As part of her collaboration with Jagiellonian University Medical College (UJCM), under the supervision of Prof. Marcin Waligóra, she is currently carrying out a research project funded by the National Science Centre, focusing on linguistic and extra-linguistic ways of interpersonal expression of physical pain.
A graduate of doctoral studies at the Jagiellonian University (2020–2025). Her research interests focus on the intersection of ethics and philosophical conceptualizations of suffering, with particular emphasis on physical pain and illness. Recipient of the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education’s “Diamond Grant” (2020–2025), the French Government Scholarship (May–June 2025), the Minister’s Scholarship for Outstanding Students (2021), and the Preludium grant (2026–2029).
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The project “Communication of Physical Pain in Clinical Practice: From Subjective Experience to Intersubjective Expression” analyzes physical pain as an experience composed of three dimensions: subjective (private experience), intersubjective (shaped by social relations), and communicative (its modes of expression). Pain is experienced individually and is not directly accessible to others, which poses a challenge in clinical practice and patient communication. At the same time, research shows that both the experience and expression of pain are strongly dependent on social context and interpersonal relationships, including the relationship with medical staff.
The project assumes that effective communication of pain is possible thanks to the intersubjective elements of experience, which allow meaning to be attributed to it. A key role is played by metaphorical language, often used by patients to describe pain. The analysis of these metaphors (drawing on cognitive metaphor theory and phenomenology) aims to provide a better understanding of the patient’s experience. According to the project’s hypothesis, embodied imagination plays a crucial role, as it enables the creation and understanding of pain-related metaphors and helps to transcend pure subjectivism.