Dr. Marieke Woensdregt

Biography

I am a computational cognitive scientist researching the interplay of language, inference, social cognition, and social interaction. My research focuses on how language use relies on flexible inferencing skills, such as combining linguistic knowledge with background knowledge to infer the meaning of novel words like 'mask-shaming.' Additionally, I investigate socio-cognitive skills, including the theory of mind, which allows individuals to interpret what someone says within the context of previous conversations. I also explore interactional skills, such as the ability to ask for clarification. My work employs computational modeling to tackle challenging questions about the capacities involved in language use and the interplay of these various cognitive processes. I lead a research group in Computational Cognitive Science, where our work aims to develop explanations for social reasoning and social interaction that enable fast and flexible language use.

Research Interests