Hakwan Lau

Hakwan Lau is a tenured Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he is also a member of the Brain Research Institute. Additionally, he serves as Co-Director of the IBS Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research in South Korea, leading the Systems and Intervention Neuroscience (SIN) group. His work spans consciousness, metacognition, and perceptual reality monitoring, employing advanced neuroimaging and computational techniques.

Education: Born and raised in Hong Kong, Hakwan Lau pursued graduate studies in England. He was previously an Associate Professor at Columbia University in New York before moving to UCLA, where he is now tenured. From 2017-2020, he was primarily based at the University of Hong Kong.

Research Interests: Lau's lab investigates why we have subjective experiences, focusing on visual awareness, spatial attention, and metacognition. They use fMRI, decoded neurofeedback (DecNef), psychophysics, and computational modeling to explore how conscious perception arises and its clinical applications, such as treating phobias and PTSD.

Research Trends: His recent work emphasizes decoded neurofeedback interventions for clinical conditions like phobias and PTSD, metacognitive mechanisms underlying confidence judgments, and neural correlates of subjective experience. The research bridges theoretical neuroscience with practical therapeutic applications, often using innovative techniques like closed-loop fMRI.

Scientific Awards: While specific awards are not listed in the provided text, Lau has mentored 15 former trainees who are now independent PIs, reflecting his significant impact on the field.

Advising and Grants: Lau actively advises numerous PhD students and postdocs across UCLA, the University of Hong Kong, and collaborative institutions. His lab supports projects ranging from AI-driven fMRI analysis to clinical neurofeedback trials.

Labs and Teams: Lau leads the Metacognition and Consciousness Lab at UCLA, now relocated to the RIKEN Center for Brain Science near Tokyo. His team includes researchers from diverse backgrounds, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to consciousness and metacognition.