I am a Royal Society University Research Fellow and an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Cambridge. I’m also a member of the Center for Brains, Minds & Machines at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Research interests

My research programme is about understanding visuo-semantic cognition in healthy populations and individuals affected by mental health disorders (using cognitive computational neuroscience, NeuroAI, and neurotechnology techniques). My research has focused on probing specific visual dimensions in the context of face, animacy, and object representations more generally. I combine experimental behavioural tasks, brain imaging (fMRI and M/EEG), and, through collaborations, macaque electrophysiology, where I use machine learning techniques for data analysis and computational modelling with a special interest in biologically-inspired deep learning and AI models (Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=oEifmSgAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate). Under my recent grant, I plan to disentangle and model behaviourally-relevant visual and semantic dimensions of visual cognition in the human brain: 1) characterise behaviourally-relevant visual and semantic dimensions of visual cognition by the use of large-scale brain imaging datasets of responses to images and model these representations with AI models (deep neural networks), 2) define and model dimensions related to the perception of animacy when interacting with objects and people using videos, 3) determine to what extent these brain representations and dimensions change when humans are immersed in the environment (using mobile EEG). I am also a member of Cambridge NeuroWorks (powered by Advanced Research and Invention Agency - ARIA), where I am exploring applying my expertise in visuo-semantic cognition and AI to neurotechnology and mental health applications, specifically in the context of interfacing with the brain through non-invasive focused ultrasound stimulation and utilising generative AI for exposure therapy in healthy populations and those affected by mental health disorders. I have also been a member of the Center for Brains, Minds & Machines, now MIT Quest for Intelligence.

Publications

https://kamilajozwik.com/publications.html

Webpage

https://kamilajozwik.com/

Bio

My research interests have been influenced by working with and being inspired by my mentors and colleagues, whom I am grateful to. In recent years, I have been a Sir Henry Wellcome fellow working with Jim DiCarlo and Nancy Kanwisher at MIT, studying questions related to the dimensionality and topography of brain and behavioural representations. Previously, I was a Humboldt fellow working with Radek Cichy at the Free University Berlin, studying animacy dimensions in object recognition and comparing words and images object representations. During my PhD, in parallel with my genomics research with Jason Carroll, I began working with Marieke Mur and Niko Kriegeskorte to investigate feature-based and categorical representations in object recognition. I did an MPhil and a PhD in Biological Sciences at the University of Cambridge, and a BSc at the University of Warsaw (I'm Polish).

Join Jozwik lab

Please contact me at jozwik.kamila@gmail.com, telling me what you are curious about and would be particularly interested in working on, as well as information on the flexibility of topics, sending over your CV and details on your programming proficiency (including AI and ML) and experience in fMRI, M/EEG, FUS, electrophysiology, behavioural data collection and analysis, and asking your referees to send their reference letters.

As a postdoctoral fellow:

At times, I have funding for a postdoc position from grants, with a guaranteed funding window (usually at least 2 years), so I may be able to hire directly. Regardless, I encourage every postdoc to apply for postdoctoral fellowships before/just after joining the lab (I have a list of fellowships), as securing a fellowship is beneficial for early-career researchers.

As a PhD student:

After talking with me, PhD applicants apply here: MRC CBU research degrees page. Important to note that the deadlines are almost a year before a PhD start date, so one needs to apply early and have a proposal and references submitted before the deadline. You will be considered for all eligible Cambridge studentships once you apply. You are also encouraged to apply for other funding, e.g., from your country if eligible. At times, I also have funding for 4-year PhD positions from grants, but, sadly, these PhD studentships are currently only available to UK Home fee status students.

As a Master/MPhil student:

Please first let me know about your Master/MPhil programme details, in particular, how long the research protected time is. If you do not have a place on a Master/MPhil programme, I have a list of programmes that one could apply for (please be mindful that one needs to apply almost a year in advance for Cambridge-based Master/MPhil programmes).