Jiqun Liu has joined the School of Information Studies as associate professor. He will be teaching and researching human interaction with online information, search systems, and interactive AI platforms.
Before coming to UWM, Liu was an associate professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Oklahoma. He also directed the Human-Computer Interaction and Recommendation (HCIR) Lab
The focus of his research and teaching is on Information Retrieval, AI and Data Science, particularly how people access and seek information and use it in decision making across different scenarios.
“AI is playing an increasingly important role in mediating people’s interaction with online information, and it also generates information and advice for people to consume,” he said. “I look at how people assess and use information in their interaction with AI tools and platforms. I am looking at both the human side and the system/model side.”
His research, he said, looks at both better understanding the needs of human users and on the systems side, building more reliable, fairer models to support people’s interaction with information.
His current research examines the cognitive impacts of large language models, conversational and generative information access, LLM-based information judgment, and AI literacy in educational and community settings.
UWM’s focus on community fits well with his research program, Liu said. “How do we make sure that at the community level, people from different backgrounds or different populations can have fair and reliable access to quality information.”
Because of his interest in such questions, after earning undergraduate degrees in library science and economics from Nankin University in China, he began to focus on information studies. He earned his master’s degree in information management from Peking University, and his PhD in information science from Rutgers.
He was attracted to UWM by both the research opportunities and the environment, Liu said. “I enjoyed the really vibrant urban environment of the university.” He and his wife have a four-month-old daughter and are looking forward to spending time along the lakefront and in parks with her. They also love to travel, and the move gives them the opportunity to explore another area of the country.
“I see the passion my future colleagues have in supporting students and the resources the university can provide, especially through the AI and data science initiatives which are well aligned with what I am trying to do.”
“I think on both the work side and the living side this is just a perfect environment for me.”