Ran Ji (Sara)
Hi! I’m Ran Ji (also known as Sara), a Psychology and Cognitive Science major at UC Davis, passionate about child development, early autism detection, and inclusive education. I currently work with the MIND Institute, Grow AI and ASPIRE Program on projects involving neurodiverse populations, including autism and ADHD.
I’m particularly interested in how children understand emotions, attribute intentions to AI and humans, and construct meaning through interaction. I’ve also served as a special education classroom assistant, where I supported neurodiverse learners aged 6 to 21.
Research Interests
- Early autism detection and family-based intervention
- Children's theory of mind and attribution of agency
- AI in education and human-robot interaction
- Social-emotional development in neurodiverse children
- Inclusive curriculum design and special education practices
Selected Projects
-
Do Children Attribute Minds to AI Voices?
An experimental study examining how children interpret emotions and intentions from AI vs. human speech, using behavioral tasks and interview data.
👉 Focus: Attribution bias, emotion recognition, neurotypical vs. autistic children. -
Secret Bases and Child Autonomy
A creative project exploring how children create "secret bases" and how such spaces support their autonomy, imagination, and social connection.
👉 Tools: Drawing tasks, interviews, cultural comparisons. -
Schoolwide Emotion Support System
Developing a comprehensive emotion support model for a 9-year consistent school in Shanghai, integrating teacher training, student space design, and home-school collaboration.
👉 Emphasis: Proactive intervention, emotional regulation, inclusive practices.