Research profile

Chair of Philosophy of Mind (Prof. Dr. Ophelia Deroy)

Research profile

Our core research areas are sensory interactions, social cognition and communication in interaction, and collective experiences, all of which we study from both philosophical and empirical perspectives. These areas allow us to investigate how sensory modalities interact, how individuals understand and communicate in social contexts, and how collective experiences shape cognition. We also engage with the ethical dimensions of human-AI interactions, especially regarding data usage and how AI functions as an instrument or tool in cognitive and social contexts. This research addresses pressing ethical issues, such as the implications of AI decision-making and data privacy, by exploring the cognitive and social ramifications of these technologies. Finally we are committed to improving the sharing of research questions and diverse insights within open-science frameworks and society at large.

Current and recent research projects

  • Co-Sense: five-year Momentum project funded by VW Stiftung on collective perception
  • Ways of Seeing: linked project on social experiences in science communication.
  • EMERGE: five-year EIC-funded project on AI collectives and awareness.
  • co-LEARN: BIDT project on AI perceptual learning with humans.
  • Vaccine Hesitancy: VCF-funded project on how collective attitudes shape vaccine hesitancy.
  • DFG Projects: two projects focused on consciousness and communication.
  • Machine Teaching: Marie Curie project on using machine teaching to promote AI understanding.
  • GSN PhD: hosts student projects funded by MCN and European grants.
  • NYU-LMU Collaboration: research on collective music experiences.