Research & Expertise news at HSE University

Ekaterina Alexandrova, Academic Supervisor of the Egyptology programme at HSE University, has studied the funerary practices of ancient Egyptians based on religious texts and the works of Egyptologists from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. Traditionally, it was believed that Egyptian religion was built solely on the fear of death. However, an analysis of texts reveals that ancient Egyptian beliefs were not merely reflections of a fear of death, but a complex system aimed at preserving order and stability both in life and the afterlife. The study has been published in the journal Shagi/Steps.

Researchers from HSE University have introduced a new tool to assist in building career paths and navigating today’s job market—the Jobs and Skills Navigator. This service algorithmically ranks available vacancies and the corresponding professional skills in the context of current labour market requirements. It aims to simplify the identification of competencies needed for mastering a new profession and streamline interactions between employers and job seekers.

In late October and early November, HSE University hosted the Autumn School on ‘Logic and Formal Philosophy’ and a conference on logical pluralism as part of a collaborative project uniting Russian and Brazilian philosopher-logicians and mathematician-logicians. The project’s leaders and participants, Elena Dragalina-Chernaya, Itala Loffredo D'Ottaviano, Marcelo Esteban Coniglio, and Evandro Luis Gomes, shared their insights about the initiative.

In competitions, esports players, like other athletes, face stress and show worse results due to pressure. A substantial decrease takes place in the performance of esports players during overtime. This effect, however, is significantly mitigated in online competitions compared to live events—the difference can reach 30%. A study by a team of authors from HSE University’s Moscow and Perm campuses and European University Viadrina (Germany) explores the phenomenon of choking under pressure within the context of esports. The study was published in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization.

Often, individuals with neurological or mental disorders exhibit distinctive language patterns. In modern clinical practice, digital tools can play a significant role in supporting language therapy and rehabilitation for persons with language disorders. Additionally, in the future, digital tools could assist healthcare specialists in assessing the severity of symptoms associated with such disorders.

Researchers at HSE University have developed a machine learning (ML) model capable of predicting the risk of complications—major adverse cardiac events—in patients following a myocardial infarction. For the first time, the model incorporates genetic data, enabling a more accurate assessment of the risk of long-term complications. The study has been published in Frontiers in Medicine.

A team of researchers at the HSE AI Research Centre has created an index to evaluate the ethical standards of artificial intelligence (AI) systems used in medicine. This tool is designed to minimise potential risks and promote safer development and implementation of AI technologies in medical practice.

Russian scientists at Zhirmunsky National Scientific Centre of Marine Biology, HSE University, and Moscow State University have studied Phoronis embryolabi, a rare species of marine invertebrate found in the waters of the Sea of Japan. This species is notable for its unique reproductive system, which includes the development of larvae within the parent’s body and an unusual sperm structure. The study's findings contribute to our understanding of the evolutionary adaptations of marine organisms to extreme conditions. The study has been published in Zoologischer Anzeiger.