Yat Tin Chan is a first-year graduate student in the Developmental Psychology master's program at Cornell University. His research interests primarily focus on understanding depression, trauma-related psychopathology, and emotional resilience, emphasizing the integration of philosophical insights, particularly existentialist perspectives, into clinical psychology. He also has a keen interest in information technology (especially artificial intelligence) and aims to leverage philosophy, AI, and psychology in an interdisciplinary approach to psychological research. Ultimately, Yat Tin aspires to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology to develop effective interventions that meaningfully improve people's lives.

Before transitioning to psychology, Yat Tin earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Hong Kong. His personal journey through depression and trauma profoundly influenced his decision to shift fields, motivating him to deeply explore the mechanisms underlying emotional suffering and recovery. Previously, he conducted a systematic review examining protective factors mitigating the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adulthood obesity. He also gained valuable research experience at the University of Tokyo, investigating sleep disorders, emotional regulation, and trauma-related psychopathology.

Born in Hong Kong and shaped by years in mainland China, Japan, and now the United States, Yat Tin treats multicultural experience as a wellspring of insight, empathy, and methodological creativity. He is committed to rigorous, open science and to interdisciplinary collaboration that combines compassionate philosophy with cutting-edge technology, always aiming to translate deep understanding into tangible, human-centered outcomes.

Degree: B.Sc., Physics, The University of Hong Kong

M.A. Developmental Psychology, Cornell University, expected 2026

Curriculum Vitae