Dr. Di Fu is an accomplished cognitive neuroscientist specializing in the intersection of human cognition and artificial intelligence systems. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Surrey's School of Psychology where she directs the Digital Intelligence for Future Users laboratory. After completing her fast-tracking PhD in cognitive neuroscience at the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2020, she established herself as a rising researcher through postdoctoral work at the University of Hamburg's Knowledge Technology Research Group. Her academic journey includes undergraduate studies at Tsinghua University, one of China's most prestigious institutions, followed by specialized training in cognitive neuroscience and human-robot interaction.
Dr. Fu's pioneering research investigates crossmodal learning mechanisms and human-robot social interaction, with particular focus on how humans process information across sensory modalities during interactions with artificial agents. Her work on attentional mechanisms in human-robot interaction builds upon her doctoral thesis examining the interaction between attentional capture and executive control in conflict processing. She employs rigorous experimental paradigms to explore how social cues influence human perception and decision-making in technologically mediated environments. This research has significant implications for designing more intuitive and socially competent robotic systems that can effectively integrate into human social contexts.
As director of the DIFU Lab, Dr. Fu leads an interdisciplinary team advancing our understanding of digital intelligence applications for future technologies. Her contributions have been recognized through prestigious fellowships including the Kavli Summer Institute in Cognitive Neuroscience and the International Postdoctoral Exchange fellowship. She maintains active collaborations across European research institutions and continues to bridge cognitive neuroscience with practical applications in human-robot interaction. Dr. Fu's work represents a vital contribution to developing socially intelligent technologies that respect human cognitive processes while enhancing human-technology partnerships for future applications.
