Emily T - Research Program Mentor | Polygence
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Emily T

- Research Program Mentor

PhD at Cambridge University

Expertise

Psychology / Neuroscience

Bio

I'm Emily, a postdoctoral scholar at Caltech researching the computational neuroscience of social media and emotion. I earned my PhD in Psychology from the University of Cambridge as a Gates Cambridge Scholar, where my research focused on loneliness, adolescent development, and mental health. Originally from a small town in Georgia, I spent ten exciting years in New York City working as a fashion model. After a couple of years in Los Angeles, I moved to Cambridge, UK, to pursue my doctoral studies. Now, I'm thrilled to be back in sunny California. In my spare time, I love traveling, staying active with sports, and exploring new adventures!

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Research Project

In this project, you will write an academic paper reviewing the latest research on a topic of your choice within the field of psychology and/or neuroscience. By engaging deeply with the literature, you will hone your skills in critical thinking, learn to evaluate the strength of scientific evidence, and develop the ability to synthesize complex information into a coherent narrative. This process will also enhance your academic writing skills, teaching you how to construct well-founded arguments and articulate them effectively. Further, I encourage you to cultivate your research interests by picking a topic you are passionate about, which might guiding future academic pursuits or career paths. Possible topics include: - The influence of social connectedness on adolescents’ emotion following social isolation - The impact of video games on adolescent wellbeing - Impact of early life adversity on memory in adolescents

Coding skills

R, python, MATLAB

Teaching experience

My academic journey has been underscored by a passion for teaching and mentoring, highlighted by extensive experience with students across educational levels (from first year high school students to final year undergraduates). I have tutored in psychology, mentored on individual research projects, and served as a teaching assistant and guest lecturer for courses in the Psychological and Behavioural Sciences. I have supervised several undergraduate dissertations on topics related to adolescence and mental health, and delivered talks on the science of learning at schools across the U.K. and internationally.

Credentials

Work experience

California Institute of Technology (2025 - Current)
Postdoctoral Scholar

Education

City University of New York
BA Bachelor of Arts (2017)
Communications and Media
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
MS Master of Science (2019)
Social Science
Columbia University
CAS Certificate of Advanced Study (2018)
Psychology
Cambridge University
PhD Doctor of Philosophy (2025)
Psychology

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