Zikai Alex Wen, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Information Technology
Engineering & Technology, School of
Email
zkwen@uw.edu
Office
Milgard Hall (MLG) 221-X
Office Hours
By appointment
Campus Mailbox
358426

About

Degrees

Ph.D.
in Computer Science
Cornell University, United States
2021
B.Sc.
in Computer Science (First Class Honours)
University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom
2014
B.Eng.
in Computer Science and Technology (Joint Degree)
Beijing Huagong University (BUCT), China
2014

Biography

Dr. Wen is a human-computer interaction researcher specializing in usable privacy and security. He advocates for user autonomy in privacy and security, believing that technologies should support and enhance user decision-making rather than replace it with fully automated protections. His research designs evidence-based interactive interventions (e.g., educational video games, explanatory visualizations, and AI assistants), enabling users to better protect themselves and manage their personal information with confidence.

Dr. Wen’s work has been published in leading research venues, including IEEE S&P and ACM CHI, and supported by prestigious external research grants. He has also received multiple research awards. He actively contributes to the academic communities (e.g., ACM SIGCHI). Before joining UW Tacoma School of Engineering & Technology, he completed his postdoctoral training at VT PASTA Lab (now JHU HOPSEC Lab) and HKUST VIS Lab.

Honors and Awards

  • AI 2000 Most Influential Scholar Award Honorable Mention, 2024
  • IEEE MMSP Outstanding Service Award, 2022

Websites

         Lab: sites.uw.edu/zkwen/lab

Personal: faculty.washington.edu/zkwen