Yunan Chen

Professor Yunan Chen is a leading academic in the field of Informatics at the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine (UCI). She holds an adjunct appointment in the Joe C. Wen School of Population and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, and serves as Interim Department Chair. Her work bridges Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW), and Health Informatics.

Her research focuses on designing consumer health technologies that empower users without overwhelming them. She investigates the emotional and practical impacts of self-tracking tools, emphasizing transparency, engagement, and data privacy. Key projects include AI-driven fertility tracking apps, stroke rehabilitation technologies, and studies on health data sharing in online communities.

Recent studies analyze AI's role in health applications, privacy challenges in the Post-Roe era, and the unintended consequences of health IT. She has secured significant NSF grants to design pediatric health technologies and risk prediction systems for fire departments.

Scientific awards include

• ACM Distinguished Member (2025)
• Fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics (FACMI) (2023)

She leads the HAI Lab, mentors students, and contributes to national committees like the Consumer Health Informatics Working Group. Her work emphasizes balancing innovation with user well-being, ensuring health technologies align with real-world needs.