NIL welcomes prospective master’s and doctoral students who are interested in interdisciplinary research on cognition, image, aesthetics, artificial intelligence, and human-computer interaction. Students planning to apply for 2026 or 2027 fall admission are encouraged to contact us in advance.

NIL focuses on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of image, brain, and aesthetics. Combining cognitive neuroscience, image science, neuroaesthetics, artificial intelligence, and human-computer interaction, the Laboratory investigates how humans perceive, understand, and aesthetically experience images, and how multimodal information is dynamically integrated across time and space.

The research group is jointly guided by Prof. Ernst Pöppel, an internationally recognized psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist, and Prof. Yan Bao, whose research has long focused on time perception, spatial attention, neuroaesthetics, and related areas. With the participation of young scholars and visiting researchers, the team provides an international and interdisciplinary environment for student training.

Research Directions

Prospective students may be involved in research related to:

• Cognitive neuroscience
• Neuroaesthetics
• Image perception and image science
• Time perception and spatial attention
• Multimodal cognition
• Artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction
• Eye tracking and behavioral experiments
• Cross-cultural cognition and aesthetic experience

Who Should Apply

We welcome applicants from psychology, biology, neuroscience, computer science, artificial intelligence, linguistics, art, design, philosophy, and other related fields. Cross-disciplinary applicants are encouraged.

Applicants are expected to have:

• Strong interest in cognitive neuroscience, image research, AI, or human-computer interaction
• Good English proficiency
• Research motivation and academic initiative
• Basic programming, data analysis, or research training experience, if available

Training and Development

NIL values long-term research training and academic development. Students will be encouraged and supported to participate in research projects, academic writing, conference presentations, domestic and international collaboration, and academic exchange. The Laboratory also supports students in developing methodological skills in experimental design, data analysis, scientific writing, and interdisciplinary communication.

Admission Note

Formal admission, enrollment, and degree requirements are subject to SISU’s official admission policies and the requirements of the relevant school or graduate program.

Contact

Interested students may send a CV and relevant materials to nil@shisu.edu.cn.

Suggested email subject: Name + Application Type + Expected Year of Admission. For example: Zhang San + Master’s Applicant + Fall 2026.