Laurena Chen

I am a cognitive science student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where I am pursuing my bachelor's degree with a 3.96 GPA, Dean's Honors, and minors in Computer Science and Linguistics. My academic journey is driven by a deep fascination with the intersection of human cognition, artificial intelligence, and technology, and I am actively building experience across research, product development, and entrepreneurship.

I currently serve as an Intern at BrandCapsule, where I contribute to go-to-market strategy, marketing, and product engineering, gaining hands-on experience in bringing innovative products to market. I also work as a Research Assistant in the Neuromorphic Computing Group, where I focus on Spiking Neural Networks, exploring brain-inspired computing paradigms that push the boundaries of artificial intelligence. I am a COSMOS Cluster Fellow with The California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science, where I continue my research in brain-inspired machine learning. I also served as a VCIC Team Member with the Venture Capital Investment Competition, where I gained exposure to venture capital and startup investment evaluation.

Earlier in my academic career, I served as an AIEA Lab Auditor at the AI Explainability and Accountability Lab at UCSC, where I researched autonomous vehicle performance and contributed to projects focused on making AI systems more transparent and accountable.

I am a proud graduate of Oakwood School in Morgan Hill, California, where I was actively involved in Girls Who Code and varsity tennis, building a foundation in technology and teamwork that continues to shape my academic and professional journey.

Across my work in research, product development, and AI ethics, I am driven by a passion for understanding how intelligent systems work and how they can be designed to serve humanity responsibly. Whether I am researching neuromorphic computing, contributing to product strategy, or exploring AI accountability, I bring curiosity, rigor, and a commitment to building a future where technology and human cognition work together to solve complex challenges. I am excited to continue learning, building, and contributing to the fields of cognitive science and artificial intelligence as I prepare for the next stage of my career.