Jana Sedlakova
Postdoctoral researcher
Jana is a postdoctoral researcher at the Ethox Centre, where she works on a project on adversarial co-operation as part of the AntiTHESES platform. The project aims to develop novel methodologies and tools for engaging constructively and meaningfully with radical moral disagreement and polarisation. Her research integrates methods and concepts from ethics, epistemology, philosophy of science, health research, and data science.
Jana obtained her PhD from the University of Zurich, where her research focused on the ethical and epistemic challenges posed by conversational AI in mental healthcare. Her work focused in particular on the implications of AI’s human-likeness and on the interdisciplinary challenges and ethical themes that arise as health research increasingly collaborates with data science and AI- driven methodologies. A central aim of her work has been to bridge disciplinary perspectives. In addition to her research, Jana served as Scientific Manager and Chair of the Ethics and Health communities of the Digital Society Initiative at the University of Zurich.
Recent publications
The Sound of Silence: What AI Psychotherapy Chatbots Bring About While Always Chattering.
Journal article
Sedlakova J. and Trachsel M., (2026), Am J Bioeth, 26, 89 - 91
Digital Informal Care: The Use of Technology in Family Care. A Scoping Review
Journal article
Nittas V. et al, (2026), Public Health Reviews, 46
Beyond overconfidence: Embedding curiosity and humility for ethical medical AI.
Journal article
Cajas Ordóñez SA. et al, (2026), PLOS Digit Health, 5
Public views on research with publicly available data in Switzerland: Implications for digital research, science communication, and policy.
Journal article
Daniore P. et al, (2025), Public Underst Sci, 34, 988 - 1008
Empathy in mental health care interventions by conversational artificial intelligence
Chapter
Sedlakova J. et al, (2025), 250 - 263

