Grace Li
PhD Student, University of Chicago
grace_li [AT] uchicago.edu
Bio
Hi! I'm Grace, a first-year Computer Science PhD student at the University of Chicago advised by Professor Mina Lee. My research is in Human-AI interaction with a focus on understanding how technology can be used to deepen student learning by fostering intrinsic motivation and sustained resilience.
I am currently focused on two domains: (1) how to promote information-seeking behaviors when students use LLMs, and (2) how the social dynamics around student's help-seeking behaviors influence their interaction behaviors.
Before joining UChicago, I did my undergrad at Barnard College, double majoring in Computer Science and English with a concentration in Creative Writing. I earned English Departmental Honors and the Theodore R. Bashkow Undergraduate Research Award in Computer Science. I was fortunate to be advised by Jhumpa Lahiri, for my Creative Writing Thesis. Throughout my undergraduate career, I did research with Professor Lydia Chilton on Human-AI co-writing tools to support science communication and with Professor Smaranda Muresan on using explanation dialogues to improve science explanations.
Publications
Most recent publications on Google Scholar.
‡ indicates equal contribution.
Audience Impressions of Narrative Structures and Personal Language Style in Science Communication on Social Media
Grace Li, YY Teng, Juna Kawai-Yue, Unaisah Ahmed, Anatta Tantiwongse, Jessica Liang, Dorothy Zhang, Kynnedy Simone Smith, Tao Long, Lydia B. Chilton
under submission. 2024.
Tweetorial Hooks: Generative AI Tools to Motivate Science on Social Media
Tao Long, Dorothy Zhang, Grace Li, Batool Taraif, Samia Menon, Kynnedy Smith, Sitong Wang, Katy Gero, Lydia B. Chilton
ICCC'24: International Conference on Computational Creativity. 2023.
Eliciting Topic Hierarchies from Large Language Models
Grace Li, Tao Long, Lydia B. Chilton
arXiv: arxiv preprint. 2023.
Audience Impressions of Narrative Structures and Personal Language Style in Science Communication on Social Media
Grace Li, YY Teng, Juna Kawai-Yue, Unaisah Ahmed, Anatta Tantiwongse, Jessica Liang, Dorothy Zhang, Kynnedy Simone Smith, Tao Long, Lydia B. Chilton
under submission. 2024.
Tweetorial Hooks: Generative AI Tools to Motivate Science on Social Media
Tao Long, Dorothy Zhang, Grace Li, Batool Taraif, Samia Menon, Kynnedy Smith, Sitong Wang, Katy Gero, Lydia B. Chilton
ICCC'24: International Conference on Computational Creativity. 2023.
Eliciting Topic Hierarchies from Large Language Models
Grace Li, Tao Long, Lydia B. Chilton
arXiv: arxiv preprint. 2023.
"Is ChatGPT a Better Explainer than My Professor?": Evaluating the Explanation Capabilities of LLMs in Conversation Compared to a Human Baseline
Grace Li, Milad Alshomary, Smaranda Muresan
arXiv: arxiv preprint. 2024.
Teaching
University of Chicago - Pre-College Program, Summer 2025
Course Title: Understanding AI: Challenges, Changes, and How We Communicate
Position: Instructor of Record
Columbia University, Spring 2024
Course Title: User Interface Design
Position: Teaching Assistant
New York City PS 153 - 1st and 2nd Grade, Spring 2024
Course Title: Afterschool Computing Program
Position: Co-Instructor
Columbia University, Fall 2023
Course Title: Natural Language Processing
Position: Teaching Assistant
Barnard College, Spring 2023 - Spring 2024
Course Title: Speaking Center
Position: Head Speaking Fellow
Barnard College, Spring 2022 - Fall 2023
Course Title: Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms
Position: Peer Tutor