Ksander N. de Winkel

Ksander de Winkel serves as Project Leader of the Motion Perception and Simulation research group within the Department of Human Perception, Cognition and Action at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen, Germany, a position he has held since March 2017. His role involves leading both fundamental and applied research on self-motion perception, with direct applications to motion simulation and autonomous vehicle technologies.

His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Multisensory Perception of Spatial Orientation and Self-Motion from Utrecht University (2013), an M.Sc. in Applied Cognitive Psychology earned cum laude (2008), and a B.Sc. in Psychology, all completed at Utrecht University. Additional training includes specialized coursework in Applied Bayesian Statistics and Mathematical Statistics.

De Winkel's research program centers on how the brain integrates sensory information during self-motion, with particular focus on causal inference mechanisms when sensory cues conflict. His experimental work measures perceptual thresholds, investigates motion sickness triggers, and develops computational models of multisensory integration. This fundamental research directly informs applied projects including motion cueing algorithm development, simulator fidelity assessment, and solutions for autonomous vehicle passenger comfort.

His recent publications (2017-2018) demonstrate consistent focus on causal inference in spatial orientation and heading perception, with studies appearing in high-impact journals including Scientific Reports, Journal of Vision, and PLoS ONE. These works reveal how individual differences and sensory discrepancies affect motion perception, providing critical insights for engineering applications.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Young Researcher Grant from ESA Scientific Committee (2012)

He actively supervises graduate researchers from multiple institutions including University of Twente, University of Tübingen, and Delft University of Technology, with several students graduating cum laude. His research group maintains active collaborations with automotive and simulation industries to translate theoretical findings into practical motion solutions. Current projects address autonomous driving side-effects and next-generation motion cueing systems.

The Motion Perception and Simulation group operates within the Department of Human Perception, Cognition and Action, conducting psychophysical experiments using motion platforms, virtual reality systems, and neuroimaging techniques to advance understanding of self-motion perception.