Engineering & Humanities: Ester Luo '26

Major(s) and minor(s)

B.S. in Computer Science; B.A. in Music

Minor in Music Cognition

Pronouns

She/They

Hometown

Guangzhou, China

Areas of interest/focus in research

Music Perception & Cognition

Summary Statistics & Recency Effect of melody

Melodic expectation

Uniform Information Density in Music

Labs / departments / offsite programs where research was conducted

SoNIC (“Science of Neural, Interpersonal Communication”) lab

Dr.Elise Piazza (PI)/Departments of Brain & Cognitive Sciences and Neuroscience

Dr.Temperley David (Co-PI)/Eastmen School of Music

About me...

Hi! I'm Ester and I'm a rising junior pursuing B.S. in Computer Science and B.A. in Music (Composition Track), minor in Music Cognition. I'm interested in algorithmic composition, computational modeling of music cognition, melody perception & expectation, and harmonic analysis. I joined my current lab at the beginning of my sophomore year, working with postdoc fellow Sarah.

I received a Schwartz Discover Grant in the summer of 2024 to work with Dr. Elise and Dr. Temperley on probing the mechanisms of “gist” processing during naturalistic music perception. We will be collecting further data this fall, as well as conducting further investigations focus on the recency effect.

How has your experience as a researcher influenced your career objectives?

When I first started college, I chose not to dive into research immediately. Like many other computer science students, I explored various internships during my freshman year, such as Game Tester and Research & Development Technology Assistant roles. I saw college as a place brimming with opportunities, where the risk of trying new things and making mistakes is relatively low. So, by the time I reached my sophomore year, I decided to apply to join a research lab to experience what research is all about.

In all honesty, the experiences I’ve had through internships and research couldn’t be more different. During my internships, I gained a lot of practical skills, but they were often tailored to the specific tasks and needs of the company or department I was working for. These skills, while valuable, were primarily designed for that particular role and organization. On the other hand, working in a research lab has been a much broader and more exploratory experience. I’ve encountered a wide range of ideas and perspectives, often from fields far removed from my own.

This exposure has not only expanded my knowledge but also sparked my curiosity. It has driven me to delve deeper into the mechanisms behind the information I encounter, and to think about how I can combine, adapt, and innovate upon it. My time in the lab has shown me the value of research in creating new knowledge, testing ideas, and refining them to fit real-world applications. This experience has significantly influenced my career objectives, leading me to pursue a path where I can continue to explore, innovate, and contribute to the advancement of technology and knowledge.

Campus organizations, programs, activities, clubs, awards/distinctions

  • Music Ensembles: Jazz Band
  • Concert Choir
  • CompSci: CSUG (Computer Science Undergraduate Council)
  • RocLab (UI/UX)
  • TA (2023-2024) Grant/Conference: 12th Annual Conference of PLTLIS (2024)
  • Schwartz Discover Grant (SDG) Scholar (2024)

Fun Fact: when I'm not doing research you can usually find me...

Music Practice Room. Mostly I spend more than 1 hour per day in there.

Library (random one)

Game Lounge maybe (but online only during semester). I love video games, especially strategy, ARPG, deductive reasoning (e.g. Portal 1-2, The Entropy Centre, It Takes Two, Nioh 2, Escape Simulator, We Were Here Series, Ori Series, Return of the Obra Dinn) & board games.

Hammergirl Anime. I love anime as well.

Areas where I may be particularly helpful

Interdisciplinary research in natural sciences and humanities (e.g. how to balance them, how to know which aspect you need to supplement, and feasibility)

Networking and writing applications for new research positions

Academic advice (CS & Music)

Tour of CS & Music department

What advice do you have for prospective or new researchers?

Keeping an open mind and being resilient in the face of doubt and failure can lead to significant growth and discovery. It's also important to manage emotions effectively and maintain open communication with mentors and colleagues, which can provide valuable support and insights.

Email me at: hluo10@u.rochester.edu