PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Christopher Piech

Also known as Chris Piech

Christopher Piech is a Stanford computer scientist who uses machine learning to understand how people learn. Raised in Kenya and Malaysia, he studied computer science at Stanford and completed a PhD in artificial intelligence in 2016. He coauthored Deep Knowledge Tracing in 2015, using recurrent neural networks to model student learning, and worked with Lisa Yan and Annie Hu on Pensieve to study how students write code. In 2020, he co-founded Code in Place with Mehran Sahami, a free online programming course built around small groups and volunteer teachers. As of October 2026, he is an associate professor (teaching) of computer science at Stanford, with a courtesy appointment in the Graduate School of Education.

Works
131
Citations
7,147
h-index
27

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 27 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 2006–2011

    From Kenya to Stanford

    Raised in Kenya and Malaysia, he arrives at Stanford to study computer science in 2006. He completes a master's degree in computer science at Stanford in 2011.

  2. 2015

    Deep Knowledge Tracing

    In 2015, he coauthors Deep Knowledge Tracing, which uses recurrent neural networks to model student learning. The work improves predictions of student knowledge across several datasets and explores how the models can guide curriculum design.

  3. 2016

    A doctorate and lectureship

    He completes a PhD in artificial intelligence at Stanford in 2016, advised by Leo Guibas and Mehran Sahami. Upon graduation in 2016, he becomes a lecturer in Stanford’s Computer Science Department.

  4. 2018

    Pensieve tracks programming steps

    In 2018, he works with Lisa Yan and Annie Hu on Pensieve, which records students’ code during programming assignments. The tool lets students and teaching assistants review the steps used to solve a problem.

  5. 2020

    Co-founding Code in Place

    In 2020, he co-founds Code in Place with Mehran Sahami, offering a free online introduction to programming based on Stanford’s CS 106A course. Volunteer teachers lead small groups, with no more than 10 learners per section.

  6. 2022

    The AI Teacher Test

    In 2022, he and Anaïs Tack coauthor The AI Teacher Test, which tests the teaching abilities of Blender and GPT-3 in educational dialogues. Their method compares responses on the ability to speak like a teacher, understand a student and help a student.

  7. 2023

    Feedback with M-Powering Teachers

    In 2023, he coauthors a study of M-Powering Teachers, a tool that uses natural language processing to give instructors feedback on classroom conversations. Tested in Code in Place in 2021, it improves teachers’ use of students’ ideas, students’ assignment completion and course satisfaction.

  8. 2024

    The Roland service prize

    He receives the Miriam Aaron Roland Volunteer Service Prize in 2024 for expanding access to computer science education, especially through Code in Place. He also serves as faculty director of CS Bridge, which brings universities together to offer free, in-person computer science education.

  9. 2026

    Introducing Probability for AI

    In 2026, he introduces Probability for AI, a course that uses the Code in Place format.

  10. As of October 2026

    Associate professor at Stanford

    As of October 2026, he is an associate professor (teaching) of computer science at Stanford, with a courtesy appointment in the Graduate School of Education. His research uses machine learning to understand human learning.

Career

  1. NowStanford UniversityAssociate Professor (Teaching) of Computer Science
  2. NowStanford UniversityAssociate Professor (Teaching), by courtesy, Graduate School of Education
  3. From 2016Stanford UniversityLecturer in the Computer Science Department

Education

  1. 2016Stanford UniversityPhD in artificial intelligence
  2. 2011Stanford UniversityMaster's degree in computer science
  3. 2009Stanford UniversityBS in Computer Science

From the biography and OpenAlex affiliations (the years of papers that list the organization), so some years are approximate.

Checked career sources: ed.stanford.edu, cs.stanford.edu.

Colleagues

People named in this biography, and people with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Christopher Piech yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. Chris Piech | Stanford Graduate School of Education ed.stanford.edu. Checked 27 October 2026.
  2. [1506.05908] Deep Knowledge Tracing arxiv.org. Checked 27 October 2026.
  3. Stanford alumni return to University for faculty, staff roles stanforddaily.com. Checked 27 October 2026.
  4. Chris Piech web.stanford.edu. Checked 27 October 2026.
  5. Piech monitors student code in ‘Pensieve’ personal research project stanforddaily.com. Checked 27 October 2026.
  6. Stanford Engineering offers free online introductory programming course | Stanford University School of Engineering engineering.stanford.edu. Checked 27 October 2026.
  7. [2205.07540] The AI Teacher Test: Measuring the Pedagogical Ability of Blender and GPT-3 in Educational Dialogues arxiv.org. Checked 27 October 2026.
  8. Feedback from an AI-driven tool improves teaching, Stanford-led research finds | Stanford Graduate School of Education ed.stanford.edu. Checked 27 October 2026.
  9. Chris Piech is awarded the 2024 Roland Prize | Haas Center for Public Service haas.stanford.edu. Checked 27 October 2026.
  10. Christopher Piech | Computer Science cs.stanford.edu. Checked 27 October 2026.