Resume
My research interests lie in the intersection of inclusive and accessible designs, health informatics, and the intricate needs of diverse users. My goals are to increase user engagement and dispel any confusion and pain points in the overall user experience. I am currently interested in the role of culture in online social interactions to facilitate problem solving and wellbeing. Trained in the rigor of academic research and design methodologies, I find creative yet evidence-based design solutions to challenging problems. I bring flexibility, technical expertise, and an ability to collaborate and communicate with multidisciplinary teams.
Research Experience
2019 - present
Graduate Research Assistant |
University of British Columbia
My thesis explores the accessibility of mental health technologies with an emphasis on the intersection of stigma and non-Western cultures (C1, C2, C4). The next steps involve exploring and evaluating an AI-supported writing tool for therapeutic writing. My other roles include interacting and critiquing other students' research and advising 3 undergrads and 1 Master's student. I have also presented at the CHI 2023 Doctoral Consortium (C3).
2022 - 2024
Graduate Research Assistant |
University of British Columbia
UX research and design lead | School of Nursing
Designing technology-assisted aids for older adults to self-manage their cancer diagnoses and other co-morbidities
I led a team to iteratively develop a prototype (Sketch, Figma, Axure), evaluating with 20 older adults living with cancer, caregivers, clinicians. A paper detailing our work is currently in preprint at JMIR Aging (J1). Currently, I am working as a consultant during the iOS app development.
2016 - 2019
Research Assistant |
University of Washington
Collaborated in and co-authored several projects in family sleep tracking (C5, C8), sleep sensors (C7), and collaborative social planning (C6)
Teaching Experience
2024 - present
Sessional Lecturer |
University of British Columbia
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CPSC 344 (Sep-Dec 2024): Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction Methods
- ​Co-instruction of 2 course sections (142 students)​
- Planning and delivery of lectures and workshops, management of 7 TAs
- Focus on fundamentals in interface design
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CPSC 444 (Jan-Apr 2024): Advanced Methods for Human-Computer Interaction
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Planning and delivery of lectures and workshops, management of 2 grad student TAs
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Focus on HCI research methods, including field studies, experimental design, and human factors.
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2019 - 2023
Graduate Teaching Assistant |
University of British Columbia
Advising and grading project teams that use Design Thinking in a graduate level HCI course (CPSC 544) and an undergraduate level HCI course (CPSC 444)
Education
2019 - present
University of British Columbia |
Vancouver, BC
PhD
Computer Science (HCI)
Expected graduation late 2025
2015 - 2018
University of Washington |
Seattle, WA
Master of Science
Human Centered Design & Engineering
2012 - 2014
University of Washington |
Seattle, WA
Bachelor of Science
Computer Engineering
Skills and Experience
​I have experience in applying UX and HCI research and design fundamentals, including:
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Usability testing, survey design, interviews, contextual inquiries, participatory design, diary studies, thematic analysis, journey mapping, persona development, literature review, focus groups, technical writing, experimental design and analysis
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Interaction design (IA), wireframing, Prototyping, Information Visualization, storyboarding
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Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, Axure
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Web Programming (HTML,CSS,JS), Java/Android, Systems Programming, Python, Version Control(Git)
Publications
​I have several papers in top HCI conferences and other venues: https://dblp.org/pid/194/9653.html
C1​
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J1
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C2
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C3
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C4
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C5
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C6
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C7
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C8​
Sang-Wha Sien, Joanna McGrenere. 2025. A Gentle Introduction to Mental Health Through Storytelling: Design and Evaluation of Digital Human Library. Conditionally accepted at CSCW 2025.
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Sien SW, Kobekyaa FK, Puts M, Currie L, Tompson M, Hedges P, McGrenere J, Mariano C, Haase KR. Tailored Self-Management App to Support Older Adults With Cancer and Multimorbidity: Development and Usability Testing. JMIR Aging. 2024 May 8;7:e53163. doi: 10.2196/53163. PMID: 38717806; PMCID: PMC11112470.
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Sang-Wha Sien, Jessica Y. Ahn, and Joanna McGrenere. 2023. Co-designing Mental Health Technologies with International University Students in Canada. Proc. ACM Hum.-Comput. Interact. 7, CSCW2, Article 258 (October 2023), 25 pages. https://doi.org/10.1145/3610049
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Sang-Wha Sien. 2023. Designing for Inclusivity and Accessibility of Mental Health Technologies. In Extended Abstracts of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI EA '23). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, Article 492, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1145/3544549.3577038
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Sang-Wha Sien, Shalini Mohan, and Joanna McGrenere. 2022. Exploring Design Opportunities for Supporting Mental Wellbeing Among East Asian University Students in Canada. CHI '22. https://doi.org/10.1145/3491102.3517710
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Laura Pina, Sang-Wha Sien, Clarissa Song, Teresa M. Ward, James Fogarty, Sean A. Munson, and Julie A. Kientz. 2020. DreamCatcher: Exploring How Parents and School-Age Children can Track and Review Sleep Information Together. CSCW '20. https://doi.org/10.1145/3392882
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Sungsoo (Ray) Hong, Minhyang (Mia) Suh, Tae Soo Kim, Irina Smoke, Sangwha Sien, Janet Ng, Mark Zachry, and Juho Kim. 2019. Design for Collaborative Information-Seeking: Understanding User Challenges and Deploying Collaborative Dynamic Queries. CSCW '19. https://doi.org/10.1145/3359208
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Ruth Ravichandran, Sang-Wha Sien, Shwetak N. Patel, Julie A. Kientz, and Laura R. Pina. 2017. Making Sense of Sleep Sensors: How Sleep Sensing Technologies Support and Undermine Sleep Health. CHI '17. https://doi.org/10.1145/3025453.3025557
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Laura R. Pina, Sang-Wha Sien, Teresa Ward, Jason C. Yip, Sean A. Munson, James Fogarty, and Julie A. Kientz. 2017. From Personal Informatics to Family Informatics: Understanding Family Practices around Health Monitoring. CSCW '17. https://doi.org/10.1145/2998181.2998362​​​​
Works under Submission
Kersten Smith, Sang-Wha Sien, Jiamin Dai, Joanna McGrenere. Touching Experiences: How Older Adults Envision Ambient and Tangible Social Technology Through the Lens of Time. Submitted to CHI 2025.
Awards and Honors
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HCDE Capstone Showcase 2018 "Best in Show" | University of Washington
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Designing for People (DFP) Graduate Entrance Grant (GEG) Award 2019 | University of British Columbia
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DFP CREATE Design Showcase 2021 “Best Poster” Award | University of British Columbia
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DFP CREATE Design Showcase 2022 "Best Poster" Award | University of British Columbia
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UBC Computer Science 2022 Best Teaching Assistant | University of British Columbia
Volunteering Work
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CS Grad Wellbeing Representative (2019 - 2021)
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DFP Committe Student Volunteer (2021 - present)
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CHI 2022 Student Volunteer
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Graduate Affairs Committee (GAC) (2024-present)
Mentoring Experience
Mar-Sep 2024
Oct 2022-present
Apr 2022-present
Mar 2021-present
Jan-Sep 2021
Jan-Sep 2020
Kersten Smith (UBC/Université Paris-Saclay Master's student in Computer Science)
Ireena Baro (UBC undergrad in Computer Science)
Francis Kobekyaa (UBC PhD student in Nursing)
Jessica Ahn (UBC research assistant in Educational Psychology and Special Education)
Edward Lin (UBC undergrad in Cognitive Systems)
Shalini Mohan (UBC undergrad in Cognitive Systems)