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New Faculty Spring 2026

Academic Year 2025-2026

NYU Abu Dhabi leadership and faculty are researchers, scholars, and artists of extraordinary distinction within and beyond their disciplines, and at the same time exceptional teachers, dedicated to supporting and challenging their students and to transforming them into intellectual colleagues. In addition to a growing cohort of full-time faculty, the University also draws talent from across NYU’s global network and hosts visiting faculty from outstanding universities around the world.

Today NYU Abu Dhabi has a faculty of more than 300 experts who are drawn to the University by the quality and passion of our students, by a very favorable research environment, and, as importantly, by the institution’s resolve to contribute significantly to the region and to shape a better world through education and research.

Meet the New Faculty by Academic Unit

  • Jing Chai

    Visiting Senior Lecturer of Chinese Language

     

    Jing Chai is a Visiting Senior Language Lecturer of Chinese, where she has rejoined the faculty at NYU Abu Dhabi after previously serving as Program Head and Visiting Senior Lecturer. Jing has been teaching at NYU Shanghai since its inaugural class, and has taught across the levels with a specialization on Intermediate and Advanced level Chinese, and has created courses at post-advanced levels, including Discovering Contemporary China Through Documentary Films, Teaching Chinese Through Children’s Storybook, etc. She currently also serves as the Elementary Language Coordinator for the Chinese Language program. 

    Jing holds both a BA and an MA in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages from East China Normal University. Her teaching and research focus on Chinese character pedagogy, multimodal learning, and community-engaged language education.  An active convener and presenter, Jing has led international symposia, workshops, and exhibitions across Asia, the Middle East, and North America. She is also a certified ACTFL OPI tester and a recipient of multiple NYU grants supporting language pedagogy and research.

    MA in Teaching Chinese to the Speakers of Other Languages, East China Normal University, China

    Previously: Senior Lecturer of Chinese Language, New York University Shanghai, China

    Juan Sierra

    Adjunct Lecturer of Music

     
     

    Juan Sierra is currently a Research Fellow at NYU Abu Dhabi, affiliated with the Music and Sound Cultures (MaSC) research group at NYU Abu Dhabi. He holds a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in Music Technology from NYU Steinhardt, and a Master of Arts in Music, Science, and Technology from Stanford University’s Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music, with an emphasis in sound engineering (2015), from the Pontifical Xavierian University in his hometown of Bogotá, Colombia.

    Juan’s work integrates digital signal processing, acoustics, and real-time audio software with a strong foundation in physics and mathematics. His research and creative practice focus on algorithm design, spectral modeling, spatial audio, and musically informed sound technologies. His academic work has been presented at leading international venues, including the Audio Engineering Society and the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME).

    With extensive experience in music production, recording, and performance, Juan brings a practice-driven, technically rigorous approach to music technology research.

    PhD candidate in Music Technology, NYU Steinhardt, USA (dissertation successfully defended). Master of Philosophy in Music Technology at NYU Steinhardt, United States of America

    Previously: Research Fellow, NYU Abu Dhabi, UAE