Melina Grahlow

Melina is a doctoral researcher in the group “Innovative Neuroimaging” lead by Prof. Birgit Derntl. She is associated with the IRTG under supervision of Prof. Birgit Derntl (UKT) and Dr. Andreas Frick (UU). Her research focuses on sex differences in cost-benefit decision-making and reward processing as well as possible hormonal modulations and metabolic influences, in a joint project with Prof. Nils Kroemer (UKT).

Melina is a psychologist by training and will start her qualification to become a psychotherapist in late 2023, while continuing to work on her PhD project.

When not spending time at the MR-scanner to measure participants, she enjoys buying and propagating (way too many) plants, spending time in nature and ballroom dancing.

Aiste Ambrase

Aiste Ambrase is a doctoral researcher in the research group „Women’s mental health and brain function“ (Head: Prof. Birgit Derntl). She joins the IRTG as an associate PhD student under supervision of Prof. Birgit Derntl and Dr. Andreas Frick. Her research focuses on moral, risky, and ambiguous decision-making, as well as effects of hormonal modulation and individual differences on decision processing in the brain. In her future research, Aiste plans to focus on indecisiveness as a symptom of many mental disorders and the role of social cognition networks in healthy and aberrant decision-making.
Before starting her PhD in 2018, Aiste studied political science at Vilnius University and moral philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. To transit into neuroscience research, she has also additionally completed a prerequisite course curriculum (1 year) in Neural and Behavioural Sciences Master’s programme at the Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience, University of Tübingen.

When she is not in the lab, she spends time with her young son, or doing sports in the nature, or cooking healthy dishes for the family and friends.

Jonas Fischer

Jonas Fischer is a PhD student in the group „Neurotechnology and Computational Psychiatry“ led by Prof. Tobias Kaufmann. His PhD project is co-supervised by Prof. Birgit Derntl (Tübingen) and Prof. Alkistis Skalkidou (Uppsala). Jonas is working in the „HealthyMom“ project, investigating the brain and mental health after pregnancy loss. He is focussing on the effects of pregnancy and parity on brain structure and how these are related to genetics and mental health.

Before starting his PhD, Jonas studied Biomedicine in Essen and Bioinformatics in Tübingen.

When he is not programming or measuring, Jonas enjoys endurance sports, travelling, spending quality time with friends and engaging in social causes.

Julia Siodmiak

Julia has a background in psychology and neuroscience, with a particular interest in understanding brain activity, neurotransmitter dynamics, and their influence on human behavior and mental health. Her work integrates these physiological aspects into broader frameworks for mental health research and intervention development.

Julia’s PhD research focuses on postpartum mental health, investigating how factors such as hormones, stress, environmental influences, and physiology shape emotional well-being during the postpartum period. Her project includes exploring non-invasive brain stimulation (nIBS) methods, particularly transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS), as potential interventions for postpartum depression and anxiety.

Outside of academia, Julia enjoys climbing, biking, and engaging with art. She’s also passionate about outdoor adventures, including backcountry snowboarding and skiing, as well as surfing.

Theresa Horn

Theresa is a PhD student in Peter Dayan’s lab at the Max Planck Institute. Her research examines how ovarian hormone fluctuations modulate learning in women. The project utilises computational reinforcement learning models and home-based behavioural assessments. Ultimately, this work aims to deepen our understanding of how hormonal states may contribute to variations in mental health and daily functioning.

Before starting her PhD, Theresa earned an MSc in Computational Neuroscience from the Graduate Training Centre and a BSc in Cognitive Science from the University of Tübingen.

Melanie Freund

Melanie is a PhD student in the group „Neurotechnology and Computational Psychiatry“ led by Prof. Tobias Kaufmann. She is co-supervised by Prof. Birgit Derntl (Tübingen) and Prof. Alkistis Skalkidou (Uppsala) for her PhD project, in which she investigates and compares distinct hormonal transitional phases across the female lifespan. Melanie is also part of the „HealthyMom“ project, which investigates the brain changes and maternal mental health after pregnancy loss. 

Before starting her PhD, Melanie studied Biology with a focus on neurobiology and behaviour and also worked as a labmanager at the MPI for Human Cognitive and Brain Science in Leipzig. 

When she is not measuring, Melanie is almost always listening to music, she enjoys taking long walks, getting lost in books, series and movies, going on concerts and spending quality time with her friends.

Juliane Herold

Juliane is a certified midwife and PhD student working in the group “Neurotechnology and Computational Psychiatry” of Prof. Tobias Kaufmann. She offers counselling for study participants of the “HealthyMom” study, investigating effects of pregnancy loss or abortion on brain plasticity and mental health. Her PhD projects are supervised by Prof. Tobias Kaufmann, Prof. Dr. med. Harald Abele (gynaecologist in Tübingen) and Frida Viirman (midwife, PhD in Upsalla) and focus on prevention of complicated grief processes and mental disorders following pregnancy loss or abortion. 

Before starting the PhD, Juliane completed the B.Sc. and got her midwifery license in 2022. She did her Master’s degree in midwifery science and women’s health while she worked at the University Hospital for women’s health in Tübingen.