Alicja Puścian, PhD, a neuroscientist at the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology. Her research focuses on the brain-behavior relationship, particularly in the context of emotions, motivation, and social behavior, integrating knowledge from psychology, biology, and behavioral analysis. She has gained research experience in Switzerland, Japan, and the United States, notably at Yale University, where her postdoctoral research on the dynamics of neuronal activity changes during behavior formation earned her the Brown-Coxe Award. She is the recipient of the Young Scientist of the Year Award from the Polish Society for Neuroscience, the European Brain and Behavior Society, and the Fulbright STEM Impact Award. From the beginning of her scientific career, she has been involved in pro-equality and mentoring initiatives, such as Women in Science at Yale University and Women for Science in Poland, as well as popularization initiatives, including Khan Academy. She is an ambassador of the Polish-American Fulbright Commission.