Empowering teams to navigate meetings with greater cognitive awareness, enabling smarter thinking and more scientific action in collaborative environments.
Yingting CHEN
Hi, I’m Yingting—welcome to my website! I’m a research scientist focused on understanding the cognitive processes behind meetings to help teams collaborate more effectively through self-facilitation. My work bridges cognitive psychology and organizational behavior, turning theory into practical tools and guidelines that improve group dynamics and decision-making. I’m passionate about making meetings more meaningful, inclusive, and productive—both in academic settings and real-world organizations.
About Me.
I earned my Ph.D. and Master’s degrees from The University of Tokyo, where I researched cognitive facilitation for complex problem-solving. I also spent time at the University of British Columbia studying human-computer interaction. My academic journey began with a Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering and Engineering Management from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Before transitioning into research, I worked as a Senior Consultant at IBM Global Business Services in Hong Kong. I’m currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at The University of Tokyo, where I study how mindfulness can improve meeting effectiveness.
Education
2018 - 2024
The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
PhD in Systems Innovation (2020 - 2024), Masters in Systems Innovation (2018 - 2020)
Research Topic: Cognitive facilitation for Complex Problem Solving (CPS) Discussion
2022
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Position: Visiting PhD Student Researcher
Field: Human Computer Interaction​
2011 - 2015
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Degree: Bachelor of Engineering in Systems Engineering and Engineering Management
Employment
2025 - 2028
University of Tsukuba, Japan
Assistant Professor
College of Knowledge and Library Sciences, School of Informatics
2024 - 2025
The University of Tokyo, Japan
Project Researcher
Department of Systems Innovation, School of Engineering
2015 - 2018
IBM Consulting, Hong Kong
Senior Consultant
Research
My research explores how teams think, collaborate, and grow—especially when tackling complex problems. I focus on three interconnected areas: understanding team dynamics, evaluating interaction quality, and creating tools that support more effective collaboration.
Understanding Teams
Investigating how problem complexity, individual thought processes, and trust shape team dynamics.
Evaluating Teamwork
Developing ways to analyze discussion content and delivery to assess collaboration quality.
Creating Interventions
Designing and refining both analog and digital tools that support more effective teamwork.