Miss Milena Vásquez-Amézquita

Psychologist, MSc and PhD in Neurosciences | Associate Professor at Universidad El Bosque |Associate Researcher at CODEC – Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, an A1-ranked group by MinCiencias | Researcher in Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience, Sexuality, and Gender Equity | Eye Tracking & Experimental Methods

I completed two postdoctoral fellowships at Universidad de la Costa, both funded by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Colombia (MinCiencias). These projects focused on experimental research from neurocognitive and socioecological perspectives on sexuality, the use/development of eye-tracking technology, and the study of cognitive factors associated with sexual attraction and gender-based violence.

My research integrates neuroscience, psychology, and evolutionary approaches to understand human sexuality, partner preferences, and risk factors for gender-based violence. I direct the research seedbed SexCog: Sexuality and Affectivity from a Neurocognitive Perspective, and I lead experimental studies using eye tracking, including the development of an open-source webcam-based tracker to democratize behavioral science.

I have been author and co-author of publications in high-impact journals, and actively collaborate with international leaders in gender studies and perpetrator prevention initiatives for child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE). I am committed to bridging science and society, creating strategies of social appropriation of knowledge and interdisciplinary cooperation aimed at equity and prevention.

🔹 Research interests: sexual behavior, partner choice, gender and equity, preventing the perpetration of online and other child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA), cognitive-affective processes, eye tracking.
🔹 Strengths: interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation in accessible research technologies, mentoring of young researchers, and bridging science with policy and practice.
🔹 Goal: to expand international collaborations and bring experimental research into the service of equity, prevention, and global impact.