About Me

I am currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at Purdue University’s Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence (IPAI), working with Prof. Karthik Ramani at the Convergence Design Lab and Dr. Sooyeon Jeong at the HAI Lab.

I completed my PhD in 2024 at the University of Sydney, where my research focused on the “Computational Design and Fabrication of Customizable Interactive Soft Devices”, supervised by A/Prof. Anusha Withana and Prof. Judy Kay. I also hold a Master of Data Science from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor’s in Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering from Monash University.

My current research interests lie at the intersection of soft sensors, epidermal sensing technologies, and smart textiles. My goal is to create interfaces that seamlessly integrate with the human body and improve user-centric interactions.

Recent News

• Dec 2024: Excited to share that I have accepted a Postdoctoral position at Purdue University. Starting Spring of 2025, I will be working with Dr. Liang He and Dr. Sooyeon Jeong!
• Oct 2024: I presented IrOnTex at UbiComp 2024!
• Jul 2024: I was officially awarded a PhD by the University of Sydney!
• Jul 2024: Our IrOnTex submission to UbiComp/IMWUT was accepted!
• Mar - May 2024: I joined Keio University as a Visiting Researcher in Tokyo!
• Jan 2024: I submitted my Ph.D. thesis to the University of Sydney!
• Jan 2024: Our Infill Sensor submission to IEEE Sensor Journal was accepted!

Recent Research Highlights

• IrOnTex: Using Ironable 3D Printed Objects to Fabricate and Prototype Customizable Interactive Textiles
  Jiakun Yu, Supun Kuruppu, Biyon Fernando, Praneeth Bimsara Perera, Yuta Sugiura, Sriram Subramanian, Anusha Withana. In The Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies (IMWUT). 2024.
• Tuning Infill Characteristics to Fabricate Customizable 3D Printed Pressure Sensors
  Jiakun Yu, Praneeth Bimsara Perera, Anusha Withana. In Proceedings of the Augmented Humans International Conference (AHs '24). 2024.
• Fabricating Customizable 3D Printed Pressure Sensors by Tuning Infill Characteristics
  Jiakun Yu, Praneeth Bimsara Perera, Rahal Viddusha Perera, Mohammad Mirkhalaf, Anusha Withana. In IEEE Sensors Journal (IEEE Sens. J.). 2024.
• Composite Line Designs and Accuracy Measurements for Tactile Line Tracing on Touch Surfaces
  Edwin Chau, Jiakun Yu, Cagatay Goncu, Anusha Withana. In Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction (PACMHCI). 2021.