UCI soc sci shoutout: Doreen Hii
Originally from Malaysia, Doreen Hii has become quite a familiar face within UC Irvine’s Department of Cognitive Sciences where she’s spent the entirety of her academic career, earning her B.S., master’s and soon, her Ph.D. Her research bridges human cognition and machine intelligence while her curiosity often leads her in search of the campus’s most scenic spots. Following her June commencement ceremony, Hii will head to Belgium to begin a postdoctoral fellowship at KU Leuven. There, she’ll join a research lab focused on uncovering the fundamental components of visual aesthetics, with the ambitious aim of developing artificial intelligence that can predict human aesthetic preferences and generate aesthetically pleasing content. Below, she reflects on why UCI was the perfect fit for her academic journey and shares how she plans to use her training to advance human-like AI grounded in cognitive science.
What inspired you to pursue a Ph.D. in cognitive sciences, and what drew you to UCI in particular? What aspects of your research are most exciting or meaningful to you?
I was drawn to cognitive science because I am fascinated by the magical feats of human intelligence. Consider how we can walk into a room and, in the blink of an eye, already construct a 3D map, identify key objects, and grasp the overall gist of what's happening. What are the cognitive processes that allow these lightning-quick computations of a complex visual world? This is the captivating puzzle that drew me to the cutting-edge research in cognitive science at UCI.
I chose UCI to be the perfect ground for studying this puzzle because I found an incredible mentor, who made dissecting the fundamental mechanisms of human visual perception extremely fun, much like a child curiously taking apart a radio to understand its inner workings. Even after 5 years of studying human cognition, I remain in awe of our cognitive abilities.
My research has ignited an even greater appreciation for the everyday miracles our minds perform. It's my hope to share this sense of wonder, encouraging everyone to marvel at the extraordinary complexity and beauty of the human mind.
Tell us more about your research and its applications.
My research lies at the intersection of human cognition and machine intelligence. My research goal is twofold: First, I aim to unravel the fundamental principles of human visual perception, rigorously testing the boundaries of human visual processing; second, I aim to reverse-engineer this elegant software of our minds, translating its core mechanisms into implementable algorithms for computers.
Specifically, my research delves into a seemingly impossible feat of human vision. Despite the 3D world projecting a flat, 2D image onto our retinas, we effortlessly perceive depth and volume. Mathematically, this reconstruction from 2D to 3D is an ill-posed problem with infinitely many potential solutions. Yet, remarkably, our 3D perception is strikingly consistent across individuals. My work has identified key cognitive shortcuts that allow humans to effectively and efficiently reconstruct the 3D world we experience. Critically, I have translated this insight into a novel AI model that is more human-like, achieving performance on par with human observers.
This is a pivotal advancement, enabling the next generation of artificial intelligence to perceive the world just as humans do. This common perceptual ground is essential for truly collaborative AI in critical applications like autonomous driving and disaster relief, where a unified interpretation of the environment between humans and machines can ultimately save lives.
Where can your work be found if someone wanted to learn more about your research?
You may find my published research in the following peer-reviewed journals: Frontiers in Psychology and the Journal of Vision. I've also enjoyed interdisciplinary collaborations, resulting in publications in the IEEE Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems and the Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. For a comprehensive list of my publications, please visit my Google Scholar page.
You’ve been incredibly active on campus throughout your tenure as an Anteater. Tell us about some of your accomplishments and activities beyond publications.
I was recognized as one of the Top 10 Finalists in the UCI Grad Slam competition, a university-wide showcase where I distilled my Ph.D. findings into a compelling 3-minute presentation. Notably, I was the sole finalist representing the School of Social Sciences to highlight the significance of cognitive science research to a broader audience.
My commitment to fostering a thriving academic environment at UCI is evident in my service as the UCI Department of Cognitive Sciences Graduate Student Liaison. In this role, I actively contributed to attracting exceptional individuals to our department. I served as a key liaison between prospective faculty and the department in five crucial faculty recruitment interviews, ensuring a smooth and informative process for candidates. Furthermore, I took a leadership role in graduate student recruitment, coordinating and delivering two highly successful graduate student recruitment events that drew a total of 100 attendees, showcasing the exciting opportunities within our program.
Recognizing the importance of effective teaching, I served as the Learning Innovation Team Lead, where I leveraged my skills in pedagogy and communication. I designed eight comprehensive 50-minute interactive modules aimed at equipping new teaching assistants with essential skills. Additionally, I co-led intensive 2-day mandatory training workshops, directly coaching over 75 incoming teaching assistants to build their confidence and competence in their instructional roles, ultimately enhancing the learning experience for countless undergraduates.
I am also enthusiastic in cultivating a supportive learning environment. I dedicated 100 hours to a practicum, honing advanced techniques to deliver clear, concise, and engaging presentations – a skill I actively employ in various classrooms and discussion sections. Furthermore, I served as an Undergraduate Research Discovery Program Mentor, providing crucial guidance to 100 undergraduate students with no prior research experience within a collaborative team of 25 mentors. My support spanned the entire research lifecycle, from initial proposal development to successful presentations at academic conferences. I also directly contributed to undergraduate research success by co-advising an undergraduate research project that culminated in a UROP poster presentation. Recognizing the importance of securing funding for graduate research, I served as a team leader for four prestigious awards grant-writing workshops. In these workshops, I leveraged my understanding of successful applications to edit research and personal statements and analyze proposals in accordance with stringent program requirements.
My dedication and achievements throughout my Ph.D. journey have been recognized through several prestigious awards, including the Minority Serving Institution Enhancement Fellowship, Social Science Communication Fellowship, and the designation of Pedagogical Fellow, among others.
Who have been your faculty mentors while here, and what impact have they had on your graduate career?
My graduate journey at UCI has been deeply enriched by the guidance and support of countless faculty members, each leaving an indelible mark on my development. I am particularly grateful for the many professors I had the privilege of serving alongside as a Teaching Assistant. Their dedication to mentorship has shaped my approach to teaching and instilled in me the values of responsibility and inspiration in guiding students. The encouraging smiles and supportive words from faculty across the department have fostered a strong sense of belonging within the UCI community, creating an environment where I felt valued and empowered. Their collective belief in my potential has been a constant source of motivation throughout my studies.
While many faculty have contributed to my growth, one mentor stands out as particularly transformative: my current professor, Dr. Zygmunt Pizlo. I had never seriously considered pursuing a Ph.D. until one office hour visit during my final undergraduate quarter, where a spontaneous, perhaps even audacious, challenge to my professor's research hypothesis sparked an insightful exchange. He responded, "Why don't you join the lab and try it out?” I did exactly that and collaborated on a research project with him during that final undergraduate quarter. His earnest encouragement, unwavering patience, and profound belief in my potential, fueled my aspiration to pursue a Ph.D.. His impact extends far beyond academic guidance; he instilled in me the courage to forge my own path and pursue intellectual frontiers I once deemed beyond my reach.
What are your post-Ph.D. plans? How has UCI prepared you well for this role?
My immediate post-Ph.D. plan is to join a research lab led by Dr. Johan Wagemans at KU Leuven, Belgium as a postdoctoral fellow. There, I will be investigating the fundamental elements that contribute to a visual aesthetic, with the exciting goal of creating artificial intelligence capable of predicting human aesthetic judgment and generating aesthetically pleasing content. This postdoctoral experience will be a crucial stepping stone in my long-term vision: to leverage my deep understanding of human cognition and advanced AI modeling in complex real-world challenges, ultimately pioneering the development of human-like AI using cognitive principles.
My doctoral training at UCI has provided me with a robust foundation ideally suited for my next ambition. Beyond the essential hard skills of designing rigorous human-subject experiments and developing sophisticated computational models, UCI has also cultivated crucial soft skills. I have gained invaluable experience collaborating effectively with researchers from diverse academic backgrounds, fostering interdisciplinary perspectives. Perhaps most importantly, my time at UCI has instilled in me the confidence and resilience to comfortably tackle research questions characterized by significant uncertainty and ambiguity – a vital attribute for making impactful contributions in a postdoctoral role and beyond.
Any unique life experiences that have guided your educational journey? Give us some background.
The journey from a small town in Borneo Island to the bustling academic environment of UCI was made possible not just by individual effort, but by the unwavering embrace of a supportive community. Home wasn't solely defined by geography; it is there for those who have a keen and grateful eye.
I have come to realize that it is the little interactions that sustained me in a foreign country. I vividly recall a professor in my early undergraduate years who, recognizing our limited resources, would generously pay out of his own pocket to ensure we had hands-on materials for classroom activities. Another professor, on his very last day before retirement, spent hours mentoring our senior projects. Then there was the staff member who patiently spent countless hours troubleshooting equipment issues, often going above and beyond his official duties. And fearless friends translate napkin blueprints into tangible realities. None of these were grand gestures, but rather consistent demonstrations of genuine care and sincerity that had profound impact on my educational journey.
This realization has become a defining aspect of my own values and aspirations. I value the role of community in fostering growth, resilience, and the courage to pursue ambitious goals. I am deeply motivated to actively cultivate and contribute to supportive communities, mirroring the very kindness and encouragement that has shaped my own path and made this incredible journey possible.
Any other tidbits you’d like to share?
My peculiar passion is charting the hidden geography of UCI. Many years of studies at UCI also means that I explored the campus extensively. I like trekking all corners of UCI to notice specific locations that offer particularly noteworthy experiences: the deck at the Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences for its exceptional sunset views, the Engineering Hall platform for an interesting observation of airflow, the ideal tree configuration in Aldrich Park for a relaxing hammock, and even the location of a particularly sweet orange tree behind Natural Sciences II. For those seeking UCI's less conventional points of interests, feel free to contact me! For those seeking less conventional secret spots at UCI, or having discovered a new spot that you would like to share, please feel free to contact me.