Tianyuan Du

About Me

Welcome to my page. I am a second year Ph.D. student at Duke University, advised by Professor Maria Gorlatova, the James N. & Elizabeth H. Barton Associate Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering. My research interest is in Mobile Computing, Mixed Reality, and Human-Robot Interaction. Previously, I obtained Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with minor in Statistics. During my undergraduate study, I have been fortunate to work with Professor Kevin Chau and Professor Alanson Sample.

News

October 2025: Passed my Qualification Exam!

June 2025: Our paper "XR Reality Check: What Commercial Devices Deliver for Spatial Tracking" is accepted at IEEE ISMAR 2025! Check out the paper here.

August 2024: Joining Duke University! Go Blue Devil!

May 2024: Graduated from University of Michigan! Go Blue!

Education

Duke University

Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Advisor: Dr. Maria Gorlatova | August 2024 - Present

Courses: Computer Network, Edge Computing, Generative Models, Computer Engineering for Neural Networks

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Minor in Statistics

Projects

Multi-Player XR System for Parkinson's Rehabilitation

Collaborated with Nokia Bell Labs, Columbia University, and the University of Southern California to design and implement rehabilitation games and the network infrastructure supporting multi-player extended reality experiences.

Latency-Aware Multi-Party SLAM for HRI in AR

Designed and implemented system for multiple human users and robots to perform tracking and mapping collaboratively in real-time.

2D+Depth RF Localization via a Low-Cost Receiver

IEEE WCNC 2024 [Paper]

Experiences

Research Assistant

I3T Lab, Duke University

August 2024 - Present

Supervisor: Maria Gorlatova

Research Assistant

ISC Lab, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

May 2022 - April 2024

Supervisor: Alanson Sample

Teaching Assistant

University of Michigan & Duke University

EECS 367 (Autonomous Robotics), University of Michigan; ECE 653 (Human-Centric Computing), Duke University

Engineer Intern

Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI)

June 2021 - August 2021

Supervisor: Ted Yaocheng Liang

Honors & Awards

First-Year Ph.D. Student Fellowship

Duke University

Awarded 2024

James B. Angell Scholar

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Awarded for consecutive outstanding academic records

University Honor

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Awarded for academic excellence in 2022 & 2023

Dean's List

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Awarded for academic excellence in 2021

Scholarship Scheme for Continuing Undergraduate Student

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Awarded HK$10,000 for outstanding academic performance (top 10% of all undergraduates)

Collaborators

Tianyi Hu (student of Maria Gorlatova), Hanting Ye (Post-Doc of Maria Gorlatova), Yang-Hsi Su (student of Alanson Sample), Shengyi Qian (student of David Fouhey), Ang Cao (student of Justin Johnson), Mohamed El Banani (student of Justin Johnson).

Miscellaneous

I am dedicated in training for Triathlon. On the year of 2025, I was the Bronze Medalist of Virginia State Age Group Triathlon Championship of Male 20-24. I am also an amateur pianist with music education since 5 years old, and still enjoying it.