Jona Ragogna
Psychology & Economics
I'm a sophomore UWC Davis Scholar at Macalester College interested in the intersection of psychology, economics, and philosophy. I study what makes people willing to exert cognitive effort, and how meaning and individual differences play into that. Before that I spent a year in Denmark working on my YouTube channel, and still before that I completed the International Baccalaureate at the Mahindra United World College of India.
I've lived in: 🇦🇹 → 🇮🇳 → 🇩🇰 → 🇩🇪 → 🇺🇸
Research Experiences
Meaning, Effort, & Need for Cogntion
Spring 2026First Author | Macalester College | Funded Independent Research
I am looking at whether perceived meaningfulness impacts people's willingness to cognitive exert effort, and how need for cognition moderates this.
Crisis of Meaning & Conspiracy Belief
Fall 2025First Author | Submission Pending | University of Oslo, MF Specialized University Oslo & Macalester College
We looked at how crises of meaning affect people's vulnerability to conspiracy theories depending on their worldviews (atheism, agnosticism, faith).
AI Use & Critical Thinking
Fall 2025In-Class Research Project | Macalester College
We looked at how different types of AI use impact critical thinking in college students with Need for Cognition as a moderating variable.
Academic Experiences
Research Assistant
Spring 2026Morality & Social Cognition Lab, Macalester College
Economics Teaching Assistant
Spring 2026Principles of Economics, Macalester College
Formative Experiences
In The Alps
2005 — 2021
After being born in Germany, I grew up in Innsbruck, Austria, speaking both German and Italian at home. Here, I got to spend loads of time skiing, studying STEM, and playing classical guitar in state and national competitions (placing first).
Mahindra United World College of India
2021 — 2023
I got to complete my IB Diploma and have the most amazing time with people from more than 80 different countries.
Fire & Rescue Team
2021 — 2023
At UWC, I got to lead a 40+ member fire & rescue team and conducted more than 150 hours of fitness and emergency training with them. We successfully fought 9 wildfires!
Gap Year & YouTube
2023 — 2024
After UWC, I took a gap year in which I moved to Denmark and financed myself with my YouTube channel. This is one of my favorite videos about how I take notes that build wisdom (you can click it to watch.)
Macalester College
2024 — Present
Macalester is where I first learned to love research, and am getting ample opportunity to learn and practice. Through the liberal arts system, I also get to engage with more of my interests, like classical music, philosophy of love and friendship, and world religions.
Center for Applied Rationality
November 2025
This 5-day rationality workshop in California was one of the best experiences I've had in the USA so far. Strong friendships & lots of self-exploration + learning!
Jona's Library
Currently Reading
Recently Read
"There is more to us than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps for the rest of our lives we will be unwilling to settle for less."
— Kurt Hahn (founder of UWC)