As a researcher, my work explores the intersection between technology and people. More specifically, I have an above-average interest in understanding how technologies are shaping the modern workplace, what are its ongoing impact for workers, how workers attempt to adapt, and how they can be better supported in their work lives. I am also a teacher. In my teaching, I aim to create a supportive learning environment to help students across various disciplinary backgrounds gain digital literacy skills that will enable them to confidently and critically interact with digital tools at school and beyond. Prior to becoming a researcher/teacher, I was a programmer where I had done work within the education domain developing digital learning tools for students.

Research Interest

  • Future of work
  • Digital labor
  • Online labor platforms
  • AI and work

Education

  • Ph.D. Information Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • M.S. Information Studies, University of Texas at Austin
  • B.S. Computer Science, Rice University

Research

Understanding the impact of AI for knowledge workers
AI broadly, and generative AI in particular, has been viewed as an epistemic technology for knowledge workers. To understand how knowledge workers make sense of a black-boxed technology, and make hiring, educational, career-related decisions in light of this technology, work has been conducted with knowledge workers ranging from librarian and archivy students, HR professionals, online freelancers, to workers undergoing career transitions.

Teaching

Taught introductory STEM classes through a variety of programs for middle and high school students. At the college level, I have led information literacy classes (INLS 161) as a teaching assistant and instructor of record across in-person and remote modalities.

Public writing

  • Are you a decent client? Contributed a Medium post for the Digital Work Group's blog on platform freelancing [Link]
  • To Keep Up with AI, First Slow Down Contributed an article for Katina Magazine's Future of Work section [Link]

Talk

  • Contributor at the 2026 Faces of Vulnerability Symposium where, through the lens of vulnerability, I presented knowledge workers' career transitioning narratives.
  • Collaborated in a presentation with Dr. Tommie Juzek at the Spring 2026 FSU SC Artificial Intelligence Seminar on Reinforcement Learning from Verifiable Rewards (RLVR) and the role human workers play in shaping datasets.

Fun

  • Being a member of Team 365 MOE Robotics (2007-2009) is one of the most treasured experiences that led me to pursue engineering. This year, I was able to participate as a judge at the 2026 FIRST Tallahassee Regional Competition. The students simply blew me away. As always, thank you MOE mentors and go Miracle Workerz!

Contact

lanli1029[at]gmail | LinkedIn