Xinhui Hu is a Ph.D. candidate in the Information Sciences program at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Her current research focuses on the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction and User-Centered Design, with a particular emphasis on mental models and empathy virtual reality. Xinhui has contributed her expertise as a user experience researcher to a diverse range of interdisciplinary projects, spanning fields such as digital fabrication, healthcare, library science, and data visualization.