Michael Schmid

Michael Schmid is a Professor in the Medicine Section at the Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg. His research lies at the intersection of neuroscience, neurology, and cognitive science, focusing on the neural mechanisms underlying vision and their disruption in neurological conditions such as developmental dyslexia.

His career includes leadership roles at Newcastle University (2019–2015 as Senior Lecturer), the Ernst Strüngmann Institute (2012–2015 as Emmy Noether group leader), and postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health (2007–2010). He earned his PhD in Neuroscience from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics and the University of Tübingen (2007).

His research explores visual perception in neurological diseases, utilizing techniques such as optogenetics, neuroimaging, and behavioral studies in non-human primates. Recent work examines cortical reorganization, rhythmic neural activity, and sensory processing in macaques, with translational relevance for human vision disorders.

Key publications highlight advancements in understanding blindsight, visual network dynamics, and the role of the lateral geniculate nucleus in perceptual suppression. His lab (http://www.optovisionlab.org) investigates how cognitive processes influence visual perception and develops interventions for reading difficulties.