence for learning, creative thinking, etc. I am also interested in human–AI alignment, AI for scientific discovery, and applying AI to address societal challenges such as public health.


Prospective Students See Here.

News

2026/05
Joined The Hong Kong Polytechnic University as Assistant Professor.
2026/03
Completed PhD at UC San Diego.

Research Projects

Human-AI Integration

AI interactive systems that enhance human creativity, learning, productivity, research, experimentation, etc.

Human-AI Alignment

AI to model, understand, and explain human brain, mind, and cognition.

AIoT for Health

AI-augmented IoT systems and foundation models for sensing and health monitoring.

Science of Science

Data-driven approaches for scientific discovery and addressing societal challenges.

Teaching

To be announced.

I welcome motivated students interested in project-based learning and research-oriented coursework.

Team

Prospective Students

I am actively seeking self-motivated PhD/Mphil students, research interns, visiting scholars, and postdoctoral researchers.
If you are interested in joining the lab, please send me your CV, transcripts, and a description of your research experience and interests.
Students from diverse backgrounds are welcome, including but not limited to human-computer interaction (HCI), ubiquitous computing, artificial intelligence, robotics, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, public health, geoinformatics, and climate science.


PhD Students

Name: Available for Application
Research Focus: Human-AI Integration
Name: Available for Application
Research Focus: AIoT for Health
Name: Available for Application
Research Focus: Science of Science

Mphil Students

Name: Available for Application
Research Focus: Available
Name: Available for Application
Research Focus: Available
Name: Available for Application
Research Focus: Available

Student Interns / Visiting Scholars / Collaborators

Ying Chen
PhD in Zhejiang University
Zhenghuang Wu
MPhil in Beihang University
Jun Lei
Mphil in Wuhan University
More
Available for application

Postdoctoral Researchers

Name: Available for Application
Research Focus: Human-AI Alignment, Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering

Alumni

Ying Chen (Collaborator)
PhD in Zhejiang University
Dongyin Hu (Collaborator)
PhD in University of Pennsylvania
Chenxi Wan (Intern)
PhD in Carnegie Mellon University
Roland Wen (Mentee)
Undergraduate in UC San Diego
Hongyi Pan (Mentee)
Undergraduate in UC San Diego
Dallas Dominguez (Mentee)
Master in UC San Diego
Yuyao Zhu (Mentee)
Undergraduate in USTC

Selected Publications

Unveiling the Capabilities of Large Language Models in Simulating Student Behavioral Dynamics and Supporting Peer Feedback to Augment Task Performance
Songlin Xu, Xinyu Zhang
ACM CHI 2026
CogReact: A Reinforced Framework to Model Human Cognitive Reaction Modulated by Dynamic Intervention
Songlin Xu, Xinyu Zhang
ICML 2025
Classroom Simulacra: Building Contextual Student Generative Agents in Online Education for Learning Behavioral Simulation
Songlin Xu, Hao-Ning Wen, Hongyi Pan, Dallas Dominguez, Dongyin Hu, Xinyu Zhang
ACM CHI 2025
PeerEdu: Bootstrapping Online Learning Behaviors via Asynchronous Area of Interest Sharing from Peer Gaze
Songlin Xu, Dongyin Hu, Ru Wang, Xinyu Zhang
ACM CHI 2025
EduAgent: Generative Student Agents in Learning
Songlin Xu, Xinyu Zhang, Lianhui Qin
arXiv 2024
Augmenting Human Cognition with an AI-Mediated Intelligent Visual Feedback
Songlin Xu, Xinyu Zhang
ACM CHI 2023
StealthyIMU: Stealing Permission-Protected Private Information from Smartphone Voice Assistant Using Zero-Permission Sensors
Ke Sun, Chunyu Xia, Songlin Xu, Xinyu Zhang
NDSS 2023
TeethTap: Recognizing Discrete Teeth Gestures Using Motion and Acoustic Sensing on an Earpiece
Wei Sun, Franklin Mingzhe Li, Benjamin Steeper, Songlin Xu, Feng Tian, Cheng Zhang
IUI 2021
FingerTrak: Continuous 3D Hand Pose Tracking by Deep Learning Hand Silhouettes Captured by Miniature Thermal Cameras on Wrist
Fang Hu, Peng He, Songlin Xu, Yin Li, Cheng Zhang
IMWUT 2020
Hydrauio: Extending Interaction Space on the Pen Through Hydraulic Sensing and Haptic Output
Songlin Xu, Zhiyuan Wu, Shunhong Wang, Rui Fan, Nan Lin
ACM UIST 2020 (Adjunct)
Exploring Hardness and Geometry Information Through Active Perception
Songlin Xu, Nan Lin, Rui Fan, Peichen Wu, Xiaoping Chen
WRC SARA 2019 (Best Paper Finalist)
IMU-based Active Safe Control of a Variable Stiffness Soft Actuator
Nan Lin, Peichen Wu, Menghao Wang, Jizhou Wei, Fan Yang, Songlin Xu, Zhicheng Ye, Xiaoping Chen
IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L)

Contact

Department of Computing
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University


Email: songlin.xu@polyu.edu.hk

Google Scholar

Linkedin

GitHub