Dr. Lisi Mai is a Senior Research and Teaching Associate in the Internet Use & Society division at the Department of Communication and Media Research (IKMZ), University of Zurich. Her research examines the societal implications of emerging technologies, with a particular focus on digital inequality, civic engagement, and resilience across diverse populations.

Her earlier work focused on communication processes, community relations, and resilience in disaster and post-disaster contexts, including the COVID-19 pandemic and post-disaster Fukushima. She has conducted extensive research with socially disadvantaged groups—most notably multi-ethnic and ethnic minority communities in China—to understand their information needs, communication practices, civic engagement, and recovery processes during and after crises.

Her current research explores how different demographic groups adopt and use generative AI technologies. In particular, she investigates college students’ and older adults’ awareness of generative AI, their usage patterns, and the support systems they rely on when engaging with these technologies.

Across her research, Lisi Mai is committed to producing work with real-world impact. She employs different methods to generate practical insights for communities, policymakers, and practitioners, with the goal of promoting more inclusive and socially responsive technology development.