What is the topic of your PhD project and what does your work look like in practice?
I focus on unraveling the computational mechanisms of uncertainty within the complex neural system.
Uncertainty is an inherent representation in our brains. For instance, when you observe a person walking toward you from a distance, you experience a certain level of "uncertainty" regarding their identity (such as sex, age, or whether you know them). My goal is to employ computational models, including Bayesian inference and machine learning, to decipher uncertainty from neural responses. Additionally, I aim to explore how this uncertainty evolves in response to environmental influences.
In practice, my project would mainly consist of two parts: practical experiments and theoretical modeling. After collecting neuroimaging data (fMRI) from participants, sophisticated computational models will be built to explore the uncertainty representations underlying neural responses.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
Therapist, since about I was 10. I’m happy to say I’m still on the path of psychology, simply spicing it up with biology and mathematics.
What has your career path been so far and how did you come to your current position?
I discovered my true passion for cognitive science during my sophomore year, and then joined the Visual Computing Lab at Beijing Normal University to immerse myself in the field. This interest also led me to a 6-month internship in the Visual Cognition and Computing Lab at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognition, where my research focused on visual decoding and encoding using deep neural networks. After my undergraduate degree, I moved to London to pursue a master's degree at University College London. In the Visual Perception team at the Welcome Center, my research focus shifted slightly towards predictive coding theory and Bayesian perception. These invaluable experiences strengthened my determination to continue my education in the field of visual science and computational modeling, and finally come here.
Who inspires you the most and why?
My response may be unconventional: Susan Calvin, from Asimov’s Robot Series (also my favorite book). It might seem a little odd to have a fictional character as a scientific idol, but that's genuinely my case : ) For those unfamiliar with her, Dr. Calvin is a "Robopsychologist" (someone who studies the psychology of robots) in Asimov's world. An exceedingly intelligent and competent woman, she possesses nuanced insights into robots and psychology.
Her inspiration to me, as a female figure in the scientific world, is evident. More importantly, she guided me to my current career path on some level. I found my interest in psychology from a very young age. But concurrently, I always had a passion for computer science and artificial intelligence. For a long time, I struggled between these two seemingly disparate subjects. Reading her story was like an enlightenment, inspired me to find a field that satisfies both my interests. So, here I am, studying computational cognitive neuroscience and absorbing knowledge from both psychology and AI.