Olivia Lohmeyer, University of Michigan

Olivia is thrilled that she’s working at the intersection of psychology and AI – a rapidly evolving area. The Swedish American is so fascinated with the field that she is now applying to graduate school to deepen her expertise. But her path to finding her passion wasn’t straightforward. Her undergraduate studies took her from California to Sweden and eventually to Michigan. Along the way, she's made her most unexpected and interesting discoveries. 

IO: Hi Olivia! You’re working  in the fascinating world of how AI intersects with psychology. What are you doing?

Olivia: Most recently, I was part of a Geneva, Switzerland-based start up, Lazybrain, an AI-powered networking platform designed to help people make more meaningful and targeted professional and personal connections. My role was to maximize the interplay of psychology, technology, and storytelling. I co-designed and led our signature interview system, personally interviewing new members that included entrepreneurs to corporate presidents – gathering their life stories, values, and goals. I also worked with our tech team to transform that data into AI-driven profiles, personalized matches, and creative outputs that reflected each member’s unique voice and personality.

Before Lazybrain, I worked for another AI startup, Koios, that built personality assessments from voice. Their system generated Big Five personality profiles based purely on the acoustic and linguistic biomarkers in a person’s speech. I served as the psychology lead, making sure the science behind the system was sound and accessible.

IO: You are in the midst of applying to graduate school: Why now? 

Olivia: I feel that this is the optimal time to take everything I’ve learned from working in fast-moving startups and develop it in a stronger academic foundation. My work so far has shown me how powerful the combination of psychology and technology can be, but I’m ready to deepen that knowledge and push it further. I’m applying to schools in the US and UK with programs that focus on Human-Computer Interaction, Applied Psychology, or Human-Centered AI. 

IO: What do you feel you will gain from graduate school?

Olivia: From my work experience, I’ve gained a lot of hands-on skills – learning by doing. And from my undergraduate studies, I built a broad foundation in psychology and research. Graduate school will give me access to world-class professors, cutting-edge research, and peers who are just as excited about these questions as I am. It’s also a chance to study human-computer interaction and applied psychology at a deeper level, and to connect that theory to real-world projects. I want to approach my studies with a focused mindset and really build the foundation for the career I want.

IO: Where did you start your undergraduate experience? 

Olivia: Initially, I thought I wanted to be a clinical psychologist, and began my studies in the University of California-San Diego’s Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience program. My first two years were very STEM-heavy: coding, chemistry, biology, and a lot of math. 

IO: Why did you transfer to  the University of Michigan? 

Olivia: After COVID hit during the second semester of my freshman year, everything changed for me. I withdrew for a semester and moved to Sweden, where I studied ethnology at Lund University and worked for a medtech firm. That experience gave me a broader perspective on psychology and technology and helped me think more carefully about what I wanted from my education.

What drew me to the University of Michigan was that it  had a stronger psychology department, more opportunities for research, and – on a personal level – it provided the full “college experience” I was looking for: school spirit, football games, and a vibrant campus life. Transferring wasn’t easy – navigating credit transfers and adjusting degree requirements — but it was absolutely the right decision. Michigan gave me the chance to combine psychology with history, work in multiple research labs, and really tailor my studies to fit my long-term goals. It ultimately connected me with the people and opportunities that led me to my current work in psychology and AI, and to where I am now, living in Geneva.

IO: Given your undergraduate experiences, what advice do you have for high school upperclassmen who are stressing out about academics and college applications?

Olivia: Just remember that your path doesn’t have to be perfect or straight to lead somewhere incredible. College feels huge when you’re applying, but it’s really just the beginning of your journey. What matters most is being open: to change, to new opportunities, and to redefine what success looks like for you. 

I’m a good example of this. Each change for me felt uncertain, but every turn opened doors I couldn’t have imagined. Living in Geneva and the work I’m doing now, they weren’t even on my radar in high school. 

So be adaptable, and trust that the work you’ve already put in will carry you forward. You’ve done the hardest part — four years of high school in which you’ve built your grades, extracurricular experiences, and character. College applications are just your chance to tell that story. Even if you don’t end up at your “dream school,” that’s ok.