Zeynep Saygin

Dr. Zeynep Saygin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at The Ohio State University, specializing in Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, and Neuroimaging. She leads the Saygin Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (Z-Lab), focusing on brain structure-function relationships, neurodevelopment, and clinical applications of neuroimaging technologies. Her work integrates behavioral measures, fMRI, DWI, and computational methods to study brain plasticity, functional specialization, and disorders such as dyslexia, social anxiety, and traumatic brain injury.

Education:

• PhD, Systems Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2012)
• BSc, Neuroscience, Brown University (2005)

Research Interests:

• Functional and structural organization of the human brain
• Developmental trajectories of cognitive functions
• Neuroimaging predictors for clinical outcomes (e.g., treatment response in social anxiety)
• Impact of trauma and repetitive head injuries on brain connectivity

Awards & Honors:

• President’s Research Excellence Catalyst Award (2022–2024)
• Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow in Neuroscience (2018)
• National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral National Research Award (2014–2017)
• Wellcome Trust/Koch Institute Image Awards (2014)

Labs & Teams:

• Z-Lab explores brain development and plasticity using MRI and behavioral paradigms
• Current projects include youth football neurotrauma studies and neonatal brain connectivity