Giacomo Bignardi, PhD
Research Interests
Giacomo Bignardi works as a postdoctoral researcher at the Behavioral Genetics unit of the Max Planck Institute of Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt. He investigates how genetic and environmental variation shape human sensitivity to the arts (particularly music), leveraging this domain as a model system for differential psychology.
Currently, he develops family-based models to improve estimates of genetic and environmental influences on inter-individual differences, addressing limitations and assumptions of standard quantitative genetics models. He is also interested in leveraging public interest in behavioural genetics to highlight methodological pitfalls, counter misinformation, and promote nuanced interpretations of genomics findings in society.
- Behavior genetics
- Empirical aesthetics
Vita
Academic Education
| Since 2022 | PhD candidate at Max Planck Institute for for Psycholinguistics, Language & Genetics Department, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. |
| 2020-2021 | PhD student, orientation year, Max Planck School of Cognition |
| 2019 | MSc in Psychology of the Arts, Neuroaesthetics, and Creativity, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK. |
| 2016-2017 | Minor in Brain and Mind, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. |
| 2014-2017 | BA in Drama, Major in Drama, Art and Music Studies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. |
Academic Experience
| 2023 | Visiting PhD student at the Karolinska Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Fredrik Ullén Group, Neuropsychology of music, Stockholm, Sweden |
| 2021-2022 | Visiting PhD student at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Otto Hahn Group, Cognitive Neurogenetics, Leipzig, Germany. |
| 2021 | Visiting PhD student at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Language & Genetics Department (Remote). |
| 2020 | Visiting PhD student at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Neuroscience Department, VisNA Lab. (Remote). |
| 2019-2020 | Research Assistant, University College London, Division of Biosciences, Semir Zeki Laboratory of Neurobiology, London, UK. |
| 2019 | Internship, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Biological Psychology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. |
| 2018 | Visiting researcher, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Complex Trait Genetics Lab, Amsterdam, the Netherlands |
Awards and Grants
Awards and Grants
| 2026 | Frank X. Barron Award for superior contribution to the psychology of aesthetics, creativity, and the arts by a student |
| 2025-2026 | APA Division 10 Early Career Research Micro Grant |
| 2024 | Robert Francès Award for Most Outstanding Student Research Contribution |
| 2020-2024 | Max Planck School of Cognition scholarship |
| 2019 | Best poster award, Visual Science of Art Conference 2019 |