Principal Investigator

My research investigates human memory, cognition, and decision making, with a particular focus on spatial processing. Current studies use statistical decision theory as a theoretical framework for examining the complex sensory-perceptual and decision processes involved in navigation. I am an avid outdoors person, and especially enjoy skiing, camping and backpacking, and fly fishing. One of my current goals is to climb the 10 highest peaks in Wyoming. As of 2026, I have climbed Gannett, Grand Teton, Warren, Helen, Turret, Sacagawea, Jackson, and Woodrow Wilson, leaving Fremont and Bastion to climb.

Graduate Student

I am interested in studying how humans navigate and make decisions in non-Euclidean spaces. To achieve this, I develop experiments using the Unity 3D game engine in conjunction with cutting-edge VR technology. I did my undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona, where I worked with multiple labs assessing not only retention rates of children in the Pima County DES system, but also exploring how humans react to stress. Post undergrad I worked at an in-patient rehabilitation facility for individuals with substance abuse and mood disorders, followed by the Human Spatial Cognition Lab at the University of Arizona. In my free time, I enjoy playing games of all kinds (tabletop, video, etc.), exploring nature, and creating things.

Visiting Graduate Student

I am a Ph.D. student in the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Zhejiang University, visiting the MemNav Lab from 2025 to 2026. My research investigates how humans acquire, update, and deploy spatial priors during navigation — and how factors such as cue switching, environmental context, and stress modulate the formation and utilization of priors varying in both temporal and spatial properties. To address these questions, I combine immersive 3D virtual environments built with the Unity 3D and WorldViz engines with cognitive modeling to characterize the mechanisms underlying spatial memory and behavior. In my free time, I enjoy volunteering at animal shelters and cooking.

Yafei is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Shenzen University, China.

Phil completed his Ph.D. in 2023 and is now working at Owens Corning as a user-experience researcher.

Liz worked as a research assistant in the lab. She received her B.A. from Vanderbilt in 2023 and continued graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University and Vanderbilt University.