Junyuan Zhao, a third-year PhD candidate in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Michigan, brings an international perspective and a passion for understanding the cognitive principles underlying language comprehension. Born in Shanghai, China, Junyuan grew up in a multilingual environment where the interplay of Wu dialects and Mandarin fueled his early fascination with language.
Junyuan’s academic journey began with a degree in Chinese Language and Literature, where he was inspired by Descartes' philosophical approach to science. His interest in the cognitive underpinnings of language deepened during his time at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, where he worked with Dr. Andrea E. Martin’s team. The collaborative and interdisciplinary atmosphere of the group solidified his decision to pursue graduate studies in linguistics.
At U-M, Junyuan works under the mentorship of Professor Jonathan Brennan, a leading researcher in the cognitive neuroscience of syntax. Junyuan’s research focuses on how the brain processes and comprehends hierarchical language structures, exploring how minimal computational components enable us to understand novel structures effortlessly. Junyuan emphasizes that while artificial intelligence continues to make strides, uncovering how the brain processes language is essential to advancing our understanding of human cognition.
Junyuan’s academic milestones include receiving the Rackham Humanities Research Fellowship and publishing his master’s thesis in Scientific Reports. His qualifying research project, investigating neural representations of phrases, is currently under review at the Journal of Neuroscience.
Outside the lab, Junyuan enjoys cooking, playing tennis, and performing traditional Chinese music. As the director and conductor of the Qingyun Chinese Music Ensemble, he actively shares his cultural heritage with the U-M community.
Looking ahead, Junyuan plans to pursue postdoctoral research in a group that combines cutting-edge techniques with theoretical insights. Ultimately, he hopes to contribute to academia in China, bringing state-of-the-art linguistic research to his home country.
