Elizabeth Ortega ’27
My passion for cognitive science began in my sophomore year of high school when I realized how much I loved exploring diverse fields. From robotics to Ethics Bowl to mental health advocacy, I thrived in interdisciplinary spaces that challenged me to think critically and approach problems from multiple perspectives. Cognitive science, with its blend of psychology, linguistics, computer science, and philosophy, felt like the perfect academic home for my curiosity.
After matching to Pomona College through the QuestBridge National College Match, I was immediately drawn to the vibrant, supportive community. Knowing that cognitive science was my calling, I started taking major-related courses right away—beginning with Introduction to Cognitive Science with Professor Abrams. This course was fascinating. We explored foundational theories and experiments, and for my final project, I conducted my research, analyzing whether bilingual participants would experience greater Stroop interference (slower color-naming response times) when switching between Spanish and English. This project sparked my interest in the cognitive mechanisms behind decision-making and language processing.
Another standout experience was Animal Cognition with Professor Bar-Sever, a seminar-style class where I connected with incredible peers in the Linguistics & Cognitive Science (LGCS) Department. My research in this class focused on fairness perception in primates—investigating how cooperation among monkeys is influenced by their sensitivity to justice and the incentives tied to fair versus unfair scenarios.
As some cognitive science students gravitate toward linguistics, I also explored this path by taking Introduction to Linguistics and Phonology with Professor Toni Cook and Corpus Linguistics with Professor Bar-Sever. These courses expanded my understanding of language structure and data-driven linguistic analysis, adding a new dimension to my cognitive science studies.
One of the most rewarding aspects of studying cognitive science at Pomona is the ability to shape the major around personal interests. Students can propose their concentration, which allows for a highly customized academic journey. After taking a Human-Centered Design course at The Hive, everything clicked for me—I knew I wanted to focus on usability, human-centered design, and human-computer interaction. This led me to propose a concentration called Human-Centered Systems and Usability Engineering, integrating coursework in psychology, design, computer science, and environmental analysis.
Beyond coursework, I also serve as a liaison for the LGCS department, where I help foster connections between students and faculty. This role has allowed me to engage more deeply with the department, support my peers, and contribute to events that bring our community together. Cognitive science at Pomona has allowed me to explore a limitless range of topics while staying rooted in hands-on learning and interdisciplinary thinking. Whether studying perception, language, or design, I love how this major allows me to bridge the gap between research and real-world applications.
Emma Constable ’26
I was first introduced to cognitive science through my first-year critical inquiry seminar, “Why We Remember What We Remember.” While I had always been fascinated by memory, I was amazed by the depth of existing research on such compelling topics as false memories, memory disorders, and the reminiscence bump—the period when people recall the most memories. One day, we analyzed Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time, in which the narrator eats a madeleine dipped in lime blossom tea and is transported back to his childhood. Proust’s mental time travel resonated with me deeply, as music has always been a powerful trigger for my own nostalgia and recollections of the past. For me, this class not only inspired a deep interest in sensory evoked autobiographical memories, but also illuminated the intersection of cognition, emotion, and personal experience, setting me on the path to studying cognitive science in greater depth.
The department’s foundational course, Introduction to Cognitive Science, opened my eyes to the many fields of cognition and its implications, from neuroscience to philosophy to AI. While I was especially drawn to language and memory, I was excited to discover that I could combine these interests with my lifelong passion for music and art. Beginning with an Evolution of Language and Music course, which examined the historical and neurological underpinnings of musical behavior, I began taking courses in cognition and the arts to gain insight into the cognitive mechanisms behind creativity and expression. This led me to design a concentration in music cognition, blending my love for music with my academic curiosity about memory, emotion, and embodied cognition.
Majoring in cognitive science has also given me opportunities to conduct impactful research. At the end of my first year, I joined Dr. Lise Abrams’s Psycholinguistic Research in Memory Lab, where I contributed data coding on a study investigating the role of hand gestures in speech. I also spent that summer delving into experimental design, data collection, and analysis for a study on face naming and tip-of-the-tongue states, which enabled me to build on the methodological skills I gained from my classes. The intellectual curiosity and mentorship I’ve gained through the lab has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my academic journey at Pomona. I even got to present my research at the Psychonomic Society’s annual meeting in October 2023, where I met the lead author of a paper we studied in my Language and Social Justice class.
While I once envisioned myself pursuing academia, my interests gradually shifted toward user experience research and product design, particularly in creative and media-related spaces. My research experience has been instrumental in this transition as I apply a similar analytical approach to understanding user behavior and designing more intuitive digital experiences, and I am incredibly grateful for how the cognitive science major has allowed me to combine my interests in research, design, and artistic expression into a cohesive career path. I strongly believe that one of the major’s greatest strengths is how customizable it is: its interdisciplinary nature encourages students to shape their own paths while equipping them with a strong foundation in critical thinking and research.