Eye contact (mutual gaze) is among the most important signals in human communication and social interaction. Eye contact is known to modulate various aspects of social cognition. Although several theories have been proposed about this 'eye contact effect', these studies do not agree on: the mechanism underlying, the development of, the eye contact effect. The current programme aims to build a coherent model of the eye contact effect by testing different predictions from these theories. The programme consists of: conducting research projects on the mechanism and the development of the eye contact effect, publishing both empirical and theoretical papers, disseminating the research output to, and establishing networks with, national and international communities developing research skills both in experiments and in dissemination. The output of this research programme will be beneficial for the further understanding of the developmental basis of human social communication. It will also help develop user-friendly communication devices that can simulate face-to-face communication, which may be applicable for infants and children with special needs. The fellowship will also allow the acquisition of advanced levels of research, teaching and management skills, which are essential for development as an independent scientist.