Contact information
Mailing Address: Department of Psychology, Institute for Population and Human Studies,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
1113 Sofia, BULGARIA, “Acad. G.Bonchev” Str., Block 6
Phone: +359 2 979 30 56
E-mail: etsankova@gmail.com
Research Interests
First Impressions, Cyber Psychology, Human-AI Interaction, Trust, Trustworthiness, Deception,
Emotion, Emotional Intelligence, Nonverbal Communication, Face Perception
Education
2013 PhD in Psychology, Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany
2009 MSc in Neuro-Cognitive Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
2007 BA in Integrated Social and Cognitive Psychology, Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen,
Germany
Academic Positions
2022–present Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Institute for Population and
Human Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
2020–2022 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychology, Institute for Population and Human
Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
2013–2012 Postdoctoral Fellow/Lecturer, Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Research Projects (last 10 Years)
Principal Investigator, “Meta Accuracy of First Impressions Online“, project financed by the The
Bulgarian National Science Fund at the Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria, National
Scientific Program “Petar Beron. Science and Innovation with Europe” (Petar Beron and NIE),
contract КП-06-ДБ-3
Research Fellow, FP7 International transdisciplinary project “eCUTE: Education in Cultural
Understanding, Technologically-Enhanced” (2010–2013)
Research Fellow, FP7 International transdisciplinary project “CYBEREMOTIONS: Collective
Emotions in Cyber Space” (2009–2013) – Research Fellow
Teaching and Supervision
2020–present Guest Lecturer at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Invited Lectures within:
XII National Workshop for Doctoral Students and Young Researchers in the Social
Sciences (2020)
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Teaching Institute for High School Students
2014–2018 Lecturer and Mentor in the undergraduate Psychology program at Jacobs University
Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Courses Taught:
“Methods in Psychology and Neuroscience I” (Fall 2018)
“Advanced Academic and Professional Skills” (Fall 2018)
“Learning and Memory” (Fall 2016, 2018)
“Current Debates in Group Processes and Intergroup Relations” (Spring 2018)
“Current Debates in Social Cognition” (Spring 2018)
“Social Neuroscience” (Spring 2014, 2015, 2016)
Other:
“Experimental Design” (workshop for doctoral students, Intersession 2017-2018)
“Visual Empathy” (invited lectures, Fall 2014, 2015)
Selected Publications
Tsankova, E., & Tair, E. (2022). Meta-accuracy on the Internet: Initial tests of underlying
dimensions, contributing factors, and biases. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 837931.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.837931
Tsankova, E., & Tair, E. (2021a). Meta-accuracy of very first impressions: A mini review.
Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 736534. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.736534
Tsankova, E., & Tair, E. (2021b). Meta cognition on the Internet: Expected meta-accuracy for
human and AI virtual assistants’ first impressions about us. Annual Review of
Cybertherapy and Telemedicine, 19, 129–131. https://www.arctt.info/volume-19-
summer-2021
Tsankova, E., & Tair, E. (2021c). Studying the meta-accuracy first impressions in the pandemic
and post-pandemic reality: Challenges and opportunities presented by Internet research.
E-methodology, 7(7), 140–150. https://doi.org/10.15503/emet2020.140.150
Цанкова, Е., & Таир, Е. (2021). Мета точността на първите впечатления онлайн. В С.
Джонев, В. Стоянов, Г. Карастоянов, Е. Герганов, Е. Таир, Й. Зографова, К.
Гайдаров, М. Бакрачева, П. Калчев, Р. Георгиева, & Т. Янчева (Ред.), Българско
списание по психология: Доклади от IX Международен конгрес по психология 2020
г., бр. 1 (стр. 78–83). Дружество на психолозите в Република България.
http://psychology-bg.org/wp-content/uploads/Sp_br-14-sekcia-1-final-za-pe4at.pdf
Tsankova, E., Vanman, E. J., & Kappas, A. (2018). Interaction of stereotypical trustworthiness,
facial resemblance, and group membership in the perception of trustworthiness and other
traits. Journal of Trust Research, 8(1), 31–44.
https://doi.org/10.1080/21515581.2018.1453824
Krumhuber, E., Tsankova, E., & Kappas, A. (2016). Examining subjective and physiological
responses to norm violation using text-based vignettes. International Journal of
Psychology, 53(1), 23–30. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12253
Tsankova, E. & Kappas, A. (2016). Facial skin smoothness as an indicator of perceived
trustworthiness and related traits. Perception, 45(4), 400–408.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0301006615616748
Krumhuber, E. G., Swiderska, A., Tsankova, E., Kamble, S. V., & Kappas, A. (2015). Real or
artificial? Intergroup biases in mind perception in a cross-cultural perspective. PLoS ONE
10(9), e0137840. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137840
Olk, B., Tsankova, E., Petca, A. R., & Wilhelm, A. F. X. (2014). Measuring effects of voluntary
attention: A comparison among predictive arrow, colour and number cues. The Quarterly
Journal of Experimental Psychology, 67(10), 2025–2041.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2014.898670