PhD Students

Jasper Bischofberger is a doctoral researcher in the project C2 under supervision of Prof. Grit Hein at the Center of Mental Health.

Before he joined the Translational Social Neuroscience Lab, he studied Cognitive Science at the University of Tübingen, where he investigated visual working memory and facial emotion recognition.

In his current PhD project, he studies how social interactions modulate avoidance and approach learning in humans. He combines modified versions of reinforcement learning models with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural mechanisms of adaptive and maladaptive avoidance and approach behavior.

Outside of science, Jasper is passionate about sustainability, food, and various other ways to increase physical and mental wellbeing.

Menghuan Chen is a Doctoral Researcher in the project B1 under supervision of Prof. Pauli and Prof. Pittig.

During her PhD, she will work on approach-avoidance conflicts related to impulsive versus reflective processes using biopsychological methods and neuroimaging techniques (i.e., fMRI).

Before starting her PhD, she studied Cognitive Neuroscience in Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and conducted research focusing on addiction disorders with methods of virtual reality, eye-tracking, EEG and machine learning.

Sabrina Gado is a PhD researcher in the project C1 with Prof. Gamer.
Before she started her PhD, she studied both psychology and business informatics, which sparked her interest for neuroscientific research and programming.
During her PhD, she is going to research approach and avoidance conflicts, especially in Social Anxiety Disorder. For this aim, she plans to use Virtual Reality as a research method, as well as other biopsychological and neuroscientific measures.

When Sabrina is not nerding out in front of the computer and with her awesome colleagues, you can find her riding her bike through the vinyards around Würzburg.

Nikita Gorbunov is a PhD researcher in the Project B3 under supervision of Prof. Klaus-Peter Lesch.

Before coming to Würzburg to do his PhD, he did his master's thesis in biophysics at "Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University".

His previous studies focused on the registration of neuronal activity in freely moving animals, and now, as part of his PhD project, he will use optogenetics to modulate the behavior of animals with low levels of serotonin in the brain.

Eva Masson does her PhD in Prof. Kübler's group (A2).

Morgane Paternoster is a doctoral researcher in the project A3 under supervision of Prof. Sommer Claudia at the neurology department of the University Hospital.

Before joining the RTG, Morgane worked as a physiotherapist and decided to deepen her knowledge by studying Neurosciences at the university Paris-Est Créteil for her Masters. Combining her two specialties, she investigated mirror movements and their cerebral correlates in stroke patients.

During her PhD, Morgane will work on approach and avoidance behaviour in pain management, especially with migraine patients, using high density EEG and other biological methods.

When Morgane is not in the lab, you can find her learning piano, cooking or enjoying some outdoor activities.

César Redondo is a PhD researcher in project A1, under the supervision of Prof. Tovote. Before moving to Würzburg he studied Biomedicine and Neuroscience, researching topics such as anatomy, memory and Alzheimer's disease. During his PhD he is going to work on the implementation of Neurofeedback in anxiety mice models. This technique, already used in humans, is based on the volitional modulation of the own subject brain activity by themselves. This research will grant a deeper knowledge on a different approach to treat anxiety and fear disorders in human patients.
Outside, and also inside the lab, he is a big nerd and a coffee lover.

David Reindel is a PhD researcher in project B2, under the supervision of Prof. Reiter.

David studied psychology at the TU Dresden. Despite getting a master in “Psychology: Human Performance in Socio-Technical Systems”, he never lost his interest in Developmental Psychology and  Neuroscience.

In his PhD project, he will investigate approach-avoidance conflicts related to impulsive approach and generalized avoidance from a developmental perspective. To do so, he will adopt a computational psychiatry approach and also work with structural imaging data.

Outside of research, he likes drinking coffee, exercising in the gym or outside and reading.

Maria Pfeiffer is a PhD Student in Prof. Küblers Project A2.
She is working on a Neurofeedback paradigm relying on EEG correlates of approach-avoidance conflict and resolution. The goal will be the upregulation of behavioral activation and the decrease of fear reactions. Previously she did her Bachelor in Magdeburg in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Cognition and the Translational Neuroscience Master in Würzburg.
In her free time you’ll find her rolling on the mat (Judo/BJJ) or running/cycling whenever a pandemic prevents her from gathering with people.

Ana-Magdalena Pineau is a Doctoral Researcher in the project B3 with Prof. Lesch.

Before she started her PhD, she studied biochemistry and then neurosciences and cells signalling with a strong interest for biochemical pathways within the brain and neuronal culture derived from IPSC.

During her PhD, she is going to investigate the impact of copy number variants of the SLC2A3 gene that encodes the neuronal glucose transporter GLUT3 on neuronal morphology and function. To this end, she will differentiate neurons from induced pluripotent stem cells to study the effect of neurometabolic alterations on neural outgrowth and synaptic activity.

When Ana is not cooking or playing capoeira within the awesome group of Würzburg, you can find her taking different dance classes.

Elif Salur is a PhD researcher in project C3 under the supervision of Prof. Angelika Schmitt-Böhrer and Prof. Esther Asan.

Before joining the Functional Neuroanatomy Lab, she delved into the intricacies of biology while simultaneously exploring the realm of environmental biology through a minor program. Building upon that foundation, she furthered her academic journey and earned a master's degree in neuroscience, with research on reward pathways. This experience sparked her profound interest in neurobiology and the complex mechanisms of adaptation to an ever-changing environment, now particularly in social contexts.

During her PhD, she will investigate the role of the serotonergic system in social approach and avoidance behaviors in mice models while exploring potential sex differences.
Outside of the lab, she passionately pursues photography, nurtures her love for plants, and actively embraces intersectional feminism.

Francesco Tortora is a PhD researcher under the supervision of Prof. Andreatta.