Haotian Ma, Language Sciences: Neuroscience of Language and Speech MSc

Who did you find inspiring at UCL and why?

Friends I made from courses inspired and encouraged me during the hardest time of job hunting.

What is your fondest memory of your time here?

Upon graduation me and my other three closest friends at UCL met in front of the main library. We shared drinks and took a lot of silly but good pictures together. We had known that we probably would not meet at the graduation ceremony, so we celebrated the graduation in our way that night.   

Tell us a bit about the work you're doing now...

I’m working as a research specialist at the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania. I use ML models and depth EEG to study audiovisual integration in human speech perception.

How did your UCL degree help you get to where you are now?

While the degree was a requirement, it was the research experience with my mentor that truly aligned with the demands of my current role. The skills I gained from both my coursework and my mentor were instrumental in securing the job I have now.

What have been your career highlights?

Getting my current job and making progress by small steps.   

What would be your advice for current students?

Enjoy and explore the life you have at the moment would be my first piece of advice. Also, you should keep reaching out bravely and building up strong skills and connections that would lead you to where you want to be.

Find out more about the Language Sciences: Neuroscience of Language and Speech MSc