The “Scented Pathways: Unveiling the Relationship of Microbiomes with Olfactory Abilities and Psychological Well-Being” project is financed by the PNRR Investment I8 program.
The research grant was awarded to Prof. Univ. Dr. Agnieszka Sorokowska and will be implemented in the The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, DATA Lab.
The project aims at a complex exploration of the relationship between olfactory abilities, nasal microbiome, well-being and other psychological correlates and it has a total budget of 6,000,000 RON.
The proposed project combines diverse participant samples and ambitious methodologies, including field research in traditional societies such as those of the Bolivian Amazon and West Papua, large-scale psychological and physiological testing. This project is important not only for a deeper understanding of the relationship between the sense of smell and psychological well-being, but also for the possibility of developing strategies to improve olfactory and psychological functions. The results of this project will contribute to the development of innovative interventions in the field of mental health and quality of life.
Dr. Agnieszka is a university professor in the field of psychology at Wrocław University in Poland, and now affiliated with Babeș-Bolyai University. Its multidisciplinary research program mainly explores evolutionary, cross-cultural and cognitive psychology, although many of its studies also combine other disciplines, such as medicine, anthropology or neuroscience. Her scientific interests also led her to many isolated and remote places, such as West Papua, the Bolivian Amazon or the Pacific Islands, where she conducted field research.
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