Address book
Contacts
ROSA RUGANI
Position
Professoressa Associata
Address
VIA VENEZIA, 8 - PADOVA
Telephone
0498276928
After graduation (summa cum laude) and Ph.D. at the University of Padua, my research activities continued primarily at the Department of General Psychology of the same university, the Interdepartmental Center for Mind/Brain at the University of Trento, and the Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. I further enriched my training through various research periods abroad, including i) the Center for Avian Cognition at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, ii) the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, USA, iii) the Department of Cognitive Sciences at the University of Potsdam, and iv) the Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Currently, I am an Associate Professor at the Department of General Psychology at the University of Padua. Throughout my research career, I have developed novel paradigms to study non-verbal numerical abilities in diverse species, including nutcrackers, macaques, frogs, fish, and humans, both adults and infants. The animal model I have predominantly employed is the domestic chicken. My research has been published in prestigious international journals (e.g. Science; PNAS; eLife) and has attracted funding and awards at both national (Mazzocco Award, 2017; Young Researcher Project, 2010; CARIPARO Foundation, 2004; PRIN 2022) and international levels (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action: H2020-MSCA-IF-2017, German Academic Exchange Service or DAAD: Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, 2017). My work has attracted attention from both national and international media, particularly for its innovative contribution to advancing our understanding of the origin and biological basis of mathematical abilities in animal models.
Notices
Office hours
Thursday from 15:30 to 17:30
at Dipartimento di Psicologia Generale, Via Venezia, 8 Padova
Si prega di concordare l'appuntamento al seguente indirizzo email: rosa.rugani@unipd.it
Publications
Publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=it&user=Jygl4ZYAAAAJ
Thesis proposals
NEW:
How does the concept of zero originate and develop? The study adopts a comparative approach and will be conducted on both children and newborn domestic chicks. The research is in collaboration with Professors Silvia Benavides and Lucia Regolin.
NEW:
Experimental research on the numerical cognition of insects. The project is in collaboration with the Provincial Museum of Esapolis. It is suitable for both internship projects and undergraduate/master's theses but is recommended only for highly interested and passionate students.
NEW:
Cognitive and behavioral differences in various broiler chickens.
NEW:
Experimental research on numerical abilities and spatial-numerical association in preschool-age children (approximately three to five years old). The study plans to use interactive video games to explore how numbers can influence spatial task performance.
EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS ON CHICKENS:
Numerical Cognition
Space-Numerical Association
Strategies for enhancing numerical abilities
Hemispheric specialization of numerical abilities. Behavioral investigation of the psychobiological bases of left-right spatial asymmetry in numerical information processing. Functional specialization will be investigated using the non-invasive technique of monocular patching or by controlling embryo light exposure during a critical incubation period (from the 17th to the 21st day).
To learn about other possible experimental thesis topics, you are encouraged to send an email to rosa.rugani@unipd.it.
USEFUL INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN CONDUCTING AN EXPERIMENTAL THESIS:
Internship/thesis activities require dedication, responsibility, and passion for the scientific study of animal behavior.
Students must ensure availability and commitment to ethical and laboratory behavior standards.
English is often the language used in the laboratory, and reference literature is in English.
The days of laboratory activities depend closely on the experimental design and cannot be modified to accommodate personal needs.
Some projects may involve testing or caring for animals on weekends.
Conducting an internship/thesis in the laboratory requires at least one semester of activity.
Laboratory access is subject to specific preparation and authorization, which usually, but not exclusively, involve timeframes not suitable for three-year projects.
To better understand the research topics, please visit the following website:
https://www.numbersmeetspace.com/
