… and how we do it
Some of the questions that guide our research:
In our research, we formalize people’s mental models as computational models that yield quantitative predictions about a wide range of situations. To test these predictions, we use a combination of large-scale online experiments, interactive experiments in the lab, and eye-tracking experiments.
You can find out more about what we do, what we value, and how to join us here.
… who are doing the work
Principal Investigator
I am interested in how people hold others responsible, how these judgments are grounded in causal representations of the world, and supported by counterfactual simulations. I also like to drink tea.
— Personal website
Postdoctoral Researcher
I’m interested in representation learning, causal inference, and theory of mind reasoning. I currently work on MARPLE: Explaining what happened through multimodal simulation. I like to drink hot chocolate.
— Personal website
Postdoctoral Researcher
My research focuses on how people construct predictive internal models of those around them. I say yes to coffee unequivocally.
— Personal website
Postdoctoral Researcher
I’m broadly interested in memory and metacognition — how we remember things, how we think we remember things, and how we form beliefs and make judgments. I like bubble tea.
— Personal website
Graduate Student
I did my undergraduate study in philosophy and my graduate study in computer science. I’m interested in work that integrates the methods and questions of these disciplines to understand the mind. I like to drink water.
— Personal website
Graduate Student
My research is mainly focused on how a teleological view of causation features in our view of composition, persistence and essence. Here is a picture of me thinking about the essence of pizza and wondering whether nacho pizza is a kind of pizza.
— Personal website
Graduate Student
I’m interested in computational models of social cognition, including aspects of social learning, inference, and judgment. I received undergraduate degrees in brain/cognitive sciences and applied math. I like to drink boba.
— Personal website
Graduate Student
I am interested in leveraging behavioral experiments and computational modeling to understand how we represent the world around us, how we simulate alternative worlds, and how we use these simulations to make inferences. In my undergraduate, I studied cognitive science and mathematics. I like to drink milk.
— Personal website
Predoctoral Researcher
I’m interested in computational and behavioral models of cognition, including social, moral, and causal reasoning. I did my undergraduate studies in data science and philosophy. I like coffee.
Research Assistant
I’m a junior at Stanford majoring in symbolic systems. I’m interested in understanding cognition through computational models. Outside of this I enjoy playing viola and taking care of my fish and corals!
Research Assistant
I am interested in how causal reasoning mechanisms in humans can inspire machine learning algorithms that are both more generalizable and interpretable. I am especially passionate about using new ML and AI technology for social good. I completed my BSc. at UBC studying Cognitive Systems with a focus in Computational Intelligence and Design. I like to drink coffee, maybe a bit too much.
— Personal website
Research Assistant
I am a sophomore at Stanford looking to major in Computer Science on the AI track. I am interested in using computational models to explore causality in social settings. Outside of that, I enjoy dancing and amateur vegan baking.
Research Assistant
I’m a dutiful questioner and an adroit researcher. I have a background in education and second language acquisition. I’m interested in how language affects social category development as well as perceived characteristics of individual social group members. I am also interested in the psychological and sociological disciplines that interact with each other and how the information I’ve learned from both perspectives are related together. So far at Stanford, I’m working on a couple of projects on causal judgements and shape bias. Ultimately, I’m planning to become a human factors researcher or UX research scientist. I love to do high intensity workouts followed by vanilla sweet cream cold brew coffee, or maybe coffee first!
Research Assistant
I am interested in using different methods to explore social cognition, interpersonal interactions, and understanding the mind. I also enjoy reading, writing, and staying active.
Research Assistant
I am junior at Stanford majoring in Symbolic Systems with a minor in Art Practice and CSRE. I’m interested in minimizing algorithmic biases and harms and analyzing AI models in social contexts. I love making digital art, animations, and painting my own nails!
— Personal website
Research Assistant
I’m an undergrad junior majoring in MS&E and Philosophy and minoring in CS. I’m interested in exploring how computational technologies differ from and relate to human decision-making processes. What drives me is learning how things work - whether it be in the context of pure math, computing, the physical universe, the human mind, economic structures, or anything else. Outside of work, I love reading, watching sitcoms, and playing ping pong, pickleball, badminton, and basketball! My favorite drink is a vanilla milkshake!
Research Assistant
I’m an undergraduate majoring in computer science, either on the AI or HCI track. I’m interested in using computational models to understand how people think about the world, and in my free time, I love going on long walks, playing golf, and trying new foods!
Research Assistant
I am an undergraduate student at Stanford University studying Computer Science. I am interested in using big data and computational tools to understand how we perceive the world. I am also interested in understanding how language models perform reasoning and thinking. I love playing board games, traveling, and having fun with friends.
Lab Affiliate
I am currently a PhD candidate in Nick Haber’s Autonomous Agents Lab. I double-majored in cognitive neuroscience and computer sciences from Minerva School. I am interested in how causal representations form our understandings in both the physical world and the social world. In my spare time, I enjoy learning electronics and observing squirrels.
— Personal website
Lab Affiliate
I did my undergraduate in physics and mathematics. I am interested in computational models of causal reasoning, and how they support intuitive physical predictions. I am also interested in cognitive biases that shape how we perceive real physical world. I like to play and watch soccer.
— Personal website
Lab Affiliate
I am interested in how people interact with explainable AI agents, as well as how we can teach models to reason and explain. I am also working with Michael Bernstein’s and Ranjay Krishna’s groups. I love to eat Brazilian foods!
— Personal website
Lab Affiliate
I am a PhD student in the CoCoLab. My research involves studying how pedagogical language shapes cultural transmission of knowledge and analyzing connections between large language models and probabilistic models of cognition. I like rock climbing.
— Personal website
Lab Affiliate
I am an affective science PhD Student at the Stanford Psychophysiology Lab. I use a combination of behavioral experiments, experience-sampling, physiological measures, and computational modeling to understand how beliefs about emotions shape emotion regulation. When I am not in the lab, you can find me 3,000ft up in the sky, working towards my private pilot license!
— Personal website
Lab Affiliate
I am a PhD Student in the Stanford Social Learning Lab. My research interests focus on the representations and motivations that guide learning and play early in life. I like to eat tacos and drink coffee.
Lab Affiliate
I am a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford Vision and Learning Lab, as well as a Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance Fellow. I work on robotics, human-robot interaction, brain-machine interface, cognitive science, and neuroscience. My research focus is human-centered artificial intelligence: Understanding human intelligence for developing biologically-inspired AI algorithms, as well as making AIs more compatible with humans.
— Personal website
Lab Affiliate
I am interested in reasoning and social cognition; how we can build machines that interact with, learn from and communicate with others.
— Personal website
Lab Affiliate
I am a Symbolic Systems master’s student. I am interested in social cognition, self/identity, and learning. In my free time, I enjoy singing, playing tennis, and spending time in nature!
Preprint PDF Link Github OSF Press: MIT News Press: Seeker Press: MedicalResearch.com
Some of the people we work with