My name is Dr. Mila Marinova – a cognitive psychologist and neuroscientist. I am currently an associate researcher in cognitive neuroscience at the University of Luxembourg and a voluntary associate researcher at KU Leuven (Belgium). I hold a doctorate in psychology from KU Leuven (2016 – 2020) and an M.Sc. in Cognitive Science from New Bulgarian University.

My work is primarily experimental and positioned at the intersection of cognitive-developmental psychology and neuroscience. My narrow areas of expertise encompass numerical processing in children and adults, developing and attaining numerical and mathematical competencies, conceptual learning of numbers, sex differences in mathematics, multilingualism, and learning in a multilingual environment. My broader research interests include neurocognitive development, emotion, language processing, learning, and neurocognitive research methods.

My scientific work has been supported by organizations such as Luxembourg National Research Fund and Research Foundation Flanders, and is frequently featured in various media outlets. Here are some examples:

Understanding Math Leaning in Multilingual Minds. Interview with Dr. Anna Smidt from Magrid Learning Solution (EdTech Startup).

Screen Time and Cognitive Development. Interview by Stephanie Simoes from Critikid (A platform for teaching children critical thinking skills).

Numerical cognition – Numbers, Math Anxiety and Beyond. A podcast with Hanna Sciemaszko – host of SciLux (Luxembourg’s Science Podcast)

Language learning and overcoming maths anxiety: Luxembourg research. Interview with Natalia Pikna for Luxembourg Times.

How multilingualism impacts learning numbers and mathematics. Spotlight on Young Researchers. (an initiative of the Luxembourg National Research Fund).

You can learn more about my scientific work and professional competencies from my CV and ORCID.

I am also very passionate about scientific outreach and public science education. The contents of this website reflect my firm belief that scientific discoveries are not meant to gather dust in scientific journals but should make their way into people’s lives. My communication work involves translating scientific findings into accessible and actionable content—both in text and video formats—for the purposes of public education and personal development. My current focus is on cognitive and behavioural sciences and promoting scientific literacy and critical thinking.

I have expertise in designing and delivering workshops on academic skills (writing, planning, presenting, etc.), critical thinking, and scientific literacy for both specialized and general audiences across diverse ages and backgrounds (e.g., adults, adolescents, medical professionals, and students). I also provide research consulting for EdTech companies, schools, educational organizations, and other relevant stakeholders. If you are interested in a collaboration, feel free to reach out!

No matter where you are coming from and where you are going, I sincerely hope the contents of this page will not only spark (or even reinforce) your interest in science but will be useful to you on your way to personal (and/or professional) transformation and improvement. Enjoy!

*This website, its contents, and its activities are independent of my professional responsibilities at the institutions I am academically affiliated with.
*Posts are not medical advice.