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General Information

Full Name Yun Suen Pai
Current Position Senior Lecturer
Affiliation School of Computer Science, University of Auckland, New Zealand
Research Interests AR/VR/MR, assistive interactions, physiological sensing, human factors (behavior, perception, learning), human augmentation

Education

  • 2018
    Ph.D.
    Graduate School of Media Design, Keio University, Japan
    • Thesis entitled "Convex Interactions - Towards Efficient Human Motion in Peripersonal Space Using Virtual Reality"
  • 2015
    Master in Engineering Science
    University of Malaya, Malaysia
    • Thesis entitled "Development of an Immersive Augmented Reality-Based Computer Numerical Control Simulation System"
  • 2013
    BS Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing Engineering
    University of Malaya, Malaysia
    • Thesis entitled "Augmented Reality-Based Programming, Planning and Simulation of a Robotic Work Cell"

Work Experience

  • 2026 - current
    Senior Lecturer
    School of Computer Science, University of Auckland, New Zealand
    • Director, Inclusive Reality Lab
    • Associate Director, Empathic Computing Lab
  • 2023 - 2026
    Lecturer
    School of Computer Science, University of Auckland, New Zealand
    • Director, Inclusive Reality Lab
    • Associate Director, Empathic Computing Lab
  • 2022 - 2023
    Project Senior Assistant Professor
    Graduate School of Media Design, Keio University, Japan
    • Conduct Research under the Cybernetic Being Moonshot Project.
    • Led the Physionetic Interactions (research on physiology and cybernetic avatars, 17 members) research group within the Embodied Media Laboratory
  • 2021 - 2022
    Project Assistant Professor
    Graduate School of Media Design, Keio University, Japan
    • Conduct Research under the Cybernetic Being Moonshot Project.
    • Led the Empathic Interactions (research on emotions, 10 members) and Transcending Bodies (research on robotics, 6 members) research group within the Embodied Media Laboratory
  • 2019 - 2021
    Research Fellow
    Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, New Zealand
    • Conduct Research in the Empathic Computing Laboratory.
  • 2018 - 2019
    Postdoc Researcher
    Graduate School of Media Design, Keio University, Japan
    • Conduct Research under the Kiban B Project "Deep Learning the Human Mind".
  • 2017 - 2018
    Research Assistant
    Graduate School of Media Design, Keio University, Japan
    • Perform collaborative research and development with NTT Media Intelligence Laboratories.
  • 2013 - 2015
    Research Assistant
    Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Malaysia
    • Conduct research and development on a project-basis.
  • 2012
    Intern Trainee
    MK (M) Electric HoneyWell Sdn. Bhd.
    • Internship under the Global Product Design Centre (GPDC) Department.

Supervision Experience

  • Completed Supervision
    • Honours - 2 students
    • Masters - 25 students
    • PhD - 2 students
  • In Progress Supervision
    • Honours - 9 students
    • Masters - 2 students
    • PhD - 8 students

Teaching

  • 2024 - present
    University of Auckland
    • Human-Computer Interaction (2024 - present)
    • Advanced Human-Computer Interaction (2024 - present)
    • Research Methods in Computer Science (2024)
    • Introduction to Software Fundamentals (2025)
  • 2016 - 2023
    Keio University
    • Cybersecurity for Businesses (2023)
    • Perception Aware Computing (2023)
    • Research Methodology for Science and Engineering (2023)
    • Innovation Pipeline - Metaverse Design with Mozilla Spark and PlayCanvas (2023)
    • Thesis Writing Workshop (2022,2023)
    • Empathetic Computing in Virtual Spaces (2022)
    • Innovation Pipeline - 2D Prototyping with Figma (2022)
    • Innovation Pipeline - 3D Prototyping with PlayCanvas (2022)
    • Innovation Pipeline - Virtual Prototyping (2021)
    • Innovation Pipeline - Design Sprint (2021)
    • Masters Tutoring - Introduction to HCI (2018)
    • Workshop (Master Level) - Using WebVR with Vizor Interface (2016, 2017)
    • Masters Tutoring - Research Methodology (2017)
    • Supervised and mentored over 5 Ph.D. students
    • Supervised and mentored over 20 Master students
  • 2014 - 2015
    University of Malaya
    • Masters Tutoring - Using the KukaSIM simulation program (2015)
    • Undergraduate Tutoring - Programming for a Programmable Interface Controller (PIC) (2015)
    • Masters Tutoring - Finding the inverse kinematics of a KUKA robot arm (2014)

Honors and Awards

  • 2025
    ISMAR 2025
    • Honourable Mention Award (Top 3%) for Portable Silent Room paper
  • 2025
    CHI 2025
    • Honourable Mention Award (Top 5%) for Living Bento paper
  • 2025
    AHs 2025
    • Honourable Mention Award for Cuddle-Fish paper
  • 2023
    IMWUT 2023
    • Vol. 6 Distinguished Paper Award for Total VRecall paper
  • 2022
    Healthy Aging Prize for Asian Innovation
    • Second Prize Winner for Dementia Eyes
  • 2019
    Siggraph Asia 2019 XR
    • Runner up for best techical XR demo
  • 2016
    SUI 2016
    • Best poster award
  • 2015
    Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
    • AUN/SEED-Net Full scholarship for Ph.D program
  • 2014
    ICMST 2014
    • Best presentation
  • 2013
    Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia
    • MyBrain15 Full scholarship for Master program
  • 2013
    Institution of Mechanical Engineers UK
    • Institution Best Project
  • 2013
    Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya
    • Best undergraduate thesis award

Grants and Fundings

  • 2026 - 2027
    UoA Trandisciplinary Ideation Fund
    • NZ$19,921 for proposal entitled Feasibility of Bioresponsive Assistive Frameworks for Neurodivergent Wellbeing in Aotearoa
  • 2025 - 2026
    Future Food Research Centre Seed Fund
    • NZ$3,500 for proposal entitled Living Plate - Enhancing Dining Experiences through Heartbeat Synchronized Tableware
  • 2025 - 2026
    UoA FoS New Staff Grant
    • NZ$20,000 for proposal entitled Development of a Bioresponsive MR Toolkit for Neurodivergent Individuals to Overcome Social Anxiety
  • 2020 - 2025
    JST Cybernetic Being Moonshot Project
    • NZ$7,000,000 / 5 years, managed by PI Minamizawa. I manage a portion (NZ$1,750,000) dedicated to the proposal entitled the Empathic Metaverse Platform
  • 2021
    Google ATAP Collaboration Project
    • NZ$157,000 for proposal entitled Multi-Scale, Multi-Radar Interactive System
  • 2019
    Ignition Point Collaboration Project
    • 5,000,000Â¥ for proposal entitled Increasing Human Field-of-View using Virtual Reality
  • 2018
    Keio Young Fellow Research program
    • 500,000Â¥ for proposal entitled Convex Interactions - Physiological Signal-Driven Virtual Reality in Social Spaces
  • 2017
    Keio Grant-in-Aid program 2017
    • 500,000Â¥ for proposal entitled Physiological Signal-Driven Virtual Reality in Social Spaces
  • 2017
    Keio Kenkyuu no Susume program 2017
    • 700,000Â¥ for proposal entitled Physiological Signal-Driven Virtual Reality in Social Spaces
  • 2016
    Keio Grant-in-Aid program 2016
    • 300,000Â¥ for proposal entitled Physiological Sensing-Based Virtual Reality
  • 2016
    Keio Kenkyuu no Susume program 2016
    • 500,000Â¥ for proposal entitled Physiological Sensing-Based Virtual Reality
  • 2016
    Keio Young Fellow Research program 2016
    • 500,000Â¥ for proposal entitled Physiological Sensing-Based Virtual Reality