Federica Meconi

2021 Assistant Professor. Department of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences. University of Trento, Italy.

2019 – 20121 Senior Research Fellow. Recipient of an ESRC “New Investigator Scheme” funded fellowship (Project Ref. REMPATH – ES/S001964/1). University of Birmingham, UK. Mentor: Dr. Carmel Mevorach.

2017 – 2019 Research Fellow. Recipient of a Marie Skłodowska-Curie, Individual Fellowship (Project Ref. MEMPATHY – 702530). University of Birmingham, UK. Supervisor: Dr. Simon Hanslmayr; co-supervisor: Prof. Ian Apperly.

2014 – 2017 Recipient of competitive post-doctoral fellowships. Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, University of Padova, Italy. (PIs: Prof. Roberto Dell’Acqua, Prof. Paola Sessa; Prof. Jeroen Vaes).

2014. PhD in Cognitive Science, University of Padova, Italy. Advisor: Prof. Paola Sessa.

My main research interest is about empathy for others' physical pain. I focus on the neural correlates of empathic responses. In other words, I investigate how human brain reacts when we empathize.

In the last few years I have conducted some research studies to answer the following question: what is the role of autobiographical memory, i.e. our past experiences, in empathy?

Mi occupo da sempre di empatia al dolore fisico. Sono principalmente interessata alla comprensione dei correlati neurali delle risposte empatiche. In altre parole, indago come il cervello umano reagisce quando entriamo in empatia. 

Negli ultimi anni ho condotto alcuni studi nel tentativo di rispondere alla seguente domanda: qual è il ruolo della memoria autobiografica, ovvero delle nostre esperienze passate, nella nostra capacità di provare empatia?

Member of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS)

Member of the Italian Association of Psychology, (Associazione Italiana di Psicologia, AIP, Experimental Psychology and Clinical Psychology sections)

Member of the Italian Society for Psychophysiology (Società Italiana di Psicofisiologia, SIPF)

Member for the European Association of Social Psychology (EASP)

Member of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN)

Member of the Society for Social and Affective Neuroscience (SAN)

2018. Awarded the qualification of Associate Professor. (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale a Professore di Seconda Fascia, 11/E1, Psicologia Generale, Psicobiologia e Psicometria).

2018 Economic and Social Research Council – New Investigator scheme

2015 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship.

Outreach activities:

December 4th 2020: “Overcoming self/other affective boundaries”. Workshop with health professionals. Host: Center for Human Brain Health and Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, UK

November 13th 2020: Interview on “Empathy. Feeling the emotions of others?” for BabyBrains®

April 20th 2020: Interview for a magazine of scientific communication: OggiScienza

February 21st 2020: Emergency, Programma Italia. Round table with the operators.

May 16th 2018. Pint of Science, Birmingham, UK – Beautiful mind.