Dr. Alain Content is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Psychology and Education of the Université libre de Bruxelles , where he conducts research at the Laboratoire Cognition, Langage & Développement (LCLD) , part of the Centre de Recherche Cognition et Neurosciences (CRCN) . Specializes in lexical access , visual/auditory word recognition , and reading disorders Current projects explore perceptual units in visual words through behavioral/neuroimaging studies and numerical cognition with collaborators like Florence Gabriel and Denes Szücs Developed fraction-learning games with education colleagues to enhance classroom engagement His research spans implicit/explicit knowledge dynamics, syllabic structure effects, and language-schooling interactions in arithmetic. Key methodologies include fMRI , EEG , and behavioral experiments . Recent publications focus on cross-linguistic reading proficiency , Chinese character recognition , and numerosity processing in educational contexts. Collaborations with Mathieu Guillaume and Fabienne Chetail investigate neural markers of numerical intuition and arithmetic problem-solving .
Dr. John Opfer is a Professor in the Department of Developmental Psychology at The Ohio State University. His research focuses on conceptual development, numerical cognition, and education, particularly how children and adults develop quantitative reasoning skills. He holds a PhD from the University of Michigan (2000) and a BA from The George Washington University (1995). Key areas of expertise include numerical estimation, analogical reasoning, and the cognitive foundations of mathematical learning. His work bridges developmental psychology, cognitive science, and education, often exploring cross-cultural differences in arithmetic proficiency and the role of language in learning. Awards: Huber Faculty Fellowship (2023), APS Fellow (2010), IES Learning Acceleration Challenge Finalist (2022). Recent Research Trends: Focus on number-line estimation methodologies, developmental reversals in numerical cognition, and the cognitive mechanisms underlying proportional reasoning. Grants and Collaborations: Active in federally funded projects investigating educational strategies and cross-cultural comparisons in math learning. His lab examines how representational shifts in numerical understanding influence learning trajectories, with implications for educational interventions and cognitive development theories.
Dr. Gail McKoon is a Research Professor in Cognitive Psychology at The Ohio State University. Her work focuses on decision-making models, memory, and aging effects on cognition. She holds a PhD from the University of Colorado (1975), an MSc from the University of California, San Diego (1970), and a BS from the University of Iowa (1969). Her research emphasizes diffusion models in analyzing cognitive processes, particularly in neuropsychological testing, language comprehension, and numerical literacy. Notable contributions include studies on aging effects in recognition memory and ADHD diagnostic methods. McKoon has been recognized with awards such as the Huber Award (2013) and election to the Society for Experimental Psychologists (2002). Her publications span cognitive theories of text processing, memory models, and clinical applications of diffusion analysis. Though no formal grants or lab affiliations are explicitly listed, her work intersects with clinical and experimental psychology, addressing both theoretical and applied cognitive challenges.
Angelica Ronald is a Professor of Psychology and Genetics at Birkbeck, University of London, co-directing the Genes Environment Lifespan (GEL) laboratory and the BRIDGE wet lab. She holds a PhD in Quantitative Genetics from King’s College London and a BA in Experimental Psychology from the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on genetic and environmental causes of neurodevelopmental and mental health issues in children and adolescents, particularly autism, ADHD, and psychosis. She has pioneered studies on genetic overlap between neurodevelopmental disorders and led large-scale initiatives like the Babytwins study. Her work includes over 130 publications and awards like the Janet Taylor Spence Award and Spearman Medal. She co-founded the London Genetics Network, fostering collaboration in genetic research. Her research has revealed high genetic overlap between autism and ADHD and conducted the first genome-wide association study of psychotic experiences in adolescence. Key areas include meta-analyses of cohorts like TEDS, ALSPAC, and CATSS, and investigations into developmental milestones and genetic liability. She explores how nonshared environmental factors influence behavioral problems across ages and examines the role of polygenic risk scores in mental health outcomes. Her work bridges translational genetics and clinical psychiatry. Honors include APS Fellowship and leadership in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. Her lab focuses on prenatal and infant development, using twin studies to disentangle genetic vs. environmental influences. Current initiatives include the Babytwins study assessing neurocognitive development in infant twins and exploring early biomarkers of developmental disorders.
Dr. Rhys Ashby is a Lecturer in Marketing at Swinburne University of Technology's Department of Management and Marketing within the School of Business, Law and Entrepreneurship. He holds a PhD from Macquarie University and multiple advanced degrees in finance and commerce. His research focuses on how buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) systems, pricing strategies, and marketing technologies influence consumer decision-making, with particular emphasis on financial behavior and judgment biases. Education background includes: PhD in Marketing, Macquarie University MRes in Marketing, Macquarie University MAppFin from Financial Services Institute of Australasia MCom and BSc(InfoSys) from UNSW Sydney Research interests span consumer behavior, marketing technology applications, pricing mechanisms, household finance literacy, and experimental research design. His work examines how contextual cues like installment options and payment modes affect consumer perceptions of value and spending patterns. Recent studies emphasize BNPL's role in shaping purchasing decisions and word-of-mouth dynamics. Key contributions include analyses published in the Journal of Retailing and presentations at ANZMAC and the Association for Consumer Research conferences. His work has been recognized with the Executive Dean's Commendation for Academic Excellence. Advisory services include PhD supervision and industry collaboration in product development, pricing strategies, and customer experience optimization. Active in Swinburne's Digital Capability and Innovative Society initiatives, he explores fintech innovations' societal impacts through Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 10.
Anssi Öörni is a Professor at the School of Business and Economics , Åbo Akademi University. His research spans Cognitive Psychology , Project Management , and Human-Computer Interaction , with a focus on Robotic Process Automation , Numerosity Perception , and Visuospatial Abilities . Email: anssi.oorni@abo.fi Research Interests: Robotic Process Automation: Investigating implementation drivers and success factors in enterprise systems. Cognitive Psychology: Studying sex differences in numerosity perception and perceptual load through eye-tracking. Human-Computer Interaction: Exploring AR impacts on visuospatial abilities and immersive learning. Project Management: Analyzing methodology dependencies and autonomous decision-making in ITS-context. Collaborations: Active partnerships in Finland and international networks.
Dr Raquel Garrido Alhama is an Assistant Professor of Artificial Intelligence for text and human interaction at the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) , University of Amsterdam. She also co-directs the /k/omputation and Language Lab and previously served as Assistant Professor at the Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence department of Tilburg University. She earned her PhD from the ILLC under the supervision of Jelle Zuidema, Remko Scha and Carel Ten Cate, with a dissertation entitled Computational Modelling of Artificial Language Learning . Prior post-doctoral positions include the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics and the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language. Research Interests: Computational modelling of language learning and evolution Language acquisition, word learning and sentence processing Neural-symbolic integration and connectionist architectures Visual and auditory word recognition, syntactic parsing and part-of-speech tagging In recent years her work has converged on validating developmental milestones—such as the onset of productive determiner–noun combinations—using large-scale child corpora and neural models. She also investigates how multi-agent referential games can lead to emergent compositional languages, moving from image to richer graph representations. Scientific Awards: Best Article Award (2019) from Psychonomic Bulletin & Review for the review on computational models of rule learning Best Poster Award (2015) at the International Conference on Cognitive Modeling Teaching & Supervision: Dr Alhama has designed and lectured courses on advanced programming for cognitive science, computational linguistics, linear algebra and language acquisition at Tilburg University, University of Amsterdam, Radboud University and the University of the Basque Country. She currently supervises eleven MSc and BSc students in AI, Logic and Cognitive Science. Labs & Teams: She is the founding co-director of the /k/omputation and Language Lab together with Phong Le, where they use Language Emergence frameworks to explore the cognitive prerequisites for displacement and compositionality in human language.
Dr. Krista Overvliet is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University, specializing in Experimental Psychology. Her research focuses on haptic perception, spatial cognition, and human-centered artificial intelligence applications. She actively contributes to tactile information processing studies and interdisciplinary teaching initiatives in Utrecht's AI program. Utrecht University, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences Experimental Psychology Department Research themes: Haptics, Tactile Perception, Spatial Perception, Human-centered AI Overvliet's work explores tactile exploration mechanisms, perceptual grouping strategies, and sensory navigation profiles for visually impaired individuals. Recent studies investigate motor adaptation in signers and pandemic-induced touch deprivation effects. Her research outputs show strong connections to neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and AI ethics. Publications span journals like Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, PLOS ONE, and Nature Scientific Reports, with presentations at EuroHaptics and IMEKO conferences. Key skills include scientific programming (MATLAB, R, Python) and data analysis. She engages in public outreach through media appearances and events like Science Weekend and Betweter Festival.
Prof. Dr. Maarten van der Smagt is a Professor of Psychological Literacy in Higher Education and Director of Psychology Education at Utrecht University's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. He oversees the psychology bachelor's program and five master's programs, blending psychological research with educational innovation. Expertise in Cognitive Neuroscience, Visual Perception, and Higher Education Research Developing gamification and simulation for skill acquisition Research on sensory integration and clinical populations His recent work spans educational leadership models , CT-optimal touch for pain relief , and neural mechanisms of perception . Articles highlight interdisciplinary approaches integrating psychology, neuroscience, and educational technology. Scientific distinctions include: Teaching Fellow (2015–2017) Senior Fellow (2017–2020) Principal Fellow at Utrecht University's Center for Academic Teaching Media contributions explore color perception, multisensory experiences, and educational psychology, emphasizing public engagement.
Maciej Huk is an Assistant Professor at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, working in the Department of Applied Informatics within the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology. He has been affiliated with the university since 2007, previously working in the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Department of Security of Computer Systems before moving to his current department in 2016. His academic credentials include Ph.D. and D.Sc. degrees in Computer Science from Wroclaw University of Technology (2007, magna cum laude) and an M.Sc. Eng. degree in Computer Science (magna cum laude). Dr. Huk's research spans multiple areas of artificial intelligence and computer science, with particular emphasis on contextual systems, artificial neural networks, and machine learning. His work explores contextual neural networks, selective attention mechanisms, genetic algorithms, and ensembles of classifiers. He has developed several research software systems including H2O Snowflake for distributed training of contextual neural networks, CxNNS, GACS for context-sensitive text mining, and DYDO for educational applications. His research bridges theoretical computer science with practical applications in IoT, embedded systems, and robotics. His publication record shows consistent productivity with research spanning from 2006 to the present (2025), demonstrating evolving focus from foundational neural network research to more applied contextual systems. The publication trends indicate a strong specialization in contextual neural networks, with recent work expanding into biomedical applications (CRISPR-Cas9 analysis), educational technology (attendance systems), and energy optimization. His work consistently addresses the challenge of context representation and utilization in machine learning systems. Dr. Huk serves as an Academic Editor for PLOS ONE Journal and Evolving Systems Journal, and has reviewed over 130 papers since 2016 for journals registered in ISI Web of Science. He has been actively involved in the academic community as a program and organization committee member for numerous conferences including ACIIDS (2016-2021), ICCCI (2016-2020), and others. He has chaired special sessions on Intelligent and Contextual Systems at IEEE conferences. His professional activities extend beyond pure academia, including serving as Software Architect/Data Analyses Architect at Gigaset Communications since 2008, and organizing clinical research including the Phase 3 randomized multicenter clinical study NCT04952519 on amantadine treatment for COVID-19 patients. He is certified to organize clinical trials with human subjects through NIH NIAID Good Clinical Practices 2.0.
Andreas Nieder is a Professor at the University of Tübingen, affiliated with the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences under the Department of Biology. He serves as a Director at the Institute of Neurobiology and leads the Animal Physiology department. Academic Rank: Professor Main Affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Tübingen Leadership Role: Director, Institute of Neurobiology Research Focus Nieder's research spans Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience, and Neuroethology, with particular emphasis on numerical cognition, avian intelligence, and neural mechanisms of abstract representations. His work investigates how crows and primates process numerosity, zero concepts, and cognitive control through comparative neurobiology. Key Topics: Numerosity coding, neural dynamics, geometric perception, cognitive evolution Species: Macaques, crows (Corvus corone) Techniques: fMRI at 7 Tesla, functional ultrasound, single-neuron recording Scientific Contributions Nieder's recent publications (2025–2024) focus on numerical cognition (e.g., zero representation, Weber-Fechner law), avian-brain parallels with primate neurobiology (prefrontal cortex, intraparietal sulcus), and consciousness mechanisms in non-mammalian species. His work bridges experimental neuroscience with theoretical models of cognitive evolution. Academic Activities He teaches Animal Physiology (BIO125), supervises Internship in Neurobiology (4006), and leads seminars on neurophysiology, systems neurobiology, and behavioral physiology at the University of Tübingen.
Marco Vasconcelos is an active researcher at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, where he serves as an Integrated Member of the Cognition Team. With a PhD from the University of Aveiro, he has established himself as a prominent figure in animal cognition and decision-making research, with 95 publications, 9,723 reads, and 1,322 citations to his name. His research spans multiple institutions and collaborations across Europe, particularly with colleagues at the University of Aveiro and international collaborators including Armando Machado, Tiago Monteiro, and Alex Kacelnik. Vasconcelos's primary research focus centers on decision making and rationality, integrating concepts and techniques from operant and developmental psychology, comparative cognition research, optimal foraging theory, and microeconomics. His work examines how animals, particularly pigeons and starlings, make choices between alternatives, modeling how these options are valued and how valuation drives decisions. He employs optimality and learning theory to address valuation, using empirically supported algorithms to translate valuation into choice. His research often involves developing mathematical models of causative processes and testing them through controlled experiments, with particular emphasis on timing mechanisms, suboptimal choice phenomena, and information processing in animal decision making. Analysis of Vasconcelos's recent publications reveals a strong focus on temporal cognition and decision processes in animals. His work consistently explores how timing mechanisms interact with reinforcement structures to shape behavior, with particular attention to midsession reversal tasks, suboptimal choice phenomena, and numerical discrimination. The research demonstrates sophisticated integration of theoretical models from economics with empirical behavioral data, creating a bridge between normative decision theory and descriptive behavioral observations. His 2022-2025 publications show increasing methodological sophistication with variable trial spacings, differential reinforcement probabilities, and advanced modeling approaches. Vasconcelos maintains active collaborations with researchers across multiple institutions, particularly with Armando Machado at the University of Aveiro and Alex Kacelnik at the University of Oxford. His research has been supported through various grants that enable extensive behavioral experimentation with animal subjects. While specific grant details aren't provided in the available text, his consistent publication output across numerous high-impact journals indicates sustained research funding. As part of the Cognition Team at the University of Aveiro, Vasconcelos contributes to a vibrant research environment focused on animal learning and behavior. His work with the team has produced significant insights into how animals process temporal information, make decisions under uncertainty, and develop cognitive representations of numerical quantities. The research group employs sophisticated behavioral paradigms to investigate fundamental questions about the nature of decision processes and cognitive mechanisms in non-human animals.
