Dr. Kalina Hadjiilieva

Biography

Kalina Christoff Hadjiilieva is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. Her academic focus centers on understanding human thought through a combination of functional neuroimaging (fMRI), behavioral testing, and theoretical work. She has served as the Interim Director of the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies. Dr. Hadjiilieva's research encompasses a full spectrum of thought processes, including spontaneous thought and mind-wandering, goal-directed cognitive functions such as problem-solving and reasoning, as well as creative thought that integrates both deliberate and spontaneous modes. Her work investigates introspection, meta-cognition, boredom, meditation, and various facets of self-experience. Additionally, she researches the neural correlates of mental phenomena and constructs neuroscientific models based on the current scientific understanding of dynamic interactions among large-scale brain systems, including default and frontoparietal control networks. Her secondary research areas include Behavioral Neuroscience and Clinical and Health Social/Personality psychology. Dr. Hadjiilieva has an extensive list of publications that reflect her contributions to the fields of neuroscience and psychology.

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Awards