Marta Walentynowicz

Marta Walentynowicz is a Research Scientist at the Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) and the Center for Self-Report Science (CSS) at the University of Southern California. She earned her Ph.D. in Health Psychology from KU Leuven (Belgium) in 2016. Her doctoral research investigated how cognitive and affective factors influence biases in the perception and memory of somatic symptoms.

Following her Ph.D., Marta pursued postdoctoral research at the University of Southern California, UC Louvain (Belgium), and KU Leuven, further advancing her expertise in interoception, symptom perception, and perseverative cognitions. Her research has been supported by multiple personal grants from national funding agencies and university funds.

Marta’s work integrates experimental methods—such as the induction and measurement of aversive bodily states in controlled laboratory settings—with real-time data capture techniques to explore the factors that influence how people respond to questions and report their experiences.

In addition to her work on symptom perception, Marta conducts research on self-report science, a key area of her expertise. She aims to enhance the validity of self-report measures through her own research and by supporting others in their efforts to improve these essential tools.

• Ph.D. Health Psychology, KU Leuven – University of Leuven, 2016
• M.A. Psychology, University of Gdansk, Poland, 2011
• B.A. Scandinavian Studies, University of Gdansk, Poland, 2010

PostDoctoral Appointments

• Postdoctoral Scholar – Research Associate, University of Southern California, 2016