Dr. Bao is a human factors researcher with positions as an associate professor in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering (IMSE) at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and an associate research professor at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). Commencing in September 2023, she will assume the role of IMSE department chair. 

She earned her Ph.D. in mechanical and industrial engineering from the University of Iowa in 2009. Dr. Bao's research focuses on modeling and analyzing human behavior and its impacts on safety and system designs.  To date, Dr. Bao has served as PI or co-PI on 60 research projects, and she is currently an author of 110 technical publications. She has given multiple keynote speeches and served on expert panels at different conferences or meetings. Dr. Bao is currently the vice chair of the human factors committee of the Transportation Research Board (TRB).