Dr. Brenden Lake

Associate Professor

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Biography

Brenden M. Lake is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Princeton University. His research interests lie at the intersection of cognitive psychology and computer science, particularly focusing on understanding human cognition and developing machine intelligence. Lake explores key aspects of human cognitive abilities that current AI systems struggle to emulate. His work delves into areas such as few-shot learning, meta-learning, and neuro-symbolic modeling, aiming to reverse-engineer human cognitive processes to develop robust AI systems. He has contributed significantly to the understanding of inductive biases in AI and demonstrated how integrating these biases can enhance the performance of machine learning systems. Through teaching various courses at Princeton, Lake inspires students to explore the nuances of computational models of cognition. His prolific publication record includes notable articles in prestigious journals, addressing concepts related to cognitive science and artificial intelligence. Lake's research is aimed at uncovering what makes human intelligence unique, with an ambition to push forward both psychology and computer science.

Research Interests

Courses

COS 360 / PSY 360 Computational Models Cognition PSYCH-GA 3405.004 / DS-GS 1016: Computational cognitive modeling PSYCH-GA 2207: Categories Concepts PSYCH-UA 46: Lab in Cognition Perception PSYCH-GA 3405.001 / DS-GA 3001.014: Advancing AI cognitive science

Requirements for Princeton University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
GRE General
TOEFL
Speaking
Required:27
IELTS
Speaking
Required:8
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in engineering or science Strong background in mathematics, materials, physics, or related engineering
Application Checklist
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
  • Personal Statement
  • Resume/CV
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • Application Fee
Specialization Notes

GRE scores are not accepted. Ph.D. is the primary degree; students are not required to hold an M.S.E. prior to admission.