CV

This is a description of the page. You can modify it in '_pages/cv.md'. You can also change or remove the top pdf download button.

Contact Information

Name Jiaying Wei
Professional Title Ph.D. Candidate in Computational Design
Email jwei3@andrew.cmu.edu
Location Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Professional Summary

Jiaying (Vina) Wei is a Ph.D. candidate in Computational Design at Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture. Her research focuses on architectural robotics, robotic perception, multi-robot construction workflows, and computational design-to-fabrication systems. Her work connects robotic planning, sensing, machine learning, and architectural fabrication.

Education

  • 2023 - Present

    Pittsburgh, PA

    Ph.D. Candidate
    Carnegie Mellon University
    Computational Design, School of Architecture
    • Advisor: Prof. Joshua Bard.
    • Co-advisor: Prof. Daniel Cardoso Llach.
    • External committee member: Prof. Jiaoyang Li.
  • 2021 - 2023

    Pittsburgh, PA

    Master of Science
    Carnegie Mellon University
    Computational Design, School of Architecture
    • Advisor: Prof. Joshua Bard.
    • Co-advisor: Prof. Daniel Cardoso Llach.
  • 2015 - 2020

    Ithaca, NY

    Bachelor of Architecture
    Cornell University
    Architecture, College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

Publications

  • 2025
    Sequencing Optimization of Stability-Aware Robotic Assembly for Discrete Frame Structures
    Proceedings of IASS Annual Symposia, vol. 2025, no. 3, pp. 1-10, International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS)
  • 2025
    Robot in the Loop: A Human-Centered Approach to Contextualizing AI and Robotics in Construction
    Construction Robotics, vol. 9, no. 1, p. 1, Springer International Publishing
  • 2024
    Towards Human-Centered Construction Robotics: A Reinforcement Learning-Driven Companion Robot for Contextually Assisting Carpentry Workers
    IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), pp. 90-97, IEEE
  • 2024
    A Hierarchical Gesture-Guided Framework for Multi-Manipulator Fabrication and Collaboration
    33rd IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN), pp. 438-445, IEEE
  • 2023
    Responsive Robotic Assembly System With Heterogeneous Materials: A Case Study with Unprocessed Wood
    ACADIA 2023: Habits of the Anthropocene: Scarcity and Abundance in a Post-Material Economy, vol. 2, pp. 352-360
  • 2023
    Collaborative Robotic Painting and Paint Mixing Demonstration
    Companion Publication of the 2023 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference, pp. 292-296

Research Experience

  • Doctoral Research Assistantship — Robotic Plastering with Diffusion Policy Carnegie Mellon University 2024-present. PI: Joshua Bard. Developing an imitation-learning workflow for robotic plastering using diffusion policy, including data collection, model training, and deployment on heavy-payload industrial robotic systems.
  • Graduate Research Assistantship — Rethinking Automation with Construction Carnegie Mellon University 2021-2023. PIs: Daniel Cardoso Llach and Jean Oh. Developed mobile-robot navigation and sensing workflows for human-centered construction robotics, integrating SLAM, UGV hardware, IoT interaction, and construction-site observation.
  • Independent Research — Robotic Pigment Mixing with Machine Learning Carnegie Mellon University 2021-2023. Advisor: Eunsu Kang. Developed a robotic pigment-mixing and painting workflow using machine-learning-based color prediction and dataset collection.
  • Graduate Research Assistantship — Binder-Jetting 3D Printing Concrete Carnegie Mellon University 2021-2023. PI: Joshua Bard. Conducted aggregate mixture experiments and testing, designed and fabricated an actuated printing bed, and worked on geometry and structural design.
  • Undergraduate Research Assistantship — Self-Built Housing System in Urban-Rural China Cornell University 2019. PI: Leslie Lok. Studied urban development paradigms, construction systems based on local materials and resources, and housing typologies.

Teaching Experience

  • Sole Instructor, 48-757 Architectural Robotics with Perception Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture Spring 2026. Designed and taught a new graduate-level course introducing perception-enabled robotic workflows for architectural design and fabrication. Topics included ROS-based robotic systems, computer vision, depth sensing, object detection/segmentation, motion planning, human-robot interaction, and integrated final project development.
  • Teaching Assistant / Co-Instructor, 48-555/48-755 Introduction to Architectural Robotics Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture Fall 2025. Developed assignments for students to master principal robot planning skills for ABB robot motion and execution; supervised and mentored final projects.
  • Teaching Assistant, Fundamentals of Computational Design Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture Spring 2025. Developed syllabus modules; mentored student projects and participated in reviews.
  • Teaching Assistant / Co-Instructor, 48-555/48-755 Introduction to Architectural Robotics Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture Fall 2024. Developed assignments for students to master principal robot planning skills for ABB robot motion and execution; supervised and mentored final projects.
  • Teaching Assistant, Fundamentals of Computational Design Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture Spring 2024. Led Grasshopper and Kangaroo labs for computational design; mentored student projects and participated in reviews.
  • Teaching Assistant, Generative Modeling Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture Fall 2023. Held student office hours for debugging and technical support.

Advising and Mentoring

  • CMU MSCD Thesis Committee Member / Advisor 2026. Advisee: Carla Flores Trávez, “Playful Computation: Encounters with Ephemeral Surfaces,” Master of Science in Computational Design, Carnegie Mellon University.

Invited Talks

  • AI Panel at CMU AIAS NEQ Conference Invited panelist 2024.

Professional Experience

  • Junior Architect AECOM, China 2020-2021.
  • Intern Hasting Architecture Summer 2018.

Fellowships

  • Summer 2025 TCS Fellowship 2025.

Service

  • CMU School of Architecture Public Programs Committee 2024-2025.

Skills

Robotics (Advanced): ROS/ROS2, manipulator planning, multi-robot planning, SLAM, navigation, robot hardware integration, IoT
Perception and Algorithm (Advanced): Computer vision, 3D reconstruction, object detection and tracking, deep learning, imitation learning, Python, C++, Linux, Git
Design and Fabrication (Advanced): Industrial robotic fabrication, Rhino/Grasshopper, Unity, digital fabrication

Languages

Chinese : Native
English : Professional
French : B1