Michelle B. Xu
About Michelle
Michelle is a multidisciplinary innovator working at the intersection of science and art. She is currently a researcher at the NEU Center for Cognitive and Brain Health and a PhD student at the ACT Lab within the Khoury College of Computer Sciences and SYNC Lab within the Bouve College of Health Science. She is also a passionate artist dedicated to exploring cutting-edge media technologies, interactive art, and critically examining how metabolic capitalism strips agency from the body.
From a phenomenological perspective, Michelle firmly believes that the body is always at the forefront of our communication with the world. This philosophy is deeply embedded in her creative practice, where the precision of sensor-based monitoring and the fluid expressiveness of embodied artistic perception engage in a constant dialogue, forming a unique synthesis of aesthetics and technology.
Michelle has extensive experience in soft PCB design, digital fabrication, and programmable textiles. She is highly proficient in tools such as Unity and Unreal game engines, as well as 3D modeling software like Blender and Cinema4D. Her practice spans a wide range—from prototyping and digital manufacturing to creating immersive, multi sensory experiences. Her work includes deploying large language models and using motion capture combined with machine learning to train emotion-to-motion AI models.
As a researcher with a diverse academic and professional background, Michelle is a resident researcher at NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP). Her innovative works have garnered widespread recognition, with presentations at Yale, Cornell Tech, and the New York Public Library, alongside talks at XR Guild, Tufts University, and Shenzhen University.
Beyond her research and technical endeavors, Michelle is also a professionally trained director and an award-winning screenwriter with over seven years of experience in the film industry. Her scripts and works have received prestigious awards both domestically and internationally, offering a rich narrative foundation for her artistic exploration.
She holds a Master’s degree in Interactive Telecommunications from New York University and a Bachelor’s degree in Film and Media from Hunan University in China. Michelle remains committed to exploring new possibilities at the crossroads of science and art, continually challenging boundaries and redefining creative paradigms.
You can get in touch here:
Email：bx2008@nyu.edu
Ins：@sharkburgerwow
Education：
Northeastern Center for Cognitive and Brain Health 2024 -
New York University, New York, NY. U.S 2023-2024
Resident Researcher
Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), Tisch School of The Arts
Ability Lab, Tandon School of Engineering
New York University, New York, NY. U.S 2020 - 2023 Master of Professional Studies (Terminal Degree)
Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), Tisch School of The Arts
Hunan University, Hunan, China 2012 - 2016 Bachelor of Art
Film & Television (Creative Media Specialization)