Stephanie Forkel

Dr. Stephanie Forkel is an Associate Professor at Radboud University and a Principal Investigator at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. She leads the Language and Communication Theme across multiple institutions, including the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics and the Centre for Language Studies. Her research focuses on neurovariability, white matter anatomy, and precision neuroscience applied to neurological disorders like stroke and brain tumors. Forkel is also the founder and chair of the Clinical Neuroanatomy Seminars, promoting open science and global education through YouTube lectures and workshops.

Education & Qualifications:

• PhD in Neuroimaging (King's College London, 2013)
• Habilitation (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 2021)
• iuss promovendi (Radboud University, 2023)
• Extended Teaching Qualification (UTQ, 2023)

Research Interests: Forkel investigates how brain structural variability influences cognition and recovery in health and disease. Her lab uses advanced neuroimaging (diffusion MRI, tractography), post-mortem dissections, and computational models to study language networks and neurological disorders. Key areas include white matter phenotypes, predictors of stroke recovery, and evolutionary neuroanatomy.

Publications: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles, including landmark studies on tractography applications, language pathway anatomy, and neuroplasticity in aphasia. Recent work emphasizes translational challenges in network neuroscience and the ethical use of portable MRI.

Awards & Recognition:

• 2023 Elizabeth Warrington Prize (Neuropsychology)
• 2022 Education in Neuroimaging Award (OHBM)
• Wellcome Image Awards (2017)

Leadership & Outreach: Editorial board member of Cortex and Brain Structure and Function; Programme Chair of the Organization of Human Brain Mapping. Co-founded the Neuroscience Alliance NGO to improve global access to neuroscience education. Runs the CNSeminars YouTube channel with >65 free lectures on clinical neuroanatomy.