Merle Fairhurst

Merle Fairhurst is Junior Professor of Social Affective Touch at TU Dresden within the Cluster of Excellence “CeTI – Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop”. A cognitive neuroscientist with strong interdisciplinary connections to philosophy, she explores how sensory signals—particularly touch—shape our interactions with the world and with others. In addition to her scientific pursuits, she is a trained classical singer and an advocate for women in academia.

Research Focus: Prof. Fairhurst’s work centres on the unique properties of touch and the factors that distinguish group interactions from dyadic ones. Her curiosity is driven by “tricky cases” such as the profound sense of connection experienced during joint music-making or the healing effect of a mother’s touch. She is especially interested in how touch influences group coordination, exemplified by her recent question on how tactile contact during group dancing alters feelings and movement.

Community & Vision: Beyond the lab, Merle is dedicated to fostering an inclusive academic environment and promoting female researchers. Balancing her role as a mother of five with her scientific career, she embodies the values of CeTI’s collaborative and supportive network.