My journey into psychology was born from personal experience. Growing up, I witnessed several close family members and friends struggle with depression, and tragically, some chose to end their lives. These losses left deep imprints on my understanding of mental health's critical importance. The profound regret of being unable to help drove me to dedicate myself to this field—not just as an academic pursuit, but as a personal mission to prevent others from facing similar tragedies.
The path here has been unconventional. I started in Information Management at Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, where I gained solid technical foundations in data analysis, Python, R, and machine learning. But psychology called to me. I spent my spare time building knowledge through independent study, eventually making the leap to cross-disciplinary graduate entrance exams. After working at Yuanfudao—where I led teams and encountered countless students facing psychological challenges—I finally joined Central South University's Second Xiangya Hospital, one of China's premier psychiatric institutions.
Under Professor Tiger Cai's mentorship, I found my true calling at the intersection of AI and psychology. The emergence of large language models revealed unprecedented possibilities: What if we could use AI to detect psychological crises earlier? What if we could make mental health assessment more accessible and accurate? These questions now drive my research. I'm developing machine learning systems for psychological assessment, collaborating with Tsinghua University teams on AI-powered diagnostic interviews, and exploring how multi-agent simulations might revolutionize our understanding of social psychology.
But life isn't all about research. Beyond the lab and lecture halls, I'm an explorer at heart. 📷 With my camera, I chase light across urban streets and mountain peaks, capturing fleeting moments that reveal the extraordinary in the ordinary—whether it's the golden hour painting Changsha's skyline or the raw emotions on a stranger's face. 🚴♂️ On my bike, I've traced countless routes through unfamiliar cities and countryside, finding that the rhythm of pedaling clears my mind and sparks unexpected research insights. 🏔️ And when life permits, I pack my gear and head to the mountains, where the challenge of hiking snow-covered peaks reminds me that the most rewarding journeys require patience, preparation, and a willingness to embrace discomfort. These pursuits aren't separate from my academic work; they're essential to it. Photography has trained my eye to observe subtle patterns and emotions—skills that translate directly into understanding human behavior. The endurance from long rides and mountain treks mirrors the persistence needed in research. The curiosity that drives me to explore new landscapes is the same curiosity that fuels my desire to explore uncharted territories in computational psychology.
I will continue this work as a PhD student in Psychiatry at the University of Edinburgh under the supervision of Dr Alex Kwong, pushing the boundaries of AI-enabled mental health research. I want to create systems that genuinely serve human well-being, not just process data. Whether developing new assessment tools or presenting research findings, I'm driven by the same fundamental curiosity: What makes us human, and how can we use our knowledge to help each other thrive?
If you share these interests or are exploring questions at the intersection of AI, psychology, and human flourishing, I'd be honored to connect. Let's explore together what's possible when we combine rigorous science with genuine care for human welfare.
