Yan (Stella) is a PhD student at Boston University’s Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, where she researches at the intersection of cognitive science and AI.

Her work focuses on human decision making—building large-scale decision-making datasets, developing computational models, and exploring the technical foundations of AI systems, including large language models and interpretable neural networks.

Outside the lab, Stella is an active builder. She launches new products weekly, aiming to create tools that make a meaningful impact. She’s especially interested in AI automation and vertical AI agents—systems designed to take over repetitive, mundane tasks and supercharge productivity in work and life.