Welcome Address

The main conference commenced on February 16th with a welcome address by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jutta Müller (vice-DSPL of Cognitive Humanities). The opening remarks outlined the aims and structure of the CoBeNe PhD Academy and emphasized its interdisciplinary framework integrating Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, Psychology, Neuroscience, and Cognitive Humanities. The importance of interdisciplinary exchange for doctoral education was highlighted, and participants were encouraged to actively engage across disciplines throughout the conference.

Keynote Lectures

The keynote lectures highlighted cutting-edge research across Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, Psychology, Cognitive Humanities, and Neuroscience. Former CoBeNe PhD candidate in the Field of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, Paula Ibáñez (Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse, Université de Toulouse Capitole), discussed how creativity and behavioural innovation arise from the interaction between cognition, experience, and environmental context across species, with implications for conservation and clinical interventions. Trinh Nguyen (Italian Institute of Technology, University of Heidelberg), CoBeNe Psychology alumni, presented research on early social communication, demonstrating how neural and behavioural synchrony between caregivers and infants shapes bonding, attachment, and brain development, and highlighting the role of rhythm and musicality in early interactions. Laura Crompton (Faculty of Computer Science, Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt), representing the Cognitive Humanities cohort, introduced key debates in AI ethics and illustrated how ethical frameworks can be applied in practice to navigate the societal and technological challenges posed by artificial intelligence. Harris Kaplan (Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University), a CoBeNe Neuroscience alumni, presented work on the developmental maturation of neuronal circuits in early life, identifying critical periods and cell-type-specific developmental trajectories.

During the two-day conference, engaging talks by 58 PhD candidates spanned a wide range of topics, from auditory perception, visual and multisensory processing, and social and non-verbal communication, to cognitive and affective development, brain function, and well-being. Methodological innovation was a hallmark of the presentations, including neuroimaging, machine learning, experimental paradigms, ecological tracking, eye-tracking, and longitudinal behavioral studies. Specific investigations explored human and animal interactions, decision-making under stress, social and affective ageing, environmental engagement, and the influence of art on behavior. Collectively, the talks addressed novel questions across a wide array of fields, fostering interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration among participants. The first day of the conference concluded with 30 master’s student poster presentations. As last year members of the Junior Researcher Program joined the Academy for further enriching the academic discussions.

To conclude the PhD Academy, alumni keynote speakers participated in a career panel, sharing insights from various stages of their research journeys and experiences at international research institutions. Moderated by Job Morgan Knoester, MSc, the discussion covered topics such as making career choices, managing uncertainties in research, and the excitement of exploring compelling scientific questions.

Closing Lecture

The closing lecture was delivered by Prof. Onur Güntürkün and titled “Know Yourself! – The Many Open Questions of Mirror Self-Recognition”, while the session was chaired by vice-DSPL Thomas Bugnyar. The lecture examined the mark-and-mirror test as a widely used experimental paradigm to investigate self-recognition and self-awareness in animals. Prof. Güntürkün discussed the conceptual and methodological complexity of the test, emphasizing that positive evidence requires an animal to respond to a novel mark on its body that is only visible via a mirror. He reviewed key findings from studies across vertebrate and invertebrate species, highlighting the heterogeneous and sometimes contradictory patterns of results and interpretations. The talk addressed major theoretical and empirical challenges in the field and concluded with the proposal to “ecologize” the mark-and-mirror test, suggesting that future research should embed mirror-based paradigms more closely within the natural ecological and behavioral contexts of the studied species.