Opening Moves: How a Young Chess Enthusiast Found a Research Home in ISE

When 10th grader Neha Sharan reached out to University of Illinois Professor Inki Kim with questions about aging, brain health and chess, she had no idea it would lead to a year-long research mentorship and a weeklong visit to Dr. Kim’s lab in the Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering (ISE).

“I was impressed by her dedication, intellectual curiosity, and persistence. Her interest in the cognitive functions underlying chess play genuinely resonated with me, as my lab explores human cognition and decision-making—especially in the context of human-AI interaction.”

Assistant Research Professor Inki Kim, Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering

Neha, a student at Saratoga High School in California, has played in more than 220 chess tournaments since she began at age six. She also founded Girls4Chess(G4C), a nonprofit aimed at closing the gender gap in chess by hosting inclusive tournaments and providing resources and mentorship to those interested in learning the game. But it was while volunteering at a local senior center that her love of chess took on a new dimension.

"I actively teach chess to all age groups, including older adults," she said. "That work sparked my interest in the cognitive and neurological effects of chess, particularly in aging populations."

Curious about how the game might support brain health, Neha began looking for university research that aligned with her interests. That search led her to Dr. Kim’s lab in the Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering (ISE) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

“I was especially drawn to Dr. Kim’s research because it sits at the intersection of health and engineering,” she said. “It aligns with both my interests and the kind of impact I hope to make in the future.”

That impact is something Dr. Kim immediately recognized.

“I was impressed by her dedication, intellectual curiosity and persistence,” he said. “Her interest in the cognitive functions underlying chess play genuinely resonated with me, as my lab explores human cognition and decision-making—especially in the context of human-AI interaction.”

Over the course of a year, through regular Zoom meetings and email correspondence, Neha and Dr. Kim explored the cognitive processes involved in chess, especially among older adults and in human-AI interactions. Their shared interest aligned closely with one of Kim’s lab’s core research areas: understanding human cognition and decision-making in naturalistic settings.

“Today’s chess players often engage in matches anonymously online, sometimes against AI opponents matched to their skill level,” Dr. Kim explained. “The cognitive effects—both direct and indirect—of learning and practicing with online humans or AI remain largely unexplored. Of particular scientific interest is whether a chess player’s internal planning and replanning processes can be modeled by tracking whole-brain network dynamics.”

In June, Neha visited campus for a week of hands-on work in the lab. She designed a neuroergonomic experimental study, collected data using EEG and eye-tracking systems, and began analyzing moments of cognitive engagement during chess play.

“Working with the EEG turned out to be more complicated than we expected,” she recalled. “We ran into some technical challenges, but with patience and a lot of learning, we successfully ran our tests.”

That collaboration continues as Dr. Kim’s lab students conduct deeper analysis on the data Neha collected. He sees this partnership as a model for meaningful mentorship and early research exposure.

“Mentoring talented K–12 students offers significant value by fostering early exposure to scientific research and the potential for future publications,” he said. “Through this experience and others, I’ve also become aware of campus initiatives such as the Worldwide Youth and Science and Engineering (WYSE) Program that offers STEM summer camps for students. I hope my research lab can contribute further by serving as a hub for young students interested in human cognition in technologically complex environments.”

For Neha, the experience provided a new perspective on research—and her future.

“I’ve come to understand just how iterative research really is,” she said. “It takes time, patience, and a willingness to keep refining your approach. Dr. Kim has shown me the importance of curiosity and passion in the research process.”

She also began to imagine how her interests might shape a career—perhaps one focused on health systems, cognition, and accessible, real-world applications like chess therapy.

“I’d love to explore how the strategic aspects of chess can be used in cognitive training or therapeutically,” she said. “Whether it's helping someone with Alzheimer's or aiding in recovery after neurological injury, I believe games like chess have untapped potential.”

Neha sees university programs like Grainger Engineering’s ISE department as a natural place to grow those interests.

“This experience has made me realize how much I enjoy areas like cognitive science and designing health systems,” she said. “I’m looking for programs that don’t just focus on technology, but also really understand human behavior and the social factors that affect us. ISE really inspires me because it combines data and systems thinking with real-world impact.”

She’s also eager to share what she’s learned with other students.

“My advice to high schoolers is to just reach out,” she said. “You don’t have to feel fully ready. The best opportunities come when you take that first step out of curiosity. Even if you’re unsure, putting yourself out there can open doors—and help you grow in ways you hadn’t imagined.”

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Inki Kim is an Illinois Grainger Engineering research professor of industrial and enterprise systems in the Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering.