Jiayin Zhang
University of California, Santa Barbara

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
2024
2023
Awards
Dec 1, 2022 | 2022 Liao Kaiyuan Scholarship of Peking University (Top 10%) |
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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
May 21, 2023 | Speech as the Only Outstanding Graduate Representative at the Graduation Ceremony |
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Mar 1, 2023 | My calligraphy works |
Jul 20, 2019 | Some publicity on the school's public website |