معرفی
Mariya Toneva is a tenure-track faculty member at the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems, conducting groundbreaking research at the intersection of Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Neuroscience. She leads the Bridging AI and Neuroscience (BrAIN) group, focusing on computational models that align AI systems with human brain processes. Her work aims to enhance both AI capabilities and neuroscience understanding through this cross-disciplinary approach.
- Actively recruiting postdocs, PhDs, and research interns in areas like code/text representation, brain-AI alignment, and neuroimaging data analysis
- Collaborator on NIH-funded projects using fMRI and neuropixel data
Research Themes:
Her group explores neural mechanisms of language processing, event segmentation in narratives, memory reactivation via music, and effective human-AI collaboration frameworks. Key methods include LLM analysis, cross-modal similarity metrics, and naturalistic task-based fMRI studies.
Key Publications (2024-2025):
- Brain-tuned speech models (INTERSPEECH 2025)
- Cognitive event boundaries in LLMs (Behavioral Research Methods 2025)
- Music-induced memory reactivation (biorxiv 2024)
- LLM-brain alignment reasons (EMNLP 2024)
Advising: Mentors PhD candidates Omer Moussa (speech processing), Camila Kolling (representational similarity), and Gabriele Merlin (LLM alignment). Collaborates with institutions like MIT, NYU, and ETH Zurich.
