When I was in the 9th grade, numbers seemed like a foreign language, abstract, distant, and meaningless. But years later, in university, I took mathematics and statistics in a psychology course. Then I realized that they told stories of human behavior, revealed patterns of thought, and translated emotions into something I could analyze. From that moment, numbers were no longer just symbols; they became tools to reach the hidden architecture of the human mind. Since that time, I have enjoyed doing research.
During my junior year, I collaborated with peers on a study exploring how social media use mediates the relationship between loneliness and academic performance among 247 university students from four institutions, under the guidance of Prof. Doljin Nergui. Our findings showed that social media can temporarily reduce anxiety, but excessive use ultimately harms mental health. We presented our research results at the National University of Mongolia's Department of Sociology and Social Sciences research conference, and then we received a research grant and were also awarded the "Outstanding Research Award." With the support of the research grant, we expanded our sample size, conducted further statistical analyses, and shared our enhanced findings with the funding organization.
In my senior year, I designed and conducted my first independent research project, investigating the causes of social media dependence. My thesis examined the mediating role of fear of missing out (FoMO) in the relationship between psychological needs and social media addiction. I found that 80% of university students were highly dependent on their phones, especially social media. Moreover, students whose psychological needs were met exhibited lower-than-average screen time.
These experiences taught me not only to analyze behavior but also to ask the deeper question: why do people continue harmful repetitive behaviors even though they know the consequences? Seeking an answer, I realized that psychology alone cannot fully explain these behaviors. It provides insight into symptoms and experiences but does not uncover the underlying brain mechanisms that sustain them. Therefore, my interest expanded toward brain and cognitive science, where I could integrate behavioral theories with brain science and computational methods to study addiction from multiple perspectives.
My current research interest focuses on the mechanisms of behavioral addiction, particularly those driven by technology. I aim to uncover how the brain's reward and control systems interact during repetitive behaviors, how these processes evolve over time, and why some individuals are more vulnerable to addiction.
KAIST's Brain and Cognitive Science MS & Ph.D. program offers the perfect environment for me to pursue these questions. Its interdisciplinary curriculum bridges neuroscience, psychology, computation, and engineering, precisely matching my academic trajectory. I am particularly inspired by KAIST's research on neural systems of decision-making, reward processing, and social behavior. These areas resonate with my questions about why repetitive behaviors persist and how the brain adapts during addiction. I am eager to conduct research under Professor Jeong-tae Kwon, whose expertise in psychology and neuroscience aligns with my interests. I hope to contribute to his work while mastering advanced methods such as fMRI, EEG, and computational analysis of neural and behavioral data. Another reason I am drawn to KAIST is its location in Daejeon. Since I grew up in a small, quiet town in Mongolia, I appreciate calm and comfortable environments, and I see Daejeon as a place where I can excel academically and professionally.
My long-term goal is to become a researcher who bridges psychological knowledge with brain science to address pressing challenges like behavioral addiction. I want to contribute to understanding the causes and mechanisms of these conditions and to help develop neuroscience-informed strategies for prevention and treatment. Beyond academic achievement, I am driven by a personal aspiration: to help people live more fulfilling lives, free from the harmful cycles of compulsive behaviors.
Eventually, my journey from psychology to brain science reflects both intellectual curiosity and a commitment to solving real-world problems. My undergraduate research on FoMO and social media addiction gave me a solid foundation in behavioral research. Now, I am ready to expand into interdisciplinary study at KAIST, combining psychology, neuroscience, and computation to investigate behavioral addiction. I believe KAIST's Brain and Cognitive Science program provides the ideal environment to grow as a researcher and make meaningful contributions to human well-being. Thank you for considering my application.
During my junior year, I collaborated with peers on a study exploring how social media use mediates the relationship between loneliness and academic performance among 247 university students from four institutions, under the guidance of Prof. Doljin Nergui. Our findings showed that social media can temporarily reduce anxiety, but excessive use ultimately harms mental health. We presented our research results at the National University of Mongolia's Department of Sociology and Social Sciences research conference, and then we received a research grant and were also awarded the "Outstanding Research Award." With the support of the research grant, we expanded our sample size, conducted further statistical analyses, and shared our enhanced findings with the funding organization.
In my senior year, I designed and conducted my first independent research project, investigating the causes of social media dependence. My thesis examined the mediating role of fear of missing out (FoMO) in the relationship between psychological needs and social media addiction. I found that 80% of university students were highly dependent on their phones, especially social media. Moreover, students whose psychological needs were met exhibited lower-than-average screen time.
These experiences taught me not only to analyze behavior but also to ask the deeper question: why do people continue harmful repetitive behaviors even though they know the consequences? Seeking an answer, I realized that psychology alone cannot fully explain these behaviors. It provides insight into symptoms and experiences but does not uncover the underlying brain mechanisms that sustain them. Therefore, my interest expanded toward brain and cognitive science, where I could integrate behavioral theories with brain science and computational methods to study addiction from multiple perspectives.
My current research interest focuses on the mechanisms of behavioral addiction, particularly those driven by technology. I aim to uncover how the brain's reward and control systems interact during repetitive behaviors, how these processes evolve over time, and why some individuals are more vulnerable to addiction.
KAIST's Brain and Cognitive Science MS & Ph.D. program offers the perfect environment for me to pursue these questions. Its interdisciplinary curriculum bridges neuroscience, psychology, computation, and engineering, precisely matching my academic trajectory. I am particularly inspired by KAIST's research on neural systems of decision-making, reward processing, and social behavior. These areas resonate with my questions about why repetitive behaviors persist and how the brain adapts during addiction. I am eager to conduct research under Professor Jeong-tae Kwon, whose expertise in psychology and neuroscience aligns with my interests. I hope to contribute to his work while mastering advanced methods such as fMRI, EEG, and computational analysis of neural and behavioral data. Another reason I am drawn to KAIST is its location in Daejeon. Since I grew up in a small, quiet town in Mongolia, I appreciate calm and comfortable environments, and I see Daejeon as a place where I can excel academically and professionally.
My long-term goal is to become a researcher who bridges psychological knowledge with brain science to address pressing challenges like behavioral addiction. I want to contribute to understanding the causes and mechanisms of these conditions and to help develop neuroscience-informed strategies for prevention and treatment. Beyond academic achievement, I am driven by a personal aspiration: to help people live more fulfilling lives, free from the harmful cycles of compulsive behaviors.
Eventually, my journey from psychology to brain science reflects both intellectual curiosity and a commitment to solving real-world problems. My undergraduate research on FoMO and social media addiction gave me a solid foundation in behavioral research. Now, I am ready to expand into interdisciplinary study at KAIST, combining psychology, neuroscience, and computation to investigate behavioral addiction. I believe KAIST's Brain and Cognitive Science program provides the ideal environment to grow as a researcher and make meaningful contributions to human well-being. Thank you for considering my application.
