Physical Intelligence Lab
Principal Investigator
![[5140] Jonathan Tsay (43 of 81)(2k)_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2bf5b5_e1e877c4502f4c49b522c1e9aa2a0766~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_69,y_0,w_1331,h_1331/fill/w_167,h_167,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/%5B5140%5D%20Jonathan%20Tsay%20(43%20of%2081)(2k)_edited.jpg)
Jonathan S. Tsay, Principal Investigator
Email · CV · Twitter · Scholar · Neurotree
I am an assistant professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University. I have a background in theoretical mathematics (B.A. from Northwestern University), physical rehabilitation (D.P.T. from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine), and cognitive neuroscience (Ph.D. from UC Berkeley). If you can't find me in the lab, I am listening to a podcast, taking a long walk, working in a hipster coffee shop, or spending time with my wife, Sophia, and my cat, Kiki.
Graduate Researchers
.jpg)
Elizabeth Cisneros, Ph.D. Student @ UC Berkeley
I am particularly interested in how people learn and refine their motor skills. Currently, my research focuses on the impact of both healthy and pathological aging on implicit and explicit motor learning. I hope this knowledge can be applied to enhance rehabilitation practices and deepen our understanding of how motor learning is influenced by healthy and pathological aging. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, climbing, knitting, baking, and attending one too many concerts.
Ding Wei, Ph.D. Student @ Tsinghua Univ.
I am interested in how humans and foundational agents manipulate objects. Specifically, I am investigating the affordance spaces of humans and foundational models, and employing these insights to benchmark and optimize robotics. With a multidisciplinary background in computer science, neuroscience, and robotics, I am eager to explore projects at the intersection of these fields. Outside of work, I love dancing (jazz, waacking, and pole) and traveling for delicious food.
Undergraduate Researchers
_PNG.png)
Ashley Statham, Undergraduate @ Carnegie Mellon Univ.
I am an undergraduate student at CMU studying cognitive neuroscience. I am interested in the effects of positive and negative feedback on explicit strategies in motor learning. I also have experience examining cognitive mechanisms underlying addiction. Outside of research, I am the president of the all-female and nonbinary-inclusive acapella group Counterpoint, and an executive member of CMU’s chapter of Camp Kesem.
Aoran Zhang, Undergraduate @ Carnegie Mellon Univ.
I am an undergraduate student at CMU studying Statistics and Machine Learning with an additional major in Artificial Intelligence. My research interests center on applying statistical and machine learning methods to study motor learning. I have experience in applying machine learning models to solve practical tasks in various fields. In my free time, I enjoy reading and writing fiction.
Sophie Elliott, Undergraduate @ Carnegie Mellon Univ.
I am an undergraduate student at CMU studying cognitive neuroscience. I am interested in studying the interactions between brain and behavior for individuals with developmental disorders. Outside of the classroom, I am a member of the CMU varsity swim team, a first-year orientation leader, and a peer tutor for the student academic success center. In my free time I enjoy crocheting, playing with my dogs, and spending time outdoors.
Anjuli Niyogi, Undergraduate @ UC Berkeley
I am an undergraduate research assistant at UC Berkeley studying Cognitive Science and Computer Science. I'm particularly interested in leveraging computational modeling to investigate the mechanisms involved in how we covertly manipulate information to produce motor behavior. I am currently studying the formation of explicit strategies in motor skill acquisition. Outside research, I enjoy baking, reading, and exploring the Bay Area’s restaurant scene.
Graham Haedrich, Undergraduate @ Univ. of Waterloo
I am an undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo studying Mechatronics Engineering. I enjoy hands-on work, having previously completed four engineering internships. With regards to neuroscience, my interests lie in the process of thinking, and how people acquire new information. I enjoy reading, and rowing when the weather is nice.
Feline Friends
Kiki, Lab Meow-nager
Kiki reminds us to embrace curiosity and find moments of happiness amidst our scientific endeavors.
Former Mentees
Yifei Chen, UC Berkeley, 2022-2023
Undergraduate honor’s thesis student in Cognitive Science
Explicit re-aiming in response to scalar feedback.
Next stop: Psychology Ph.D. Student @ Princeton Univ.
Carolyn Irving, UC Berkeley, 2020-2023
Post-baccalaureate student in the Department of Psychology
Signatures of contextual interference in implicit sensorimotor adaptation.
Next stop: Neuroscience Ph.D. Student @ UC Berkeley
Anisha Chandy, UC Berkeley, 2021-2023
Undergraduate honors thesis student in the Department of Molecular Biology
Next stop: Media, Medicine, and Health M.S. @ Harvard Medical School
Ines Sebti, University of Cambridge, 2022-2023
Masters student in Cognitive Neuroscience
Exploring semantic-gestural associations with ecological training and markerless tracking.
Next stop: Neuroscience Lead @ Brain Health
Joseph Kelly, UC Berkeley, 2022-2023
Post-baccalaureate student in the Department of Psychology
The effect of cerebellar degeneration on explicit sensorimotor strategies.
Next stop: Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Student @ Northwestern Univ.
Tara Najafi, UC Berkeley, 2020-2023
Undergraduate honors thesis student in the Department of Molecular Biology
Implicit sensorimotor adaptation is preserved in Parkinson's disease.
Next stop: Medical School Student @ Univ. of Miami
Mihai Cipleu, UC Berkeley, 2021-2023
Undergraduate honors thesis student in the Department of Psychology
The effect of low vision on explicit re-aiming during sensorimotor adaptation.
Next stop: Medical Assistant @ Pediatric Associates
Sheer Karny, UC Berkeley, 2021-2022
Undergraduate honors thesis student in Cognitive Science
Differential effects of aging on implicit and explicit processes supporting sensorimotor adaptation.
Next stop: Junior Lab Specialist @ UC Irvine
Lauren Schuck, UC Berkeley, 2021-2022
Undergraduate SURF scholar in the Department of Psychology
Cerebellar degeneration impairs strategy discovery but not strategy recall.
Next stop: Clinical Research Coordinator @ Icahn School of Medicine
Heran Yosif, University of Delaware, 2021-2022
Post-baccalaureate student in the Department of Physical Therapy
The detrimental effect of stroke on sensorimotor adaptation.
Next stop: Medical Student @ Thomas Jefferson University
Joie Tang, University of Delaware, 2021-2022
Post-baccalaureate student in the Department of Physical Therapy
The detrimental effect of stroke on sensorimotor adaptation.
Next stop: Doctor of Physical Therapy Student @ Univ. of Delaware
Kristel Cosio, UC Berkeley, 2021-2021
Summer scholar from the NIH Bridges to Baccalaureate program
The effect of target location on implicit sensorimotor adaptation.
Next stop: District Intern @ U.S. House of Representatives
Faiven Amare, UC Berkeley, 2021-2021
Summer scholar from the NIH Bridges to Baccalaureate program
The effect of target location on implicit sensorimotor adaptation.
Phoebe Lo, UC Berkeley, 2020-2021
Optometry doctoral student in the Department of Optometry and Vision Science
Low vision impairs implicit sensorimotor adaptation in small but not large errors.
Next stop: Associate Optometrist @ Coachella Valley Optometry
Steven Tan, UC Berkeley, 2020-2021
Optometry doctoral student in the Department of Optometry and Vision Science
Low vision impairs implicit sensorimotor adaptation in small but not large errors.
Next stop: Optometrist @ Bellevue Eye Specialists
Arohi Saxena, UC Berkeley, 2019-2020
Post-baccalaureate student in the Department of Psychology
The benefits of immersive virtual reality on cognition and sensorimotor control.
Next stop: Medical Student @ Washington Univ. at St. Louis
Jiaying Xu, UC Berkeley, 2019-2020
Post-baccalaureate student in the Department of Psychology
The role of attention on implicit sensorimotor learning.
Next stop: Research Assistant @ Salk Institute
Alan Lee, UC Berkeley, 2018-2020
Undergraduate student in the Department of Computer Science
Moving outside the lab: the viability of assessing sensorimotor learning online.
Next stop: Software Engineer @ Google
Cindy Lin, UC Berkeley, 2018-2019
Undergraduate student in the Department of Computer Science
The effect of visual uncertainty on implicit sensorimotor adaptation.
Next stop: Masters in Data Scientist @ Harvard Univ.
Noah Bussell, UC Berkeley, 2018-2019
Undergraduate student in the Department of Chemical Engineering
The effect of visual uncertainty on implicit sensorimotor adaptation.
Next stop: Chemistry Ph.D. Student @ Columbia Univ.