Leor is a PhD candidate at the Department of Psychology at Downing College, Cambridge. Leor’s doctoral research, funded by a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, explores the psychological processes underpinning political, religious, and nationalistic beliefs. Her research combines methods from experimental psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience to investigate the psychology of ideological adherence and group identity formation. In particular, she is interested in investigating cognitive characteristics that might act as vulnerability factors for radicalization and ideologically-motivated behaviour.
Leor holds a B.A. in Psychological and Behavioural Sciences from the University of Cambridge, and has published work on the neuroscience of agency, creativity, and hallucinations. Her current research interests include political neuroscience, the cognitive science of religion, and the socio-political and psychological roots of nationalism.