Current Work
Kirsten Emmert joined the MIP:Lab as a PhD student in 2013 and is working on applications of real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rt-fMRI) neurofeedback. This technique is used to manipulate one's own brain activity. She is interested to see how rt-fMRI neurofeedback can alter brain function and behaviour. Therefore, she is using rt-fMRI data from the lab as well as several international collaborators to assess networks involved in mediating self-regulation. In addition, she is keen to help develop clinical applications of rt-fMRI neurofeedback. To this aim, she is currently conducting a rt-fMRI study on tinnitus patients.
Bio
Kirsten obtained her Bachelor of Science in Molecular Medicine from the University of Göttingen (Germany) in 2011. During her Bachelor and a subsequent stay as a summer scholar at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research (Kansas City, USA) she worked in different labs looking at molecular and electrophysiological properties of neurons and glia cells in health and disease. During this time she worked with some common model organisms such as mice, rats and fruit flies.
In 2013, she finished her Master of Science in Neuroscience at the International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS) and the University of Göttingen. During several lab rotations, she explored a different direction of neuroscientific research working with humans and non-human primates. This resulted in a transition to less invasive techniques such as transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), eye-tracking, psychophysics and fMRI. Her master thesis focused on the role of body rotation in saccadic decisions.
Currently, Kirsten is a PhD student at the Lemanic Neuroscience Doctoral School (LNDS) conducting fMRI research at the MIP:Lab in collaboration with Dr. Sven Haller (University of Geneva).