Romy Lorenz

Dr. Romy Lorenz is a Max Planck Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen, Germany, where she leads the Cognitive Neuroscience & Neurotechnology research group. She previously held postdoctoral positions at the University of Cambridge, Stanford University, and the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive & Brain Sciences from 2018 to 2023 as a Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow.

Dr. Lorenz's educational background includes:

• BSc in Psychology from Leuphana University (2009)
• MSc in Human-Machine Interaction from TU Berlin (2012)
• PhD in Neurotechnology from Imperial College London (2017)

Her research focuses on understanding the frontoparietal brain network mechanisms that underpin high-level cognition and adaptive behavior. She employs an interdisciplinary approach combining subject-specific brain-computer interface technology, fMRI at standard and ultrahigh magnetic field strengths (3T, 7T, and 9.4T), EEG, non-invasive brain stimulation, computational modeling, and machine learning techniques. A key innovation in her work is the development of neuroadaptive Bayesian optimization methods that allow for real-time, closed-loop experimental design in cognitive neuroscience.

Dr. Lorenz's recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward investigating brain function at increasingly fine-grained spatial scales, particularly exploring layer-specific processing in the prefrontal cortex using ultrahigh-field fMRI. Her work bridges computational neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and neurotechnology, with applications ranging from basic cognitive science to clinical rehabilitation. A significant portion of her research focuses on closed-loop systems that integrate real-time brain imaging with adaptive experimental design and stimulation protocols.

Her notable scientific achievements include:

• Outstanding Contributions in AI Innovation Award
• Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Funding from the German Scholar Organisation
• Fellowships from the Wellcome Trust and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Dr. Lorenz has secured significant research funding for her work, including support from the Wellcome Trust and German funding agencies. She has mentored several students, including Master's students like Pedro who has presented their collaborative work at conferences. Her research group actively recruits postdoctoral researchers and students interested in cognitive neuroscience and neurotechnology.

Dr. Lorenz leads the Cognitive Neuroscience & Neurotechnology research group at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, which focuses on developing and applying advanced neuroimaging and computational methods to understand high-level cognitive functions. She has also co-initiated interest groups such as CoCoNUT (Computational Cognitive Neuroscience at the Max Planck Institute) to foster interdisciplinary collaboration. Her lab utilizes cutting-edge technologies including real-time fMRI at ultrahigh field strengths, EEG, and non-invasive brain stimulation to investigate frontoparietal network function.