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Kumiko Nakajima

@kumikonakajima

Cognitive Science researcher at the intersection of neuroscience and AI, published a human-based creativity benchmark for large language models.

Netherlands

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What I'm looking for

I’m looking for collaborative, creative, project-based work where I can combine behavioral and neuroscience insights with data-driven methods to build and evaluate human-centered, values-aligned systems, particularly those that support creativity and human-to-human understanding.

At the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) - University of Amsterdam, I designed a theory-driven linguistic creativity benchmark for large language models and analyzed 15 state-of-the-art LLMs. My first-author paper was published in the findings of EACL 2026.

At CIMeC UniTrento, I investigated how people navigate internal knowledge structures by relating eye-tracking behavior to measures derived from language-model embedding spaces. Earlier, at Stanford University, I developed a Python data pipeline to study problem-solving and learning dynamics from gameplay logs.

I also bring neuroscience into creative and practical settings. For the Becoming Red Dust project, I provide insights on the nervous system, empathy, and affective states to inform its design; at IMI - International Mediation Institute, I contribute to research and guidelines for responsible generative AI in mediation and arbitration.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Mediation x AI Intern

Current

IMI - International Mediation Institute

Aug 2026 - Present (3 months)

- Research the regulatory landscape (AI Act) and technical safety approaches for the trustworthy and responsible use of generative AI in arbitration and mediation.
- Coordinate with lawyers and mediators to collect generative AI use cases.
- Contribute to drafting the guidelines and organising seminars for practitioners.

Computational Cognitive Science Research Intern

CIMeC UniTrento

Nov 2025 - Aug 2026 (9 months)

"ConFlex: bridging cognitive neuroscience and NLP: mapping dimensionality reduction in knowledge organization" with Dr. Giulia Cristoforetti and Dr. Roberto Bottini

- Investigate the relationship between navigating internal knowledge structure and eye-tracking behaviour by constructing measures from high-dimensional embedding spaces of language models

LLM Research Intern

Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) - University of A

Feb 2025 - Feb 2026 (1 year)

Project “Beyond Divergent Creativity: A Human-Based Evaluation of Creativity in Large Language Models” with ML researcher, engineer & installation artist Jan Zuiderveld and researcher Dr. Sandro Pezzelle (Dialogue Modelling Group)

- Designed a theory-driven linguistic creativity benchmark for large language models and conducted a large-scale empirical analysis on 15 state-of-the-art LLMs
- Built

Well-being Research Collaborator

NICT

May 2024 - Jul 2024 (2 months)

- Translated and adapted the emotional BADE (Bias Against Disconfirmatory Evidence) task for the Japanese audience, accounting for cultural context and nuances.
- Coded the experiment using Millisecond Inquisit and conducted pilot experiments
- Work to be published in a related journal

Program Assitant and Cross-Cultural Facilitator

AirPangaea, Inc.

Dec 2022 - Mar 2024 (1 year 3 months)

- Organized 10+ online intercultural learning programs for international students.
- Facilitated small‑group discussions and supported students’ communication and presentations.
- Handled participant communication before and during live sessions and relayed any issues to the core team.
- Translated psychological insights into activities and curricula that achieved over 95% student satisfaction.

Cognitive Data Science Research Intern

Stanford University

Jun 2022 - Aug 2022 (2 months)

Project: ‘Characterizing Learning Progress of Problem-Solvers Using Puzzle-Solving Log Data,’ with Dr. Nicholas Haber in the Autonomous Agents Lab

- Developed a scalable Python data pipeline to analyze large-scale human gameplay logs, enabling quantitative characterization of problem-solving and learning dynamics

Research Fellowship

Indiana University Bloomington

Aug 2020 - Dec 2021 (1 year 4 months)

Independent Project: ‘Semantic Compositionality in Interpretation of Novel Compounds,’ with Dr. Robert Goldstone Goldstone in the Percepts and Concepts Lab

- Studied model estimation and comparison (including Bayesian models) and relevant literature
- Coded the experiment using JavaScript (jsPsych), analyzed data using linear mixed effect models, and visualized the results in R
- Gained experimen

Web Developer

DePauw University

Jan 2020 - Sep 2020 (8 months)

- Implemented a Cognitive Psychology experiment in HTML and JavaScript using jsPsych and posted the experiment online via Prolific
- Set up a server using Amazon Web Service to collect participant data
- Maintenance the server and monitor the usage and availability within the budget

Program Selectee

Emory University Laney Graduate School

May 2020 - Jul 2020 (2 months)

Worked as Program Selectee at Emory University Laney Graduate School.

Researcher in Cognitive Decision Neuroscience Lab

DePauw University

Jan 2019 - May 2020 (1 year 4 months)

2019
- Investigated the neural correlates of decision-making, feedback processing, and cognitive control as related to smartphone addiction
- Recruited participants, ran experiments, preprossed the raw data
- Gained experience in using EEG, ERPs, and Matlab software

2020
- Conducted the independent research investigating the neural correlates of abstraction and creativity using EEG
- Read liter

Web Designer

DePauw University

Jun 2019 - Aug 2019 (2 months)

Created the website using HTML, CSS, Javascript, with data visualization, 360° virtual tours, interactive games to inform the public on the legacy of African American chemist Dr. Percy Julian

Program Selectee

University of Pennsylvania

Jun 2019 - Jun 2019 (0 months)

- Participated in the Undergraduate Summer Workshop in Interdisciplinary Mind and Brain Studies
- Networked, attended special sessions by professionals, and visited various institutions during the two-week summer program for talented undergraduates who have strong interests in the field

Research Assistant in Cognitive Psychology Lab

DePauw University

Aug 2018 - May 2019 (9 months)

- Examined the relationship between eye saccade patterns and memory of paintings
- Conducted experiments with eye-tracking software, analyzed data using advanced statistics and JASP
- Developed a hypothesis and an experimental design for a follow-up study
- Presented research at the APS annual convention in 2019