Doreen Hii, PhD, Cognitive Sciences
Doreen Hii is a research scientist and will graduate with a PhD in Cognitive Sciences on June 16 in the Bren Events Center. She will also be the student speaker during the Grad Hooding Ceremony.
She is a highly motivated research scientist with a deep-rooted passion to unravel the secrets of human intelligence. She excels at identifying novel, cognitive-inspired solutions to address underspecified problems in areas such as computer vision, natural language processing, and navigation. She is constantly seeking innovative approaches to make AI more human-like.
What is your favorite memory at UCI?
Whenever I think of UCI, Aldrich Park just pops into my head! There is constant sunshine and always the sound of laughter drifting through the air. I have lost count of how many times I have snatched incredible student performances there – whether it is dance or music, the energy is just contagious. Even a nap there is pure bliss that will make you smile in your dreams. For me, Aldrich Park really captures the heart of UCI.
What are your plans after graduation?
First, I am hitting the road for an epic national parks adventure across the States! Then, I will begin my postdoctoral training under the mentorship of Dr. Johan Wagemans in Belgium. We will be uncovering the secrets of human aesthetic perception, and developing AI that gets beauty.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I see myself as a bridge between human cognition and artificial intelligence. On the one hand, I draw new inspirations from cognitive sciences to inspire human-like AI. On the other hand, I identify and strengthen the irreplaceable traits of humanity using advances in science.
Who was your biggest influence at UCI?
It has to be my professor who mentored me throughout my academic pursuit, Prof. Zygmunt Pizlo. He has pulled me back from the brink, celebrated my wins, supported my struggles, and shared life wisdom with a wonderfully unexpected humor. His open-mindedness, conscientiousness and patience have been truly inspiring qualities that I strive to emulate in all my endeavors.
What do you know now that you wish you had known before coming to UCI?
Don’t be shy to reach out. As Helen Keller wisely said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”. The UCI community is a wellspring of support and collaboration. Voice your needs, share your goals – you will be amazed by how many supportive hands lift you up.
What are your hobbies or interests?
I have always been into hobbies where you get to tackle challenges and figure things out together with friends. Currently, my passions include skiing, leather working, and watch making. My next challenge is to build a stilt house. There is something appealing about that shared effort and the joy of creating something together.