Yu Tao

Yu Tao is an Associate Professor at the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Stevens Institute of Technology. His research spans sociological analyses of STEM education and workforce dynamics, with a strong focus on intersectionality, gender, race, and online privacy. He is actively involved in major research initiatives funded by the NSF and the Sloan Foundation.

Education:

• PhD in Sociology of Science and Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology (2009)
• MS in History and Sociology of Technology and Science, Georgia Institute of Technology (2007)
• MEd in Educational Media and Technology, Boston University (2004)
• BA in English, East China Normal University (2000)

Dr. Tao's research centers on equity in STEM, examining how gender, race, immigration status, and their intersections shape educational and career outcomes. He also investigates online privacy from a sociological lens, particularly how public perception and confidence in privacy are shaped by background and educational tools. His work bridges sociology, science and technology studies (STS), and data policy, contributing to both academic discourse and practical interventions.

His recent publications reflect a consistent focus on intersectionality in STEM careers and privacy education. Themes include earnings disparities, publication gaps, workforce retention, and innovative privacy education tools using crowdsourcing and gamification. His work spans international comparisons (e.g., U.S. vs. China) and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Scientific Awards and Honors:

• HASS Faculty Research Fellowship (2024–2025)
• Invited Speaker, National Academies (2016, 2019, 2022)
• Walter B. Jones Foundation Fellowship (2008–2009)
• National Summer Data Policy Institute Fellowship (2007)

Dr. Tao has secured significant research funding as PI and co-PI on multiple NSF grants, including projects on privacy education, software engineering education, and fair privacy in machine learning. He has co-organized a Sloan Foundation workshop on African Americans in engineering. He mentors junior faculty and serves on numerous academic committees. He is an active reviewer for top journals in sociology and STS and contributes to professional societies such as the American Sociological Association and the Pacific Sociological Association.

Dr. Tao is a co-editor of the influential volume Changing the Face of Engineering: The African American Experience (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2015), which brings together leading scholars and policymakers to address diversity and inclusion in engineering. His lab and research team focus on sociological data analysis, privacy perception studies, and educational tool development, often leveraging crowdsourcing and interdisciplinary collaboration.