• Head, Humanities Arts & Social Sciences, SUTD
• Professor of Psychology
• Director, Principal Investigator
• Visiting Senior Academician (CGH)

W. Quin, Yow, Ph.D. (quin@sutd.edu.sg)

My main research interest is examining socio-cognitive development across the lifespan, including how factors such as the language environment that we grow up in or our language pattern use may influence our cognitive functioning as well as how we perceive and interact with others. I am also interested in how technology influences the way we communicate and interact with each other, and in particular, how technology could be harnessed in ways that can improve or slow down cognitive and social cognitive decline. I am interested in how our environment and habits could shape our mind and behavior, and how our brain changes relative to our experiences across the lifespan and explore new or better ways for people to enhance their potential at every stage of their life. 2023_CV_Yow_updated

Postdoctoral Researchers

Xiaoqian, Li, Ph.D. (xiaoqian_li@sutd.edu.sg)

I am excited to be part of the first crop of graduate students in the Language and Social Cognition Lab. I am broadly interested in how children learn from others and what is the effect of learning more than one language (e.g., bilingualism) on children’s learning process and cognitive development. I am especially curious to know what are the cues children use when they decide to trust and learn from certain people but not the others, when children accept information that are in conflict with their own knowledge, and how these abilities develop through the preschool years. I will be exploring these questions as a member of the LASC Lab.

*Xiaoqian has completed her 6-month research internship at the Social Learning Lab @ Stanford University.

Sou Ka Lon, Ph.D. (kalon_sou@sutd.edu.sg)

I am a research fellow at the Language and Social Cognition Lab at Singapore University of Technology and Design since 2020 after the completion of my Ph.D. study at Nanyang Technology University. I am broadly interested in the interplay among ageing, cognition, and well-being. My current projects concern with 1) identifying factors that motivate the older population to engage and perform well in cognitive training and/or motor rehabilitation using brain-computer-brain (BCB) technology; 2) investigating the efficacy of a dual-language cognitive tool in benefiting cognitive health in older population; and 3) investigating how AI technology can be leveraged to develop a conversational agent to improve mental health in older population.

Graduate Students

Yeo Shun Yuan (shunyuan_yeo@mymail.sutd.edu.sg)

I am curious about how older adults’ social cognition changes as they age. As we live in a continuously ageing society, I hope to be able to uncover the different psychosocial factors and propose intervention programs to help preserve one’s social cognitive ability. My current research interest lies in the intersection of gerontology and psychology, where literature from social and cognitive psychology will positively shape the senior ecosystem.

Ang Teck Hua (teckhua_ang@mymail.edu.sg)

My PhD research interest is in the investigation of how we can help enhance the cognitive reflection of Singapore residents across different age groups, leading to stronger social relationships and greater resilience, as both have been found to be significantly associated with one’s overall well-being. This investigation will be carried out through the triarchic lens, examining the closely connected relationships amongst the emotional, cognitive, and conative (motivational and volitional) factors of well-being, including personality traits, gratitude, social connectedness, sense of meaning in life, and persistence directed towards one’s long-term goals. The aim of this investigation is to yield findings that will guide the design and development of an intervention program, that can effectively enhance resilience and subjective well-being in a more lasting and effective manner.

Zheng Shuang (shuang_zheng@mymail.sutd.edu.sg)

Before coming to the lab, I was an R&D consultant and an entrepreneur in children sports education. Now my research is primarily concentrated on the creation of video games tailored to augment distinct cognitive functions such as mental rotation, working memory, and attention allocation in older adults for prevention, early detection, and intervention of dementia. I am supporting the development of the Ami app, a dual-language cognitive training game for the older population. My doctoral thesis investigates the efficacy of a first-person task game aimed at enhancing mental rotation abilities among older adults. Concurrently, I am engaged in a study exploring the mechanisms underlying short video consumption and addiction.

Park Sae Mi (park_saemi@mymail.sutd.edu.sg)

My research interest lies in investigating factors that can influence the quality of life among older adults. The research questions I am exploring involve the effects of the environment, such as neighborhood quality, on one’s distress level. For my PhD research, I plan to approach my research questions using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Furthermore, considering my South Korea heritage, I am eager to conduct a cross-country study comparing Singapore and South Korea to examine research questions. My research aim is to provide evidence that can be used to design community-based intervention programs that promote well-being among older adults, and ultimately contribute to the advancement of public health.

Research Assistants

Alina Clarise Wong (alina_wong@sutd.edu.sg)

Ang Chi Shuen (chishuen_angi@sutd.edu.sg)

Vishalini

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