Kangyi Peng holds a Master's degree in Psychology from New York University and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Washington. Her research interests lie at the intersection of clinical psychology, neuroimaging, and adolescent development, with a particular focus on how interpersonal relationships (such as attachment styles), obesity (BMI), and external factors—including childhood adversity and cultural influences—affect brain structure, function, cognition, and behavior.
She is also interested in how psychotherapy can contribute to neural, cognitive, behavioral, and clinical changes, including improvements in symptoms and diagnoses of psychological disorders, with the support of machine learning tools to enhance prediction and analysis.
At the BRAINLab, Kangyi leads multiple projects focused on adolescent brain development, including a study using the ABCD dataset to examine sex-specific effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on brain structure and function. She also co-leads a systematic review investigating the neural correlates of obesity in children and adolescents. In these projects, Kangyi collaborates closely with psychologists, psychiatrists, and biostatisticians to generate hypotheses, coordinate data analysis, and synthesize findings that advance both scientific understanding and clinical relevance.
Outside of research, Kangyi enjoys strength training, hip-hop music, movies, live performances, and manicure design. She is also a lifestyle blogger, sharing content about nail art, restaurant reviews, and delicious food. Passionate about creativity and self-expression, Kangyi finds joy in exploring culture through language, aesthetics, and everyday experiences. She is fluent in Chinese and English, conversational in Korean, and has a basic understanding of Japanese.