Miranda (Hao) Li is a rising sophomore at Stanford University pursuing a B.S. in Mathematics and a B.A. in Theater & Performance Studies. She is interested in applying computational modeling and statistical methods to study how structured systems shape human cognition.
This summer, she will be working with Professor Judith Fan and PhD student Matthew Caren in the Cognitive Tools Lab to investigate how people acquire the ability to interpret poetry, with a particular focus on form and meter. Using data analysis and modeling, the project aims to formalize how poetry maps onto semantic and aesthetic interpretation across readers of different expertise levels. By that, she hopes to advance a more evidence-based understanding of literary learning and to improve accessibility in language arts education.
Beyond research, Miranda is involved in the Stanford Shakespeare Company, where she explores the beauty and expressive power of Shakespearean language through performance.
