I’m an incoming computer science PhD student at Arizona State University working at the intersection of educational technology, human-computer interaction, and applied machine learning. I build and study how human-in-the-loop adaptive learning and tutoring systems, inspectable knowledge representations, and collaboration tools can help diverse learners and educators succeed across K-12, higher education, and workforce training contexts.

Currently, I split my time between the Construction Workforce and Technology (CWT) Lab led by Dr. Ricardo Eiris in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment and the Sonoran Visualization Lab (SVL) led by Dr. Chris Bryan in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence.

Research Highlights

• Investigating gaps in knowledge, skills, and dispositions of students studying computing disciplines through the Hidden Curricula-Addressing Unseen Challenges within Computer Science Education project.
• Modeling learning processes in immersive training environments through the NSF-funded iVisit: Situated Learning Experiences through Web-based Virtual Field Trips project.
• Designing retrieval-augmented question generation pipelines (RASQAL) and AI teaching assistants (SAGE) that support faculty at scale with Teaching Professor Dr. Yinong Chen.
• During my undergrad: Co-developed OpenMRT with Pouya Shaeri, an NSF CAREER project advancing human thermal exposure modeling with street-level imagery under Dr. Ariane Middel and the SHaDE Lab.

Teaching & Outreach

I’ve supported courses ranging from introductory programming (CSE 110) to upper-division distributed software development (CSE 445), and supervise/mentor student design teams through the Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) program and year-long CS Capstone course. As an organizer with the Software Developers Association (./SoDA) at ASU, I have led planning of local hackathons, workshops, and coding contests and contribute to STEM outreach initiatives like the SCAI Robotics Camp and Desert CodeSprouts.

Awards & Recognition

• Outstanding Undergraduate Student Poster – OpenMRT, Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research ASM Poster Symposium (2025)
• Certificate of Excellence: Outstanding Innovation, Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Program (2024)
• Generator Award: Outstanding Team Leader, Engineering Projects in Community Service (2024)
• SUN Award for leadership and innovation, School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence (2024)
• Most Creative Use of GitHub, sunhacks (2023)
• Devils Invent, 2nd Place – Attendance Management System (2023)

Interested in Collaborating?

If you’re into using state-of-the-art computing techniques to advance education, or community-focused STEM outreach projects, feel free to reach out to rtwoo on Discord or rtwoo@asu.edu.