Hi There! I’m Dr Ola Dopierała
Bio
As a passionate postdoctoral researcher at UBC specializing in fNIRS studies with infants, my focus revolves around unraveling the neural correlates of multiple cognitive process and behaviours in early development. With a Ph.D. from the University of Warsaw in Poland, my research journey has been a thrilling exploration into the complexities of infant cognition. At UBC, I have the privilege of conducting groundbreaking fNIRS studies in real-world settings, capturing the intricate workings of infant brains in engaging environments.
If you share my enthusiasm for the potential of developmental neuroscience, I invite you to connect and explore possibilities for collaboration. Together, we can reshape our understanding of early brain development, unravel the mysteries of infant cognition, and pave the way for brighter futures.
Research Experience
Background & Expertise
November 2021
Postdoctoral Fellow, Baby Learning Lab, University of British Columbia
Research projects:
Early Predictors of Neurodevelopmental Outcomes (NIRS), funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Neural correlates of the infant first-person experience during free play interactions
November 2017 - October 2021
PhD Research, Neurocognitive Development Lab, University of Warsaw
Research project: Development of Cortical Mechanisms for Visual and Audiovisual Speech Processing in Infancy: The Role of Configural Face Processing
September 2019 - October 2019
Internship, Goldsmiths University, London
Laureate of Warsaw University’s Integrated Development Programme Scholarship for abroad study
January 2016 - November 2017
MSc Research, Neurocognitive Development Lab, University of Warsaw
Research project: Infant Speech Sound Discrimination in Noise, MSc Thesis: Speech Sound Discrimination in 7- to 10-month-old Infants. A Mismatch Negativity ERP Study.
Work Experience
November 2020 - October 2021
Project Manager at Neurocognitive Development Lab, University of Warsaw, Warsaw
July 2017 - November 2017
Neuropsychological Intern at Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Paediatric Neurosurgery Ward, Warsaw
August 2016 - December 2016
Neuropsychological Intern at Clinical Hospital of Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Neurological Rehabilitation Ward, Warsaw
June 2016 - November 2020
Lab Coordinator at Neurocognitive Development Lab, University of Warsaw, Warsaw
Education
2017 - 2021
PhD University of Warsaw, Faculty of Psychology
PhD in Psychology, Area of Specialisation: Neurocognitive Development
2012 - 2017
MSc University of Warsaw, Warsaw International Studies in Psychology
MSc in Psychology: Neuropsychology and Neuroscience
Skills
fNIRS (Homer, MVPA)
fMRI (SPM)
EEG (NetStation)
Statistical analyses (SPSS, R)
Eye-tracking
Scientific writing (APA, LaTex)
Open science
Project management
Time management
Public speaking
Communication
Publications
Published
Dopierała, A., Mercure, E., Lopez-Perez, D., Pluta, A., Wolak, T., & Tomalski, P. (2023) The Development Of Cortical Responses To The Integration Of Audiovisual Speech In Infancy. Brain Topography.
Dopierała, A. A., & Emberson, L. L. (2022). Cognitive development: Looking for perceptual awareness in human infants. Current Biology, 32(7), R322-R324.
Dopierała, A., Przewodzka, A., & Tomalski, P. (2019). Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Healthy Subjects: Possible Application in Aviation and Aviation Medicine. The Polish Journal of Aviation Medicine, 25(2), 25.
Tomalski, P., & Dopierała, A. (2018). Functional Brain Development - Example from Face and Speech Processing in Infancy. Polskie Forum Psychologiczne, 23 (1), 64-77.
Dopierała, A. A., & Emberson, L. L. (2023). Towards imaging the infant brain at play. Communicative and Integrative Biology.
In prep / Under review
Dopierała, A., Mercure, E., Lopez-Perez, D., Pluta, A., Wolak, T., & Tomalski, P. (under review) Watching talking faces: the development of cortical representation of visual syllables in infancy.”
Di Lonardo Burr, S. M., Pirazzoli, L., Dopierała, A. A., Bejjanki, V. R., Nelson, C. A., & Emberson, L. (under review). The Development of Social Perception Networks in Low-and Middle-income Infants: Longitudinal Assessments of fNIRS Background Functional Connectivity.
“I was dimly aware that I might be getting in over my head. But that only added to the scheme’s appeal. That it wouldn’t be easy was the whole point.” ― Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild
