Danniell Hu

Hi! My name is Danniell, but I usually go by Danni.

I’m a second year PhD student in Computer Science at the University of Michigan, where I have the pleasure of working with Professor Elizabeth Bondi-Kelly in the Realize Lab and Professor Westley Weimer in the Weimer Research Group.

My research is in AI for Social Impact (AISI). I study how we can design human-centered AI systems to address pressing societal challenges. My work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, software engineering, and psychology, with a focus on participatory-driven approaches. I'm particularly interested in medical contexts such as women's reproductive health.

Previously, I was an R&D Embedded Software Engineer at Stryker, where I developed PCBs for hospital bed ecosystems and medical monitoring technologies. I primarily worked in the medical division.

Outside of research, I enjoy making music—both by playing violin in the University of Michigan’s Campus Symphony Orchestra and composing in FL Studio. I also love crocheting, cooking, and playing video games.

News

November 18, 2025: 🎉 AAAI AI Magazine Paper Acceptance! 🎉
Our publication titled “Human at the Center: A Framework for Human-Driven AI Development” was accepted to AAAI AI Magazine. We propose a structured framework for designing and evaluating human-AI systems that center human judgment, agency, and ethics. It synthesizes technical, practical, and ethical insights to outline four modes of human–AI collaboration, emphasize evaluation with real users, and highlight issues of fairness, labor, privacy, and human agency in AI development. We hope this paper will help researchers and practitioners build AI systems that are not only effective, but deeply aligned with human needs, values, and real-world contexts.
September 25, 2025: CSEG Dexter Cider Mill Group Trip
I organized a fall trip to the historic Dexter Cider Mill, giving CSEG members a chance to unwind off-campus and enjoy fresh cider, donuts, and peak-season scenery. The event brought together students from across CSEG for a relaxed afternoon of conversation, community building, and autumn vibes! So happy to see everyone there!
August 15, 2025: CSEG Social Chair
Excited to start my responsibilities as PhD social chair for CSEG this year. Let’s have some fun events!
December 10, 2024: 🎉 ICSE 2025 Conference Paper Acceptance! 🎉
Our publication titled “Towards a Cognitive Model of Dynamic Debugging: Does Identifier Construction Matter” was accepted to ICSE 2025 (International Conference on Software Engineering) from the Journal-First Track. Happy to see more visibility on our paper! See you in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in April.