Midway through her doctoral studies in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication, Zhao’s commitments expanded in two demanding directions: she became a mother and a business co-owner with her husband. Suddenly, time for research became a particularly precious commodity.

“After becoming a mother, my available working time each day became extremely limited — sometimes only two hours,” Zhao said. “I had to become very efficient and focused with the time I had.”

It was within those tight constraints — balancing the rigors of entrepreneurship and parenthood — that Zhao developed BioVR, which looks to reimagine how humans interact with technology. The technology is at the heart of Zhao’s other startup.

Innovating from the Inside Out

Zhao’s research moves beyond the standard handheld controllers and head-tracking used in many virtual reality and augmented reality experiences. BioVR, on the other hand, is all about how internal physiological signals such as heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rhythm can control a virtual environment in real time.

"I wanted to investigate what happens when the interaction comes from inside the body," Zhao said. "BioVR demonstrates how internal states can become meaningful, expressive input for interactive systems."

The applications of her work are myriad, from horror games that adapt to a player’s fear levels to rehabilitation systems that automatically adjust difficulty based on a patient's physiological response.

Zhao credits the pressure of her personal life with sharpening her academic focus. Running a business while pursuing a degree prevented her from staying in an "academic bubble."

"Running a business opened my eyes to another path — how research can connect to real societal needs," she said. "Becoming a mother also reshaped my values. It reminded me that health and family relationships should never be taken for granted."

Next Steps

Zhao is now headed to Yale University, where she will work as a postdoctoral associate and continue her research.

Before she goes, however, she has advice to other Georgia Tech students facing similar juggling acts: success is built on sustainability.

"I learned that physical and mental health are the foundation of everything," she said. "No matter how many tasks you have, try not to panic or rush. Organize priorities step by step, and most importantly, protect your sleep."