Bin Gou
Doctor of Philosophy candidate
How does the brain coordinate natural conversation? That’s the interesting topic Bin Gou is exploring for her PhD.
“Everyday conversation depends on precise timing. We take turns within a fraction of a second, which is far too fast for the brain to simply wait and react. Instead, it constantly predicts what the other person will say and when they will finish. Yet despite how ordinary this is, how the brain coordinates it remains poorly understood. My research uses EEG to study this prediction during real conversation, including a setting where people talk with an AI system whose responses I can carefully adjust. My aim is to understand how the brain makes real-time conversation possible, and to study it with technology portable enough to move beyond the laboratory.”
With a background as a neurologist, Bin says she chose this topic because conversation is at the heart of what makes us human.
“I trained as a neurologist in China and later worked in a neurophysiology lab, carrying out electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) examinations. Reading the brain's electrical activity every day, I kept coming back to a thought that has stayed with me since high school, that the most fascinating thing in the world is the brain studying itself. I became increasingly drawn to how neural networks support our most advanced functions, such as language, emotion and behaviour, and how these processes change in neurological disease.
“When I started looking into doing a PhD, I only had a broad sense of the direction I wanted to follow, an interest in how the brain processes language. What I really wanted was someone established in that area whom I could learn from. Professor Paul Sowman stood out. He brings many years of experience in neuroimaging and the study of higher cognitive function, and his enthusiasm for the field came through from our very first contact. My second supervisor, Associate Professor Mangor Pedersen, works across neuroimaging and artificial intelligence, which fits my project perfectly. Between them I felt I would have support across every side of my work, from the neuroscience to the AI, in a lab with the equipment to make this kind of research possible. That is what drew me to AUT.”
Opening new doors
Bin says her studies so far have already opened opportunities she hadn’t expected.
“Coming from a clinical background, there’s a lot I didn't expect to take on, and AUT has given me the chance to do so. I’ve been closely involved in building our EEG setup, working hands-on with the equipment with a great deal of support from my supervisors. As a former clinician rather than an engineer, I found the whole process fascinating. I’ve also moved well beyond neuroscience into machine learning and AI, learning to work with language models and build my own analysis pipelines. On top of that, I’ve had the chance to teach far earlier than I expected, and to shape my own research direction rather than simply being handed a project. Being trusted with all of this, and supported while I learned, has been one of the biggest surprises of my time here.”
The people have meant the most to her, she adds.
“From my very first days on campus, the staff and the other PhD students were so welcoming and supportive that I settled in quickly and never felt like an outsider. On the research side, Paul and Mangor have been exactly the supervisors I hoped for. They give solid support across every part of my project, while also leaving me the freedom to explore the field in my own way. That balance of guidance and independence has been one of the best parts of my experience here. This past semester I also took on some teaching work, which helped me develop my teaching and presentation skills, and introduced me to many wonderful staff members. When I gave my PGR9 presentation, so many of the people I had met turned up to support me, both in person and online, and I was genuinely moved by it. That sense of community is what I‘ve enjoyed most about studying at AUT.”
Advice for other students
Bin – who expects to complete her PhD in 2028, supported by a Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences Doctoral Fee Scholarship – has some great advice for other students who are thinking about doctoral study.
“My advice would be to hold on to the reason you started. A PhD is a long journey with plenty of ups and downs, and it is easy to lose sight of what first drew you to your subject, so remembering that keeps you motivated. At the same time, stay grounded and take things one step at a time. Big ambitions are built on steady, everyday work, and progress comes from doing the small things well.”
She wouldn’t hesitate to recommend AUT to others.
“AUT is a vibrant place with a friendly atmosphere for both study and work, where people genuinely support one another. Just as importantly, the supervisors are dedicated and truly invested in their students, which makes a real difference to your research journey. For anyone considering a PhD, having that combination of a welcoming environment and committed supervision is exactly what you want.”
