University Clinics UPD

Research

My research centers on invesitgating the effects of sleep on learning, memory consolidation and underlying neuroplastic changes in the human brain. In my doctoral studies, I focused on the effect of sleep on indices of synaptic plasticity in the human cortex, using non-invasive stimulation techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Building on that, our current aim is to identify and modulate sleep-specific activity patterns related to plasticity in the human brain – both in healthy individuals and patients with major depression.

Clinical specialisation

I’m a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist in training with a focus on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques and an interest in ‘third wave’ CBT interventions. 

Biosketch

  • Since 2019 – Postdoc, Research group Nissen, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bern
  • 2017 - 2019 – Research assistant, Research group Nissen, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bern
  • 2015 - 2019 – PhD on the ‘Effect of sleep on learning and indices of synaptic plasticity’,  Research groups Riemann and Nissen, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Germany
  • Since 2015 – Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapist in training at the ‘Freiburger Ausbildungsinstitut für Verhaltenstherapie GmbH (FAVT)’, Freiburg, Germany
  • 2008 - 2014 – Studies in Psychology (Diploma; minor subject: Neurophysiology) at the Department of Psychology, University of Tübingen, Germany

Publications