Hi there!
As a researcher and avid gamer, I’m driven by the same core passions: mastery, problem-solving, and discovery. Whether in my studies or while gaming, I seek out challenges that allow me to improve, adapt, and uncover hidden depth. My love for gaming is rooted in my desire to constantly learn and grow, which is why I approach games with a researcher’s mindset, looking for ways to refine my strategies, push my limits, and immerse myself in complex, engaging worlds.
Who Am I as a Gamer?
While I like to say that I’m willing to try anything, it’s clear that my main motivations as a gamer are mastery, problem-solving, discovery, and largely completionism, meaning I’m drawn to games that challenge me to improve, experiment with strategies, and uncover every secret.
I love games that test my skills and reward persistence, like Hollow Knight and Death’s Door. I also enjoy deep, strategic experiences like Civilization VI, where long-term planning and adaptability are key. At the same time, I appreciate narrative-driven and exploratory titles like Baldurs Gate 3 and The Last Campfire, which invite curiosity and creativity through experimentation and thoughtful decision-making. Whether it’s refining my combat abilities in Elden Ring, optimizing routines in Stardew Valley, or immersing myself in the ever-evolving world of RuneScape, I seek out games that push me to think, adapt, and grow.
How Research and Gaming Influence My Perspective
My background in cognitive science, psychology, game design, and UX research shapes how I think about games—not just as entertainment, but as systems for learning, decision-making, and engagement. Just as my research explores how people learn and consolidate skills, I am fascinated by how games guide players toward mastery, create engaging challenges, and balance difficulty in ways that feel rewarding rather than frustrating.
I’m particularly interested in how learning, motivation, and perception influence player experience. Games like Elden Ring and Hollow Knight teach players through environmental storytelling and implicit learning, reinforcing skills through careful level design. Strategy games like Civilization VI push players to think critically, manage resources, and plan ahead. By combining insights from research with my love for games, I aim to help studios create experiences that not only entertain but also challenge, engage, and inspire players in meaningful ways.
Future Career Goals
My goal is to transition into the gaming industry, where I can apply my expertise in learning, cognitive science, and user experience research to help design games that are engaging, motivating, and cognitively enriching. I want to contribute to experiences that challenge players in meaningful ways while keeping them immersed and invested.
With my background in perception, attention, and memory consolidation, I am particularly interested in how games can optimize learning, decision-making, and problem-solving. I want to explore how mechanics can be fine-tuned to enhance skill acquisition, how difficulty balancing can keep players engaged without frustration, and how motivation science can inform progression systems that feel rewarding, to players that have varying ‘motivation profiles’.
Additionally, I care deeply about individual differences in cognition. I hope to contribute to accessibility and adaptive game design, ensuring that games support a wide range of players by accommodating different playstyles, motivations, cognitive strengths, and strategic approaches. Whether it’s through iterative playtesting, behavioral analysis, or fine-tuning mechanics for better player engagement, I aim to help studios craft experiences that are not just entertaining, but also impactful—helping players grow and engage deeply with the worlds they explore.
