Michal ArbillyAssistant Teaching Professor

Education

• Ph.D., Tel-Aviv University, 2011
• MSc, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 2005

Teaching Philosophy

I am interested in the evolution of behavior and cognition, and especially in the evolution of learning and decision-making processes in social animals. Living in a group exerts a wide range of selective pressures that shape cognitive abilities. The focus of my research is how sociality promotes the evolution of complex cognitive abilities, and how it may limit them. I study these questions using computer models – a powerful tool for looking into the complexities of cognitive processes, social dynamics, and the interaction between them. I teach courses on related topics using evolution of behavior as means to develop critical scientific thinking and to acquire skills in mathematical modeling.

Publications