Hello! I’m Jorge Ratia Avinent, a Spanish neuroscientist based in the Netherlands.

I hold a Research Master’s in Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Amsterdam, where I built a strong foundation for tackling complex scientific questions through data-driven approaches.

Over the past few years, I worked across different research labs, each approaching neuroscientific challenges from a distinct angle. At the CoBraS Lab (supervised by Dr. Christin Scholz, and Dr. Marte Otten), I investigated the neuropsychological mechanisms of political polarization using fMRI, which later led me to continue collaborating with the group as a research assistant. At the Conscious Brain Lab (supervised by Dr. Simon van Gaal, and Dr. Jan-Willem de Gee), I studied brain oscillations and predictive feedback in visual perception, working with EEG, pupillometry, and behavioral methods.

Alongside my research, I took on roles that involved coordination and academic life beyond the lab. I served as Editor-in-Chief of the ABC Journal, leading an interdisciplinary editorial team, and I was a member of the advisory board of the MBCS.

Before moving into neuroscience, I studied the BSc in Psychology at Erasmus University of Rotterdam, where I specialized in Brain & Cognition. During this time, I worked as an academic psychology tutor in both large and smaller groups, which is something I’ve always loved doing. I was also an international ambassador of the university, and led the Psychology Committee of Cedo Nulli.

Earlier on, I studied a double Bachelor’s degree in Communication at Ramon Llull University in Barcelona. During this time, I was driven by a curiosity about the sociopolitical events that model the world we live in. I worked in both journalism and creative environments, including radio stations such as Cadena SER and RAC1, as well as the creative agency McCann Erickson. It was during this period that I became interested in how individuals interpret information, how beliefs are formed, and why the same situation can be understood in completely different ways. This was also when I began collaborating with media outlets, something I have continued to do over the years.

At the moment, I am collaborating with the Moral & Social Brain Lab (led by Dr. Emilie Caspar; University of Ghent) on a project on the psychological and neurocognitive mechanisms behind support for war. I also write weekly columns on Ethic Magazine, where I share my reflections on psychological science, philosophy, and technological revolution.

Looking ahead, I’m looking for environments where I can continue doing rigorous research while staying close to real-world questions, whether that takes the form of a PhD or applied work beyond academia.

Outside of work, I spend a lot of time writing. I’m currently developing a couple of books, one exploring ethics through short stories, and another centered on arthropod biology through poetry. I’m also a cinema and photojournalism lover. And whenever I can, I try to escape to the mountains, something I admittedly miss while living in the Netherlands.