Dr. Justin Li is an accomplished scholar at the intersection of cognitive science and computer science, recognized for his innovative contributions to understanding knowledge acquisition and information processing. He currently holds a faculty position at Occidental College where he teaches courses bridging cognitive science and computer science disciplines, building upon his extensive interdisciplinary background. His academic journey includes advanced degrees spanning the physical and computational sciences, with a B.S. in Biophysics, an M.S. in Computer Science, and a Ph.D. in Neurobiology, establishing a robust foundation for his cross-disciplinary research approach. Prior to his current appointment, he served as an Assistant Professor, where he developed expertise in computational models of human cognition and information behavior that would later define his scholarly trajectory.
Dr. Li's research program focuses on the fundamental mechanisms through which both humans and artificial agents conduct knowledge search, exploring the cognitive architectures that underpin information discovery and learning processes. His work investigates the parallels and distinctions between organic and artificial knowledge acquisition systems, contributing valuable insights to both cognitive theory and artificial intelligence development. By examining how individuals navigate complex information spaces and how these processes can be computationally modeled, his research offers significant implications for educational technology and human-computer interaction design. His scholarly contributions have helped establish new frameworks for understanding the cognitive processes involved in information seeking behavior across different contexts and populations.
Beyond his research endeavors, Dr. Li plays an active role in shaping contemporary discourse at the intersection of cognitive science and computer science, bringing together perspectives from neuroscience, psychology, and computational theory. His interdisciplinary approach exemplifies the growing convergence between cognitive science and artificial intelligence research, demonstrating how insights from human cognition can inform more intuitive and effective computational systems. At Occidental College, he continues to develop innovative curricula that prepare students to engage with the cognitive challenges of the digital information age while mentoring the next generation of researchers in this rapidly evolving field. Dr. Li remains committed to advancing our understanding of knowledge search processes with potential applications ranging from educational technology to intelligent information systems design.
