Team
David Luque
I studied Psychology at Malaga Uni (Spain), then my Masters in Experimental Psychology at La Laguna (Spain). At that time, I did a research stay at Barcelona Uni with Toni Rodríguez-Fornells, learning Cognitive Neuroscience (mostly EEG) and some catalan (una miqueta). I got my PhD also at Malaga Uni under the supervision of Paco López and Pedro Cobos. After that, I’ve done research also at Buenos Aires Uni (2 months with María Eugenia Pedreira) and UNSW Sydney (twice, 4 months and 3 years, with Mike Le Pelley, Tom Beesley and Tom Whitford). Recently I’ve visited Lancaster Uni (UK, 3 months, with Tom Beesley) and have been working at UAM (Madrid) with Miguel Vadillo for 4 years. Currently, I am ‘Profesor Titular’ (like Senior Lecturer more or less) at Malaga Uni. Obviously, I like travelling. Also, basketball, reading, eating, breathing and such.
PI
Sara Molinero
I am a research assistant at the department of basic psychology in University of Málaga. During my Phd, I´ve been focused on studying attentional and learning mechanisms in habit formation. Currently, I continue investigating cognitive processes in habit learning, and also new methods and tools to induce habit behavior in humans experimentally. I use behavioral and neuroimaging data (EEG) to answer specific research questions related to habits. I am an advocate of open science practices and collaborate in different multilabs projects with other universities (EEGManyLabs). When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my daughter, doing some travelling or reading a good book.
Postdoc
José J. León
I am a postdoctoral researcher mainly interested in how and why humans make the decisions we do, and how this relates to habit formation. I tend to employ reinforcement learning models in combination with Bayesian statistics to identify the behavioral mechanisms that drive individual differences in decision-making in different contexts.
Postdoc
During my PhD project, I question the validity of current protocols to study habit formation experimentally. I combine behavioral data with computational modeling and applied psychometrics, following (of course) an open science path. As part of my PhD, I did research stays at UAM (Madrid) with Miguel Vadillo and at HMU (Potsdam) with Daniel Schad. I really enjoy talking about science and how we actually do it. Outside academia, I love watching films, cooking, and—just as much—eating what others cook.
Pablo Martínez-López
PhD student
I got my degree in Psychology and Criminology from the University of Santiago de Compostela, one of the most beautiful places in Spain. After that, I pursued two Master's degrees in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology. Currently, I am a full-time PhD student at the University of Malaga, and my thesis examines the mechanisms of habit learning and their relationship with compulsivity. In parallel, I collaborate as a clinical psychologist with the university's Mental Healthcare Service, providing support to people who are facing personal or emotional difficulties. Out of the lab, I am an active and outgoing person (and, in fact, also inside the lab) who loves making different outdoor plans and playing sports. I also enjoy reading and playing board games, especially when I win.
Antonio Vázquez-Millán
PhD student
I studied Psychology at the University of Murcia (yes, it exists — and I loved it). I later completed a Master’s degree in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Granada. My research interests focus on cognitive control processes and on how representations are encoded, stored, and retrieved through experience. I am currently a PhD student at the University of Málaga with a FPI contract. My thesis is about habit acquisition across learning, with a specific focus on individual learning curves and the influence of outcome value on habit formation. I am a very active and sociable person. I enjoy spending time with friends and family, meeting new people and discovering new places. I also love music, dancing, reading and generally enjoying life.