SPOTLIGHT - DR. STEYVERS
Hello fellow CSA members!
We hope you are enjoying your first week back at UCI and settling into your classes. This week’s spotlight was with Dr. Steyvers, a Professor in the Department of Cognitive Science at UCI.
Dr. Steyvers has taught classes on topics such as programming and computational modeling. He also runs the MADLAB (Modeling and Decision-making Lab), which is currently researching higher-order cognition and the interactions between human and artificial intelligence.
During Spring 2022, Dr. Steyvers will be teaching Psych 119, a class on computational modeling of human behavior for advanced undergraduates. The class aims to help students develop their skill in programming and simple computational modeling: two important skills for applying to and helping out in labs. Python, MATLAB, and other programming languages can be used in this class.
What kind of research do you do?
Currently, Dr. Steyvers is pursuing two different areas of research. In the first area, human higher-order cognition, he collects data from lumosity.com (a website for cognitive training and games), often over years of a participant’s use of the website. The goals of this research include modeling improvements in playing cognitive games over time, studying rapid skill recovery after an extended time away from the website, and updating theories of human learning.
According to Dr. Steyvers, controlled experiments in the lab can provide an important yet “very small snapshot” of human learning and thinking. However, “bigger scale” data acquired from sources like Lumosity is incredibly valuable in developing cognitive science theories, as it helps bridge the gap between laboratory experiments and “real-world learning.”
Dr. Steyvers is also researching human-AI collaboration, a topic that becomes increasingly relevant alongside advancements in the use of AI. What beliefs do we hold about artificial intelligence, and are these beliefs correct? Do we over- or under-rely on AI? On a similar note, do we trust AI too much, or not not enough? Dr. Steyvers’ work focuses on these questions as he researches how to elevate human-AI partnerships to the efficiency of human interaction.
Are you currently conducting studies online or in-person?
As of the writing of this newsletter, the MADLAB is online. When conditions improve, the lab will hopefully switch to an in-person subject pool. (If Dr. Steyvers’ research interests you, keep an eye out for potential undergraduate openings as the campus shifts toward in-person learning.)
What advice would you give a student who wants to pursue research in this field?
Dr. Steyvers emphasizes coding experience as a crucial skill and a “differentiating factor” for students applying to cognitive science labs. All too often, labs have a number of potential research ideas, but a bottleneck in how many students are able to develop and run experiments with code.
What kinds of industry jobs can you pursue with this background?
There are many non-academic career opportunities open to people graduating from cognitive science-related majors. After college, these grad students are sought after for positions in gaming companies, data science, and so on. Dr. Steyvers specifies that many companies are looking to employ people with a solid conceptual understanding of human thinking and data, and of course, programming is another invaluable skill.
What advice would you give a student who wants to remain in contact (or reach out to a Professor who they have never had a class with)?
If you send an email, be prepared! It benefits both you and the professor being contacted to read that professor’s publications and know exactly what kind of research you are asking to get involved in. Personalized, specific, and well-informed emails are key. Dr. Steyvers wants to know that students care and have done their homework instead of relying on templates.
Any advice for students?
For students interested in pursuing academia, Dr. Steyvers stresses the importance of reading more research papers. It is important to widen and diversify your knowledge and your background: “know more, read more, read books. Go outside your comfort zone.” |