Marijn van Vliet is a Research Fellow at Aalto University's Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, specializing in computational neuroscience and brain imaging. He focuses on decoding cognitive processes through advanced analysis of MEG/EEG data. Academy Research Fellow (2021-present) Principal investigator in projects like 'Unraveling language in the brain through biologically plausible modeling' His research combines machine learning with neuroimaging to explore language comprehension, semantic processing, and functional connectivity. Key methodologies include convolutional networks, representational similarity analysis, and beamforming techniques. Active in open science initiatives Developed tools like mne-rsa and mne-faster Recent work investigates cortical dynamics during semantic processing, feedforward/backward visual word recognition, and test-retest reliability of MEG connectivity metrics. His projects are supported by the Academy of Finland and RCF Academy funding.
Dr. Stephanie Theves is a Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics. Her work focuses on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying intelligence, relational reasoning, and concept representation through cognitive neuroscience approaches. Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology Her research explores how the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex encode hierarchical concepts, construct cognitive maps, and support relational memory systems. Key findings demonstrate that neural representations prioritize conceptual relationships over raw feature distances, and that place-cell-like mechanisms in the brain modulate memory organization. Theves' recent publications examine category abstraction, spatial cognition, and beta-band activity modulation through sensory training. Her methodological approach combines neuroimaging with computational modeling to investigate neural processes. As part of the Max Planck Society, her work contributes to foundational knowledge in cognitive neuroscience while intersecting with interdisciplinary research themes in music, language, and computational auditory perception.
Hamed Bahmani is a research scientist and entrepreneur in digital health and neurotechnology based in Berlin, Germany. He currently serves as a visiting researcher and project leader at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen, Germany, and is affiliated with the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN). He maintains active memberships in the Vision Science Society (VSS), The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), Society for Neuroscience (SfN), International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), International Myopia Institute (IMI), and serves as German Chair of the Neuromarketing Science and Business Association (NMSBA). His educational background includes: Double degree in electrical and biomedical engineering Doctoral degree in neurosciences from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics Dr. Bahmani's research centers on the physiology of cognitive processes, with specialized focus on neural correlates of higher visual functions including visual perception and attention. He pioneered groundbreaking work on neural encoding through his Volkswagen Foundation-funded project "Uploading data to the brain," which demonstrates real-time transfer of navigational knowledge in rodents using multi-electrode recording and microstimulation. His interdisciplinary methodology integrates neuroscience, engineering, and digital health to explore perceptual organization mechanisms and brain-computer interface applications, particularly investigating how synchronized neural activity in primary visual cortex (V1) carries perceptual information during binocular flash suppression. He has secured competitive research funding from the Volkswagen Foundation (€87,000 for his neural encoding project), Max Planck Institute, and Federal Ministry of Education and Research. As Founder and CEO of Dopavision GmbH, he leads a neurotechnology venture developing digital health solutions, building upon his prior role as Head of Research at Berlin's Flying Health Incubator and postdoctoral fellowship at ZEISS Vision Science Lab, University Hospital Tübingen.
Tatjana Tchumatchenko is a Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt and affiliated with the University of Bonn Medical Center. She leads the Theory of Neural Dynamics group, focusing on computational models of neural coding, synaptic plasticity, and dendritic computation. Her work integrates mathematics, physics, and computer science to understand how neurons and networks process information. Institution: Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt Secondary Affiliation: University of Bonn Medical Center Group: Theory of Neural Dynamics Research Focus: Computational Neuroscience, Neural Coding, Synaptic and Dendritic Dynamics Her research spans from molecular-level processes like mRNA and protein distribution in dendrites to network-level phenomena such as information transmission, oscillations, and learning. She develops theoretical models and computational tools to analyze neural data and predict novel effects testable by experiments. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges theoretical neuroscience with experimental biology, often in close collaboration with experimental groups worldwide. The 15 most recent publications highlight a strong trend toward integrating molecular, structural, and functional aspects of synaptic and dendritic computation. Key themes include competitive synaptic plasticity, energy constraints on molecular localization, astrocyte involvement in learning, and the development of novel analytical methods for imaging and electrophysiology data. Her work increasingly connects computational principles with biological realism, influencing both neuroscience and artificial intelligence. Heinz Maier-Leibnitz-Prize (2016) ERC Starting Grant (2020) Boehringer Ingelheim FENS Research Award (2022) Young Academy of Europe Fellow (2019) Focus Magazine: 25 Young Innovators Shaping Germany’s Future (2017) Tchumatchenko has mentored over thirty students and postdocs, many of whom have received prestigious fellowships. Her research is supported by the Max Planck Society, DFG, and Hessian funding agencies. She actively contributes to the neuroscience community through organizing workshops, serving on program committees (Bernstein Conference, CNS, FENS), and promoting women in science. She currently chairs the Bonn Center for Neuroscience and co-organizes international workshops on dendritic computation and synaptic plasticity. Her lab operates at the intersection of theoretical modeling and experimental collaboration, with members shared across scientific groups. She emphasizes training the next generation of computational neuroscientists and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue.
Konstantinos Meletis is a Professor of Systems Neuroscience at the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet . His research focuses on understanding neural circuit mechanisms underlying motivated behaviors and mood disorders, including the role of basal ganglia, hypothalamus, habenula, and serotonergic systems. His work integrates advanced technologies like optogenetics, spatial transcriptomics, and circuit mapping to dissect how neurons and circuits contribute to decision-making and pathological states. Key research areas include: Neural circuits regulating aversion and reward Dopamine pathways and Parkinson’s disease Genetic and molecular profiling of neuron types Optogenetic manipulation of brain circuits Awards and grants include the Arvid Carlsson Foundation Prize (2024), Swedish Research Council grants on striatal and dopamine circuits, and funding from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. His lab has published extensively on spatial transcriptomics, striatal organization, and aversion circuits. Clinical and outreach efforts include public engagement through initiatives like the 'Adventure Through the Brain' project. His team collaborates on translational research, including studies on stress-related neurons and motor dysfunction in Parkinsonism.
Beatriz Bano Otalora is a Lecturer in the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Gastroenterology, focusing on circadian biology, neurophysiology, and light's effects on physiological processes. Her research integrates molecular, cellular, and systems-level approaches to study circadian rhythms, retinal cell adaptations, and behavioral responses to environmental cues. She has contributed to understanding circadian clock mechanisms in diurnal and nocturnal mammals, including species-specific adaptations in visual systems and skeletal biology. Her work spans topics such as exon skipping therapies for muscular dystrophy, light-mediated signaling pathways, and circadian disruption in disease models. Notable collaborations include studies on rodent ecological niches (Octodon degus and murids) and the role of mechanical loading in skeletal circadian clocks. She has organized academic events like SRUK at the Cervantes Institute (2018) and Multilingual Public Seminars, reflecting her commitment to science communication. Key research areas include: circadian neurobiology, retinal cell biology, chronobiology, and translational medicine. Her recent publications emphasize mechanistic insights into light-dependent behaviors, evolutionary adaptations of circadian systems, and novel therapeutic strategies for neuromuscular disorders.
Dima Amso is a Professor of Psychology at Columbia University and currently serves as Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement. She holds a BS from Tufts University, a PhD from New York University (2005), and has held faculty positions at Weil Medical College of Cornell University, Brown University (2010–2020), and Columbia University (2020–present). Her research focuses on brain and cognitive development in infancy, particularly how environmental variables shape developmental trajectories. She leads the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab and has authored over 100 papers, funded by institutions like the National Institutes of Health and the Simons Foundation. Her research interests include neurodevelopmental mechanisms, the impact of socioeconomic factors, and interventions to promote resilience. Notable awards include the James S. McDonnell Scholar Award and Fellow of the American Psychological Society. In her administrative role, she oversees faculty development initiatives, policy committees, and maintains active research and teaching commitments. Her work bridges basic science and applied contexts, addressing global health disparities through studies in South Africa, Malawi, and Jordan. Recent studies explore pandemic impacts on neurodevelopment, caregiver influence on learning, and microbial metabolism interactions with visual systems. She advocates for inclusive methodologies and cross-cultural research to advance developmental neuroscience.
Greggory Heller is a Researcher at the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, School of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His work focuses on neurophysiological mechanisms underlying sensory processing, learning, and attention, with a particular emphasis on visual system dynamics and neuronal population coding. He employs advanced neurotechnologies like Neuropixels probes, two-photon imaging, and multi-modal electrophysiological analysis to study neural circuits in awake mice. Education : Not explicitly listed in available text Affiliations : Member of MIT's BCS community with involvement in Core Facilities and InBRAIN initiatives Research interests include computational neuroscience, synaptic plasticity, and cross-species comparisons of neural representation variability. His recent work investigates how synaptic dynamics shape binocular circuit reconstruction and explores methodological innovations for high-dimensional data analysis in neuroscience. Heller has contributed to understanding functional hierarchies in visual systems and the role of dendritic backpropagation in neuron classification. Grants & Advising : No specific grants or advisee names mentioned in provided materials. Likely involved in mentoring through MIT's PhD programs and research initiatives. Labs/Teams : Affiliated with MIT's neuroimaging and electrophysiology research groups, though specific lab names not listed.
Abigail Noyce is an assistant research professor at the Carnegie Mellon Neuroscience Institute , affiliated with the Department of Psychology . She investigates cognitive mechanisms underlying perception, attention, and memory using EEG and fMRI neuroimaging techniques, focusing on how the brain exploits predictability and sensory specialization. Her research spans auditory and visual cognition , examining dual-task interference, working memory organization, and multisensory integration. Current work explores how task demands interact with sensory processing limitations and individual neural architectures. Recent publications emphasize auditory attention (2024), functional cortical mapping (2023), and predictive coding (2022). Her 2025 study on spatial selection dynamics reveals novel mechanisms in attentional control systems. Dr. Noyce's methodological expertise includes EEG signal decoding, fMRI connectivity analysis, and connectome fingerprinting techniques for individual prediction models. Contact: abigail.noyce@cmu.edu
Dr. Jason Climer is an Assistant Professor of Molecular & Integrative Physiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, affiliated with the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. His research focuses on understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying memory formation, storage, and forgetting, particularly in spatial contexts. He employs advanced techniques like calcium/glutamate imaging, virtual reality, and computational neuroscience to study neural firing patterns in hippocampal neurons. Key research areas include the evolution of neural activity over memory lifetimes, synaptic input organization to place cells, and the role of cholinergic modulation in spatial navigation. His lab combines multi-scale approaches to analyze neural networks at cellular and population levels. Current openings exist for graduate students and postdocs interested in interdisciplinary neuroscience research. Dr. Climer’s work has been published in high-impact journals such as Nature Communications , Neuron , and eNeuro . He leads the Climer Lab, which emphasizes curiosity-driven exploration of memory dynamics using cutting-edge experimental and analytical tools.
Adam Daniel Steel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and holds a joint appointment at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. His research centers on neural mechanisms of scene perception, memory systems, and their interactions in real-world contexts using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Education: DPhil in Biomedical Sciences, University of Oxford Dr. Steel investigates how memory guides visual perception during natural behaviors, with emphasis on retinotopic organization, scene processing, and spatial cognition. His work bridges cognitive neuroscience and vision science, examining cortical networks involved in memory-perception integration, particularly in posterior cerebral regions. Key methodologies include fMRI analysis of real-world immersive environments and probabilistic brain mapping. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a cohesive focus on memory-guided perception, with increasing use of immersive real-world paradigms. His research spans cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging, and vision science, consistently exploring how memory systems prime perceptual judgments and how cortical landmarks organize scene processing. No scientific awards were explicitly documented in the source material. Dr. Steel collaborates extensively with Christopher E. Robertson, Brenda D. Garcia, and Adam Mynick. His work demonstrates significant academic impact through citations (16 for his 2024 Nature Neuroscience paper) and broad dissemination across 25 news outlets, 5 blogs, and extensive social media engagement (84 X posts, 10 Bluesky references). While specific grant details are unreported, his Beckman Institute affiliation suggests interdisciplinary funding support. He maintains active research within the Beckman Institute's collaborative neuroscience ecosystem, leveraging its advanced neuroimaging facilities for studies on cortical organization and memory-perception dynamics.
Johannes Dahmen is a Departmental Lecturer and Senior Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the University of Oxford within the Auditory and Visual Neuroscience group. His career spans institutions such as University College London and Oxford, focusing on the functional architecture of sensory circuits and computations in sensory perception. University of London, Goldsmiths College - BSc University of Düsseldorf - Diplom University of Oxford - MSc, DPhil His research integrates psychophysical , anatomical , electrophysiological , and optical tools to dissect sensory circuits. His recent publications emphasize subcortical communication , midbrain auditory functions , and cross-species tonotopy in sensory systems. Key scientific contributions include studies on: Thalamic circuit heterogeneity Midbrain sound detection mechanisms Integration of multisensory inputs Dahmen is associated with the King Group and has collaborated with Sonja Hofer and Tom Mrsic-Flogel . His work bridges auditory and visual neuroscience , emphasizing computational models of sensory processing.
Christiaan Levelt is an Endowed Professor in the Faculty of Science at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam), specializing in Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology. He is also affiliated with Amsterdam Neuroscience - Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms research institute. His primary research interests focus on: Visual Cortex development and plasticity Interneuron function and maturation Ocular dominance plasticity mechanisms Thalamocortical interactions Calcium imaging and optogenetics techniques Dr. Levelt's recent work demonstrates significant contributions to understanding neural circuit development, particularly how inhibitory neurons and astrocytes regulate plasticity in the visual system. His research employs advanced techniques including calcium imaging, optogenetics, and sophisticated computational analysis tools. A notable trend in his recent publications is the exploration of how experience shapes neural circuitry, with implications for understanding developmental disorders and brain plasticity mechanisms. Dr. Levelt has supervised 12 PhD theses, indicating a strong commitment to mentoring the next generation of neuroscientists. His work has received attention across multiple platforms, with several publications being picked up by news outlets (ranging from 5 to 16 outlets per paper) and widely discussed on social media. His laboratory appears to focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms of neural circuit development, particularly in the visual system, using mouse models to investigate fundamental principles of brain organization and plasticity.
Dr. Christian Mayer is a Max Planck Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence in Martinsried, Germany, where he heads the Neurogenomics research group. He is affiliated with the Graduate School of Systemic Neuroscience (GSN) and the International Max Planck Research School. His laboratory is embedded within a collaborative research campus that includes multiple Max Planck Institutes, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Technical University of Munich, and Helmholtz Zentrum. Dr. Mayer's research focuses on understanding the complex mechanisms controlling brain development, with particular emphasis on inhibitory neurons that use GABA as a neurotransmitter. His work spans multiple key areas: Neuronal Development and Diversity: Investigating how progenitor cells develop into specific neuron types Genetic and Epigenetic Regulation: Studying how genomic enhancers influence GABAergic neuron development Autism Spectrum Disorder Research: Examining high-risk proteins for ASD Technological Innovation: Developing novel methods like barcode lineage tracing and CRISPR perturbation sequencing Analysis of Dr. Mayer's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on single-cell approaches to understand neuronal diversity and development. His work increasingly integrates spatial transcriptomics with lineage tracing to map how cellular identity emerges during brain development. There's a clear progression from basic developmental studies toward understanding neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism spectrum disorder, with a growing emphasis on the relationship between genetic risk factors and functional outcomes in neural circuits. Scientific recognition includes: EMBO Young Investigator (2023) ERC Starting Grant (2018) EMBO Long-Term Fellowship (2012) Ph.D. prize for biochemistry and neurobiology (2011) Dr. Mayer maintains active collaborations with leading neuroscience institutions worldwide and supervises multiple graduate students and postdocs. His lab has secured significant funding including the ERC Starting Grant, supporting research on neuronal development and neurodevelopmental disorders. Current projects include studies on inhibitory neuron development using advanced single-cell genomics techniques and brain organoid models. The Mayer Lab operates as a multidisciplinary team combining expertise in molecular biology, single-cell genomics, epigenetics, bioinformatics, and brain organoid culture. They are embedded within the collaborative neuroscience ecosystem of the Max Planck campus in Martinsried, facilitating close interactions with complementary research groups studying neural circuits, behavior, and computational neuroscience.
Madineh Sedigh-Sarvestani is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurobiology & Behavior at Cornell University and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Freeman Hrabowski Scholar. Her research investigates how the brain's sensory systems integrate with bodily movements to shape visual perception. BA in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College PhD in Engineering Science & Mechanics from Penn State University Her lab employs in vivo two-photon imaging , electrophysiology , and machine learning to study visuomotor circuits in tree shrews and rats , focusing on embodied cognition principles. Recent publications highlight her work on visual field mapping, thalamocortical dynamics, and cross-species comparisons. Scientific contributions include: Defining sensorimotor signatures in visual circuits Advancing closed-loop experimental paradigms Organizing Tree Shrew Discovery meetings to promote species diversity in neuroscience The lab offers mentorship emphasizing teamwork, scientific rigor, and public communication of research, with support for conference participation and career development.
