Jiayin Zhang

University of California, Santa Barbara

jiayin.jpg

Santa Barbara, USA

Hi! I am Jiayin Zhang (章佳茵), a PhD student supervised by Prof. Dan Montello at the Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara. My research interests include Cognitive & Behavioral Geography, Environmental Psychology & Neuroscience, Emotional Geography, and Urban Studies.

I am particularly interested in human-centered spatial analysis and the dynamics of changing urban environments. My current exploration in cognitive and behavioral geography is structured around three dimensions:

1) Perceptual & Emotional Level (sensory access, affect): Investigating how sensory experiences and emotions are shaped by different and redeveloping geographic environments, using diverse spatial visual materials such as street view imagery, social media photos, and self-directed photography.

2) Cognitive Processing & Learning (attention, knowledge, memorability): Examining changes in people’s spatial cognition within communities undergoing urban redevelopment, through methods such as cognitive mapping and enhanced cognitive interviews.

3) Behavioral & Social Interaction (behavioral affordance, sociality): Analyzing how various spatial elements and visual forms influence walking and social behaviors, using tools such as psychophysiological measurements and virtual reality.

In addition to spatial analysis methods in geography, I actively integrate research approaches from psychology and neuroscience—such as eye-tracking, EEG, and EDA—to better understand human cognition and emotion, which continue to guide the direction of my research.

selected publications

2025

  1. 2025 Adaptation of Chinese traditional villages from the perspective of locality preservation.jpg
    Adaptation of Chinese traditional villages from the perspective of locality preservation
    Pengcheng Xue, Jiayin Zhang, Fang Wang*, and 1 more author
    Indoor and built Environment, 2025

2024

  1. 2024 Constructing an ideal home_Affective atmosphere creation as a public participation strategy for urban village renovation.jpg
    Constructing an ideal home: Affective atmosphere creation as a public participation strategy for urban village renovation
    Min Wang(Supervisor), Jiayin Zhang*, Haixiang Zou, and 2 more authors
    Cities, 2024
  2. 2024 The urban aesthetics of graffiti murals_reproducing wall space in China’s urban renewal.jpg
    The urban aesthetics of graffiti murals: reproducing wall space in China’s urban renewal
    Jiayin Zhang, Huilin Deng, Mingliang Lin, and 1 more author
    Visual Communication, 2024
  3. 2024 Assessing impacts of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on global air transportation_From the view of mass flight trajectories.png
    Impacts of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict on Global Air Transportation: from the View of Mass Flight Trajectories
    Chen Chu, Hengcai Zhang*, Jiayin Zhang, and 1 more author
    Journal of Air Transport Management, 2024

2023

  1. 2023 Scale transformation of place brands_a visual study of Xinhepu, Guangzhou.jpg
    Scale transformation of place brands: A visual study of Xinhepu, Guangzhou
    Jiayin Zhang, Mingliang Lin, Min Wang*, and 1 more author
    Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 2023
  2. 2023 How to achieve a balance between functional improvement and heritage conservation_A case study on the renewal of old Beijing city.jpg
    How to achieve a balance between functional improvement and heritage conservation? A case study on the renewal of old Beijing city
    Shunyi Wang, Jiayin Zhang, Fang Wang*, and 1 more author
    Sustainable Cities and Society, 2023
  3. 2023 The Everyday Chinese Framing of Africa A Perspective of Tourism-geopolitical Encounter.jpg
    The everyday Chinese framing of Africa: A perspective of tourism-geopolitical encounter
    Ning An(Supervisor), Jiayin Zhang, and Min Wang*
    Geopolitics, 2023

Awards

Dec 1, 2022 2022 Liao Kaiyuan Scholarship of Peking University (Top 10%)
Nov 1, 2022 2022 Merit Student of Peking University
Oct 1, 2022 2022 Outstanding Student Assistant of Peking University Convention Center
Dec 1, 2021 2021 Top Ten Liru Scholars of South China Normal University (10 out of all 7000+)
Nov 1, 2021 2021 Outstanding Graduate of South China Normal University (Top 1.5%)
Dec 1, 2019 2019 National Scholarship (Top 0.5%)
Jun 1, 2019 2019 Innovation Scholarship of South China Normal University
May 1, 2019 2018-2021 First-Class Scholarship for Outstanding Students of South China Normal University (Top 3%, for four consecutive years)

Blogs