Dr. Lucy Lai’s Journey From Music to Unraveling Human Cognition
Lucy Lai (Ph.D.)
Assistant Teaching Professor at UC San Diego
Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Harvard University
B.S. in Cognitive Sciences, Minors in Neuroscience, Computational and Applied Mathematics at Rice University
lucylai.com
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Lucy Lai, and I am a cognitive scientist with a PhD in neuroscience from Harvard, where I studied how people make decisions under limited cognitive resources. After that, I spent two years in Japan as a visiting scholar at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, and recently started my faculty position as an Assistant Teaching Professor at UC San Diego, in the Department of Cognitive Science.
Part 1. Career in Science
How did you develop a passion for neuroscience, and specifically for studying cognition?
Growing up, I played classical piano, which sparked a curiosity about how the brain processes melody, and how music evokes emotions. This early interest in perception and cognition led me to neuroscience—I was interested in understanding how the brain generated my ability to learn and play such complex pieces, and how it facilitated deep emotional responses to music. Initially, I wanted to study music cognition, but I eventually pivoted to broader questions in cognitive science . Music cognition remains an interest of mine, but I am now captivated by a broader set of research questions.
What is your main research question?
My research broadly examines how humans interact with the world, and particularly how people make decisions depending on their context and internal states. I use computational methods, such as reinforcement learning and information theory, to model human behavior and formalize cognitive questions. I’m currently working on modeling disordered decision-making behavior in psychiatric conditions such as OCD and ADHD, using computational approaches to understand underlying cognitive mechanisms.
What do you enjoy about the balance between teaching and research?
The primary focus of my job as an Assistant Teaching Professor is teaching, although I am still expected to maintain a small, but active research agenda. I really enjoy doing both—Teaching provides structure and frequent rewards, while research requires long-term persistence but is also deeply intellectually stimulating and satisfying. As a Teaching Professor, I feel that I am able to pursue research more freely and creatively without a ton of pressure to publish at a high rate. I end up pursuing questions that I’m genuinely interested in, and at a pace that generates high-quality science. Teaching and research really do complement each other and make the role of a professor extremely fulfilling!
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
Balancing multiple responsibilities, and caring for hundreds of students every term is difficult. I am a perfectionist, so I often reflect on how I could improve lectures, courses, or research projects. I wish I could spend significant time with every single student I have, but it is difficult at a school as large as UCSD. At my best, I try to show that I care by reading every single student’s survey responses and homework reflections, even if I’m unable to reply to each one individually.
How did you prepare for your current position?
I sought extensive teaching experience during my PhD , including TA roles, course development opportunities, and even teaching my own courses. This really prepared me for a teaching-focused faculty role, which I was able to start right out of grad school. I also developed valuable programming and communication skills, which are valuable regardless of career path.
What do you hope to achieve through your Assistant Teaching Professor position?
My main focus right now is on mentoring and teaching students. I want to guide them in discovering their own academic interests, finding research opportunities, and developing as independent thinkers and scientists. Empowering others is the most fulfilling aspect of this job, and it will remain my primary focus in the foreseeable future.
How did your resource guides for graduate school, “All About PhD Applications,” originate?
I did not have any academic role models growing up, and discovered a wealth of resources and opportunities (such as summer research programs) by scouring the web. After completing the graduate application process, I wanted to create some kind of online guids to help future students navigate the PhD application process at a granular level . I wrote the blog on one 15-hour international flight from Singapore to Houston, and started sharing on my social media platforms. Over time, my PhD application guide has reached over 100k views and helped hundreds successfully get into programs. I hope to expand on these resources in the future to include more advice, particularly for current undergraduate students!
What do you wish you had known earlier about graduate applications?
Many applicants misunderstand what admissions committees look for. Success is not about name-dropping or following “secret formulas” for writing your statement of purpose. Above all else, PhD committees look for the qualities of a scientist: curiosity, independence, motivation, and clear articulation of research ideas. Applicants should demonstrate initiative and independent thinking, rather than simply executing on scientific tasks. That is the difference between a research technician and a budding scientist.
Part 2. Life Goals and Values
What’s one thing you’d like to improve about yourself?
I’d like to get better at finishing projects! more consistently. I’m interested in many things, which often means I get distracted in the middle of projects by a new idea.. So basically, I’d like to get better at finishing what I started!
What are 3 big identities that you carry?
First, I am a Christian. My faith shapes how I live and informs my intellectual curiosity. Many people think that science and religious faith are at odds with each other. I approach both with the same inquisitiveness.
Second, I am a Chinese-American. I value and embrace both Eastern and Western cultural perspectives as part of my identity.
Third, I am an educator. Mentoring and teaching the next generation of scientists is central to both my career and my life’s purpose.
What is your most important value in life?
Love. All virtues stem from love, which I strive to let motivate everything I do. Through love, I aim to pay forward the privileges and opportunities I have received from the care of others. Much of my own success is from having gracious, giving mentors in my life, who chose to spend their time and resources on me when I was far from deserving. I feel grateful that I can now pay it forward to others!