Huiqian Lai

Hello! I’m Huiqian (Mia) Lai, a PhD student at Syracuse University in Information Science and Technology, where my research focuses on AI alignment and computational communication. I’m particularly interested in how different LLMs respond to politically and socially sensitive topics — what ideological biases they exhibit, why these differences emerge, and what societal implications they carry.

I received my M.A. in Communication (Distinction, GPA 3.7) from Hong Kong Baptist University in 2024, and my B.Sc. in Software Engineering from Shandong Jianzhu University in 2019. During 2017–2018, I was an exchange student in the Department of Information Engineering at I-Shou University, Taiwan.

Prior to my PhD, I worked as a Senior Android Development Engineer in China for over five years at companies including WPS, NetEase Games, and Baidu. I contributed to multiple products with millions of daily active users, specializing in performance optimization, memory management, and mobile architecture.

Outside of work, I enjoy hiking and traveling. Beyond the U.S., I have visited Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Budapest, and Poland — with Hakone and Melbourne being my favorite destinations. Next up: Spain for some authentic paella! I’m also a huge Doraemon fan!