Principal Investigator
I study behaviour and cognition in specific ecological contexts, notably feeding and mate choice. My research employs a range of methods in several laboratory contexts, including conditioning techniques, cognitive modelling, and simulation of evolutionary processes. Some specific areas of focus include causal reasoning and social influences on mate choice.
Graduate Students
I am a second-year master's student. I am studying the influence of Motivational circumstance on an Individual’s time perception in a reversal learning paradigm.
Email: mehwish.nawaz@bilkent.edu.tr
I began my master's program in Neuroscience at Bilkent University in 2023 after receiving my degree in Psychology from Ankara University. Reading and thinking about psychology fascinates me. More recently, I have been interested in ecological and cultural perspectives on human behavior as well as animal cognition. Besides my academic role, I do volunteer work in the field of education and engage in creative writing.
I am a graduate student in the Behaviour Systems and Cognition Laboratory at Bilkent University, pursuing a Master’s degree in Neuroscience. With a dual background in Clinical Psychology (M.A., Iran University of Medical Sciences) and Neuroscience, my research focuses on emotions, mentalization (Theory of Mind), in the context of mate selection and interpersonal dynamics. I am interested in utilizing interdisciplinary methods to investigate the interplay of cognitive and emotional processes in social behavior. I am passionate about integrating clinical, neuro-biological, cultural and behavioural parameters with innovative research methodologies to enhance our understanding of human behaviours especially mating.
Email: amineh.kakaei@bilkent.edu.tr
I am a second-year PhD student in Neuroscience at Bilkent University. I got my MSc in Neuroscience from the same institution and a BA in Psychology from the University of Tabriz. My research focuses on brain imaging and cognitive behavioral experiments, utilizing advanced techniques such as fMRI and statistical analysis. I am passionate about understanding complex neural processes, particularly in areas like motivation and time perception.
Laboratory Manager
I am a senior psychology student at Middle East Technical University. My research interests lie in cognitive psychology, decision-making, and behavior, with a particular focus on how biases and logical fallacies influence cognitive processes and reasoning.
Email: samipourshamim@gmail.com
Recruitment officer
I am a psychology graduate from Middle East Technical University, with a strong interest in neuroscience and animal cognition. I am currently involved in the Behaviour Systems and Cognition Laboratory, contributing to the Dog Cognition research group.
Email: csozermail@gmail.com
Undergraduate student members
I am a third-year psychology student with interests in animal behaviour, cognitive archaeology, mate selection, and anthropology. I am especially interested in how ecological factors throughout evolutionary history have shaped human cognition; including decision-making, mate preferences, cultural practices, and symbolism. Since February 2024, I have been working with the Mate Choice group in the Behaviour Systems and Cognition Lab at Bilkent University, and I am studying how environmental factors influence mate preferences. Beyond my studies, I am passionate about volunteering, particularly in environmental conservation and inclusivity.
Email: doga.kece@ug.bilkent.edu.tr
My name is Fırat Can Erişgin and I am a senior here at Bilkent University psychology department. The fields I am most interested in are cognitive psychology, and neuropsychology. Although I haven't decided what I want to work on, I believe and hope that my interest in psycholinguistics will guide me in this direction. Since joining the lab, I have been helping with literature reviews and meta-analyses during our weekly meetings. Additionally, I manage our social media accounts.
I am a third-year student in psychology and I am interested in cognitive psychology. Moreover, animal's cognitive abilities appeals me.
As a psychology undergraduate in my fourth year, my interests have significantly developed in the field of neuroscience and cognitive psychology. I am particularly fascinated by consciousness and its manifestations in higher-order cognitive functions.
I am a third-year psychology student at Hacettepe University, my interests are to study animal behaviour and cognitive processes using psychological methodology. I am particularly interested in levels of consciousness in animals. I am planning to contribute to the literature by studying animal behaviour in my career. Additionally, I am an artist in the field of painting and co-founder of Janus Magazine, a magazine about science, culture, and art.
Email: cemrecapar@icloud.com
I am an undergraduate student in my third year and my interest mostly was neuropsychology and cognitive psychology. However, I significantly upgraded my interest by adding observation of animal behaviour. I am curious about the cognitive functions of human and non-human species and how the activation is happening in their brain.
Email: elif.cebel@ug.bilkent.edu.tr
I am a third-year psychology student at Middle East Technical University with a strong interest in behavioural, cognitive, and developmental psychology. I am currently working in the Cognitive laboratory while contributing to the Dog Cognition at Bilkent University and also the Developmental Psychology Laboratory at Middle East Technical University.
Email: ezgi.kayaaslan@metu.edu.tr
I am a senior year psychology undergraduate student interested in social and cognitive psychology. I am particularly interested in explaining behaviour from both social and cognitive perspectives, and how social factors influence individuals on the cognitive level.
Email: melikekahraman0@gmail.com
I am a passionate psychology student interested in neuroscience, cognitive science, and behavioural systems. I am deeply interested in the complex interplay between consciousness and higher-order cognition. My focus is on understanding how the brain shapes behaviour and cognition in humans and animals, particularly dogs. I am also interested in how these processes influence learning, decision-making, social behavior, and mate choice.
My name is Amna and I am a senior psychology student at Middle East Technical University. I am specifically interested in the cognitive mechanisms that play a role in the choice of mates in human beings and animals. My area of research at the Behaviour Systems and Cognitions Laboratory focuses on the socio-cognitive phenomena of Mate Choice Copying; mainly based on the factors that increase the likelihood of copying behaviour.
Email: saquib.amna@metu.edu.tr