Currently a Visiting PhD student at the MIT Ideation Lab, Lei's research enhances human creativity and learning by merging artificial intelligence with immersive virtual environments. As a PhD Candidate at Tongji University, he designs AI companions for designers and develops applications to foster creativity and aid in trauma recovery.

This work builds upon his foundational research at MIT's Integrated Design & Management (IDM) program, where he collaborated with the MIT Media Lab Fluid Interfaces group on kinesthetic language learning in virtual reality. Prior to his doctoral studies, Lei was an Associate Director of Experience Design at VML&R, where he led the development of the Pan-China digital experience for the Ford Mustang Mach-E.