Kartik is a PhD researcher in project C2 under the supervision of Prof. Grit Hein. His research focuses on an approach-avoidance conflict paradigm to explore how the presence of a social partner and empathy influence decision-making when faced with facial ambiguity, utilizing a virtual reality (VR) setup.

He has an academic background in Computer Science and graduated with a Master’s in Mental Health Psychology at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Before joining the RTG, he worked as a mental health practitioner in Edinburgh, supporting individuals with complex psychiatric disorders.

Beyond research, Kartik enjoys dancing, cooking, hiking, and discovering new cafes.