Shichao Liu

Shichao Liu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). His research focuses on sustainable and healthy building design, integrating building science, information science, public health, and social science to enhance occupant well-being and environmental sustainability. He is affiliated with the Fire Protection Engineering department and leads the Building Occupants Signal Synthesis (BOSS) initiative.

Education:

• BS&MS, Tianjin University, China (2009)
• PhD, The University of Texas at Austin (2014)
• Postdoc, University of California, Berkeley (2017)

Research Interests: Prof. Liu explores occupant-building interactions, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, and wearable technologies for wellness. His work addresses urban sustainability through computational modeling (CFD), building energy systems, and human-environment interfaces. Recent studies include driver performance under heat stress, wildfire smoke infiltration, and mental health monitoring via Fitbit data.

Key Achievements:

• Recipient of NSF grants (2020, 2024) for studies on remote learning stress and AI/AR in design education
• Ralph G. Nevins Physiology & Human Environment Award (Golden Gate ASHRAE)
• Best Paper Award in Building and Environment

Professional Contributions: Active in ASHRAE, IBPSA, ISIAQ, and AAAR. Developed tools like MATLAB-based fNIRS data converters and the Air Diffusion Performance Index (ADPI).

Labs & Teams: Leads BOSS lab focusing on occupant signals in built environments. Collaborates on smart building systems and wearable wellness technologies.