Eric Fortune is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at New Jersey Institute of Technology. His research spans neuroethology, electrosensory systems, and computational biology, with a focus on weakly electric fish and sensorimotor integration. Recent Publications highlight work on Neurophysiological adaptations in weakly electric fish Machine learning applications in flu forecasting Behavioral and neural mechanisms of exploration-exploitation trade-offs Grants include multiple NSF-funded projects on collaborative research in active sensing, neuromechanical systems, and social interaction effects on sensory function. Media Coverage features his role in a $5M Amazon rainforest biodiversity contest, where his team counted over 250,000 critters in a square kilometer.
Chen Ran, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Scripps Research in San Diego. His laboratory focuses on understanding how the brain processes internal sensory signals from visceral organs, such as hunger, satiety, nausea, and visceral pain. Using advanced techniques like in vivo two-photon calcium imaging, optogenetics, and circuit tracing, his team maps the functional architecture of brainstem circuits responsible for interoceptive processing. Key contributions include the discovery of a 'visceral homunculus' in the brainstem and the development of novel calcium indicators for high-resolution neuronal activity tracking. Education : PhD in Biology, Stanford University (2017) Bachelor of Science in Biology, Peking University (2011) Research Interests : Dr. Ran’s work integrates experimental and analytical approaches to decode how visceral stimuli are transduced into conscious sensations. Current projects investigate the coding logic of mechanical, chemical, and thermal signals from internal organs, with implications for developing therapies for obesity, diabetes, visceral pain, and eating disorders. The lab employs cutting-edge tools to visualize and manipulate neural circuits in awake behaving mice, linking circuit-level activity to physiological states. Awards & Honors : NARSAD Young Investigator Award (2022) NIH K01 Career Development Award (2023) Simons Collaboration on the Global Brain Award (2022) Harvard Brain Science Initiative Award (2021) Grants & Funding : Supported by NIH, Simons Foundation, and private philanthropy, his research bridges basic science and translational medicine. Current grants focus on brainstem circuit mapping and developing therapeutic targets for interoceptive disorders. Labs & Affiliations : Dr. Ran leads an interdisciplinary team at Scripps Research’s Neuroscience Department, collaborating with engineers, geneticists, and clinicians to advance interoceptive neuroscience.
Gunnar Blohm is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at Queen's University, affiliated with the School of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences. His research focuses on sensorimotor neuroscience, particularly 3D sensorimotor control, eye-hand coordination, and computational modeling of neural processes. He holds a Ph.D. from Université Catholique de Louvain and has held postdoctoral positions at York University and his alma mater. Cross-appointed to the School of Computing, Department of Psychology, and Department of Mathematics and Statistics, he is also Vice-Director of the Connected Minds initiative. His research integrates behavioral experiments, brain imaging (MEG/EEG), and patient studies to understand how sensory information is transformed into goal-directed actions. Key areas include visuomotor transformations, multisensory integration, and Bayesian processes in neural computations. Blohm leads the Computational Sensorimotor Neuroscience Lab, emphasizing collaborative projects like Neuromatch Academy and contributions to open science initiatives. Affiliated with Queen's Centre for Neuroscience Studies and Ingenuity Labs, his work bridges computational approaches with clinical applications, aiming to develop frameworks for understanding brain dysfunction and clinical tools. His recent articles explore topics like saccade dynamics, pupil responses, and generative adversarial collaborations in scientific discourse.
Prof. Dr. Nadine Lehnen is a Research Group Leader at the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine , Faculty of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM). Her work bridges computational neuroscience and psychosomatic disorders, focusing on the central nervous system (CNS) mechanisms underlying functional symptoms that lack organic explanations. Research Focus : Functional somatic disorders, sensorimotor processing, vestibular system dysfunction, and computational modeling of symptom pathogenesis. Key Collaborations : EURONET-SOMA Group, interdisciplinary teams in neuroscience and clinical psychology. Her recent studies explore sensorimotor dysregulation in irritable bowel syndrome, post-COVID symptoms, and functional dizziness, emphasizing transdiagnostic mechanisms. Publications highlight translational approaches combining computational and experimental methods to redefine understanding of persistent physical symptoms. She mentors students such as Dr. Lena Schröder and Dr. Dina von Werder, contributing to training in psychosomatic research. While no specific awards are listed, her work has been supported by institutional affiliations and collaborative grants.
Ruben Portugues is a Professor of Brain Circuit Function and Dysfunction at the Institute of Neuroscience, Technical University of Munich (TUM). He is a full member of the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), an associate and advisory board member of the Munich Center for Neurosciences (MCN), and leads a research group focused on understanding the neural basis of behavior. His lab uses larval zebrafish as a model organism to investigate sensorimotor control, decision-making, and motor learning through whole-brain imaging and circuit analysis. His research interests lie at the intersection of systems neuroscience and behavior. He investigates how brain circuits process sensory information, integrate it with motor output, and enable adaptive and flexible behavior. Key areas include the function of the cerebellum, heading direction networks, sensorimotor transformations, and the neural mechanisms of decision-making. His lab employs cutting-edge techniques including custom-built microscopes, behavioral assays, and computational analysis. The recent publications and preprints from his lab demonstrate a strong trend in decoding distributed neural circuits underlying navigation and decision-making in zebrafish. There is a clear focus on identifying specific brain regions (e.g., interpeduncular nucleus, cerebellum) and cell types involved in processing visual, motor, and spatial information. The work increasingly emphasizes whole-brain functional imaging and the emergence of cognitive-like representations such as allocentric heading direction. FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence (FKNE) PhD Thesis Prize (awarded to student Luigi Petrucco) Ruben Portugues actively mentors PhD students, including current advisees Luigi Petrucco, Ot Prat, and Shuhong Huang, and has successfully graduated Dr. Elena Dragomir and Dr. Vilim Štih. His lab engages in extensive collaborations, hosts visiting researchers, participates in teaching (e.g., CSHL Imaging Course, Cajal Course), and secures resources for advanced research. The lab is known for building its own microscopes and software, fostering technical innovation. The Portugues Lab operates as a dynamic, interdisciplinary team that combines experimental neuroscience with computational and engineering approaches. They regularly hold retreats, participate in scientific events, and contribute to community initiatives like the Munich Brain Day. The lab is preparing to relocate to the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at Cornell University, marking a new phase in its research trajectory.
Rishidev Chaudhuri is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Davis in the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior within the College of Biological Sciences. His research focuses on computational neuroscience and neural dynamics, employing mathematical models to investigate how neural circuits generate cognitive processes such as memory, perception, and decision-making. His work explores neural dynamics through models of memory systems, attentional mechanisms, and probabilistic inference. Recent publications highlight advances in understanding hippocampal memory scaffolds, parietal-frontal interactions, and neuromorphic computing inspired by brain architecture. Education: BA in Physics (Amherst College), PhD in Applied Mathematics (Yale University) Centers: Center for Neuroscience; affiliated with Applied Mathematics and Neuroscience Graduate Groups Scientific awards and honors are not explicitly mentioned in the provided materials.
Maurice Smith serves as the Gordon McKay Professor of Bioengineering at Harvard University's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), where he leads the Neuromotor Control Lab. His primary appointment resides within the Department of Bioengineering, focusing on the computational and neural mechanisms underlying human movement control. Smith's research centers on sensorimotor learning , motor adaptation , and neuromotor control systems . He investigates how the brain forms and retains motor memories, particularly examining cerebellar contributions to long-term sensorimotor memory and the dissociation between implicit and explicit learning pathways. His work frequently employs computational modeling to dissect neural tuning properties and motor variability regulation. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on temporal dynamics in motor learning , cerebellar function in memory consolidation , and Bayesian frameworks for understanding sensorimotor adaptation . His research demonstrates consistent focus on how error processing, uncertainty, and neural plasticity shape motor memory formation across multiple timescales. Smith maintains active collaborations with researchers including Wilsaan M. Joiner, Yohsuke R. Miyamoto, and Nathan Sandholtz, as evidenced by frequent co-authorship patterns. His laboratory investigates fundamental questions in motor control with implications for neurorehabilitation and adaptive robotics.
Prof. Stephen Mayhew is a Professor at Aston University's School of Life & Health Sciences, affiliated with the College of Health and Life Sciences. He leads the Cognition & Neuroscience Research Group (CNRG) and contributes to the Aston Research Centre for Health in Ageing. His research focuses on multimodal neuroimaging (EEG/fMRI/MRI/MEG) to study brain activity in health and cognition, particularly negative BOLD responses and their role in neural inhibition and behavior. Recent work includes investigating task-demand effects on BOLD responses, brain state dynamics during rest, and neurovascular coupling methods. Education & Affiliations: Affiliated with Aston University's School of Life & Health Sciences Member of CNRG and Health in Ageing Centre Research Interests: His work explores collaborative/antagonistic brain networks, lifespan changes in brain function, and the functional significance of negative BOLD responses. Techniques include fMRI, EEG, and advanced neuroimaging analysis methods like fractal dimension and laminar 7T MRI. Key Contributions: Published over 30 peer-reviewed articles on neuroimaging and brain networks Systematic reviews on neurovascular coupling and transcranial Doppler methods Labs & Teams: Active in CNRG and collaborates across disciplines in health sciences and bioengineering.
Zsofia Zavecz is a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge Department of Psychology. Her work focuses on the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying sleep and memory consolidation, with particular emphasis on electrophysiological correlates of lucid dreaming and sleep-dependent learning. Research highlights include: Investigation of EEG functional connectivity during statistical learning Study of transcranial stimulation effects on probabilistic learning Analysis of sleep restriction impacts on hormonal regulation Exploration of cognitive reserve mechanisms in sleep disorders Her neuroscientific investigations span procedural memory systems, neural oscillations, and cross-population studies in both healthy individuals and pediatric sleep-disordered breathing patients.
Dr. Timothy H. Murphy is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Medicine. He is also an Associate Member of the School for Biomedical Engineering and a Member of the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. Dr. Murphy leads the Dynamic Brain Circuits in Health and Disease initiative and the Division of Neuroscience and Translational Psychiatry at UBC. Dr. Murphy received his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in 1989 and his B.Sc. from Saint Mary's College Maryland in 1984. His research focuses on understanding brain circuit structure-function relationships in relation to stroke recovery, psychiatric disorders, and neurological diseases. He specializes in mesoscale imaging techniques to study cortical activity patterns and develop automated approaches for brain imaging and stimulation. His laboratory develops innovative tools including open-source hardware for automated mouse brain imaging, synthetic data generation for behavioral analysis, and chronic recording systems that enable simultaneous mesoscale cortical imaging with subcortical or peripheral nerve activity monitoring. Research from the Murphy Lab has significantly advanced our understanding of how brain circuits reorganize after stroke and in models of psychiatric disorders. Dr. Murphy's recent publications reveal trends in mesoscale cortical imaging, development of synthetic data for behavioral analysis, and exploration of circuit-level changes in neurological and psychiatric disease models. His work bridges basic neuroscience with potential clinical applications for stroke recovery and mental health treatments. Dr. Murphy has mentored numerous students and postdoctoral fellows who have gone on to successful careers in neuroscience and related fields. His laboratory has received funding to support innovative approaches to understanding brain circuit function and recovery mechanisms. The Murphy Lab maintains strong collaborative ties across UBC and develops open-source tools that are widely adopted by the neuroscience community. Their work on automated home-cage imaging systems, synthetic behavioral data generation, and chronic recording technologies represents significant methodological advances in the field.
Ian Greenhouse serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Physiology within the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Oregon. He directs the Action Control Laboratory, where he investigates the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying human movement initiation and cancellation using multimodal approaches including electrophysiology, neuroimaging, and brain stimulation. Education: Undergraduate degree in Psychology from Tufts University Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego Postdoctoral training at the University of California, Berkeley Research Focus: Dr. Greenhouse's work centers on action control neurophysiology , specifically examining motor inhibition processes during response stopping and preparation. His lab employs electromyography (EMG) , transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) , and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to probe corticospinal excitability in healthy and clinical populations. Key investigations include neural computations for action preparation, biomarkers of stopping failure, and relationships between motor performance and brain chemistry (e.g., GABA). Publication Trends: Analysis of Dr. Greenhouse's 2022-2025 publications reveals intensified focus on subcomponents of response inhibition (pause vs. cancel processes) and neurochemical modulation of motor control. His work increasingly integrates menstrual cycle effects on GABA with action stopping metrics, while maintaining core investigations of corticospinal dynamics during unimanual/bimanual preparation. Recent studies show growing clinical applications in stroke rehabilitation. Scientific Awards: No awards were documented in the source materials. Advising and Research: As laboratory director, Dr. Greenhouse mentors students in the Action Control Laboratory's research program. Although specific grants aren't detailed, his high-output publication record spanning neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and clinical applications suggests sustained external funding for equipment-intensive neuroscience research. Laboratory Operations: The Action Control Laboratory (https://actioncontrollab.uoregon.edu) operates from Gerlinger Hall (Room 348), utilizing TMS-EMG integration, MRS, and behavioral paradigms to study action control. Current projects examine preparatory inhibition in stroke recovery, interhemispheric dynamics during movement preparation, and individual differences in stopping processes using the stop-signal task framework.
Adrienne Wood is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Virginia. Her research lab, Emotion and Behavior Lab, investigates social connections through multimodal approaches including mobile sensing, social network analysis, and behavioral economics. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.A. from Colorado College. Wood's research examines how people form and maintain social ties across cultural divides, addressing loneliness through analysis of nonverbal behavior, emotion contagion, and network dynamics. Her work emphasizes: Behavioral mechanisms of connection (laughter, synchrony) Social network formation in diverse communities Cross-cultural relationship building She employs innovative methodologies like acoustic analysis and agent-based modeling. Her recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate strong focus on: Emotional communication in evolving relationships Cultural influences on social competence Crisis impacts on behavior Nonverbal synchronization mechanisms Longitudinal analysis of social interactions No scientific awards are mentioned in the source material. Wood leads the Emotion and Behavior Lab, studying verbal/nonverbal behaviors underlying social bonds. Her team explores: Real-world interaction patterns Diverse community integration Computational social science approaches
Florian Muijres is an Associate Professor and Chairholder at the Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University & Research, where he leads the Animal Flight Lab. His research focuses on the biomechanics, aerodynamics, and flight control of natural flyers such as insects, birds, and bats, with applications in bio-inspired robotics and ecological solutions like mosquito traps and flapping-wing drones. He holds a PhD from Lund University (Sweden) and conducted postdoctoral research at the Dickinson Lab, University of Washington (USA). Research Interests: Merging experimental and computational methods, his work explores primary research on flight mechanics (e.g., mosquito evasion, butterfly gliding) and applied studies (e.g., drone design, pollinator behavior in greenhouses). His lab uses advanced videography and robotic models to study flight dynamics under real-world conditions. Labs & Teams: The Animal Flight Lab collaborates with biologists, physicists, and engineers to investigate flight adaptations in mosquitoes, bumblebees, and pied flycatchers. Projects include developing high-efficiency traps and analyzing flight performance in complex environments.
Teresa Cheung is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Engineering Science at Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Applied Sciences. Her research focuses on neuroimaging techniques, particularly magnetoencephalography (MEG), and their applications to understanding brain networks in health and disease. She holds a Ph.D. in Physics from SFU (2012) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Cambridge (2012–2013). Research interests include: MEG instrumentation and optically pumped magnetometers (OPM) Cortical-cerebellar networks and cerebellar activity localization Neuroimaging of neurological disorders like major depressive disorder and epilepsy Functional and structural connectome analysis across the human lifespan Multimodal integration of MEG, MRI, fMRI, and DTI data Recent work emphasizes the relationship between cardiovascular health, brain aging, and cognitive resilience. Her studies span clinical applications (e.g., depression biomarkers) and technical advancements in neuroimaging systems. Collaborations include multi-site studies on depression and aging cohorts like the Cam-CAN project. Publications highlight innovative methods in MEG system design, neural network dysfunction analysis, and lifespan brain dynamics. Her work bridges engineering, neuroscience, and clinical research to advance non-invasive brain imaging and neurophysiological understanding.
Dr. Scott Hayes is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at The Ohio State University, specializing in Clinical Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience. He directs the Buckeye Brain Aging Lab (B-BAL) and collaborates with the OSU Center for Brain Health and Performance. His research focuses on neuroimaging techniques to study the effects of physical activity, fitness, and aging on brain structure and function, particularly in memory-related disorders. Education: PhD in Clinical Psychology (Neuropsychology) from the University of Arizona (2006), MA (2002), and BA (1998) with dual honors in Biology and Psychology from Skidmore College. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at Duke University and VA Boston Healthcare System. Research interests include cognitive neuroscience of memory, neural correlates of aging, and applying advanced MRI methods to clinical populations. His work highlights how cardiorespiratory fitness impacts brain health and cognitive decline. Awards include the 2024 Distinguished Teaching Award, Spivack Emerging Leader (2017), and multiple NIH-funded grants. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles, focusing on topics like Alzheimer’s biomarkers, PTSD-related cognitive deficits, and exercise interventions. Labs/Teams: Director of B-BAL, affiliated with OSU Jameson Crane Center for Sports Medicine Institute. Current projects explore brain fitness interventions and resilience in aging populations.
