Zilin Ma, Ph.D.
Designing human-centered AI for social good
I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Harvard Business School AI Institute (formerly the D³ Institute), where I work with Jacqueline N. Lane, Shai Bernstein, and Karim R. Lakhani. I received my Ph.D. in Computer Science from Harvard SEAS in 2025, advised by Prof. Krzysztof Gajos. My research designs intelligent systems that address social challenges faced by vulnerable populations — creating socio-technical solutions that amplify positive social forces and preserve human agency.
My work spans LLMs for humanitarian frontline negotiation (deployed with negotiators from the UN, ICRC, and MSF), evaluating AI chatbots for mental health support in LGBTQ+ communities, and interface designs that reduce implicit bias on online platforms. I was an AMIA Best Student Paper Finalist for my research on LLM chatbots for mental well-being.
