Infection with #SARSCoV2 has highlighted how altered endothelial functions contribute to multiorgan health effects during the acute phase of #COVID19 and potentially to the longer-term consequences associated with #LongCovid. Learn more in a new #SciencePerspective: https://scim.ag/3OOaaCM
A new genomic study in Science encompassing more than 300 genomes spanning the last 50,000 years has revealed how a single wave of Neanderthal gene flow into early modern humans left an indelible mark on human evolution. scim.ag/4gkMvpz https://scim.ag/4gkMvpz
Breaking news: A 2020 paper that sparked widespread enthusiasm for hydroxychloroquine as a #COVID19 treatment has been retracted, following campaigning by scientists who alleged the research contained major scientific flaws and may have breached ethics regulations. scim.ag/4iR9bQ6 https://scim.ag/4iR9bQ6
Earlier this year in Science, researchers generated a nanoscale-resolution reconstruction of a millimeter-scale fragment of human cerebral cortex, giving an unprecedented view into the structural organization of brain tissue at the supracellular, cellular, and subcellular levels. scim.ag/3BjR7xa
“The academic structure … makes planning for a family feel like an impossible luxury.” In this #ScienceWorkingLife, two postdocs share how, as women in academia, having children can feel impossible—and how talking about it makes them feel less alone. scim.ag/49BKZgp
A species of lungfish found in South America has claimed the title of the animal with the biggest genome sequenced so far. Learn more: scim.ag/4gEQU6n https://scim.ag/4gEQU6n
Every weekday, #ScienceAdviser delivers the world of science to your inbox, keeping you up to date on the most important trends and breakthroughs. 📥 Sign up for the award-winning #newsletter: scim.ag/4fgFSmX https://scim.ag/4fgFSmX
In a new #ScienceSignaling study, researchers introduce extracellular #TurboID, a refinement of the popular proteomics tool that interrogates #ProteinProteinInteractions on the exterior cell membrane, and characterize interactions between #EGFR and #LDLR. scim.ag/3DgfJr9 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scisignal.adl6164
“In naming … lenacapavir as the 2024 #BOTY, Science acknowledges the next, but by no means final, step in the drive to fight HIV/AIDS, where the rigors of the laboratory and the needs of humanity are inseparable,” writes @holdenthorp.bsky.social in this week’s #ScienceEditorial. scim.ag/4g9kjG4
Science’s 2024 Breakthrough of the Year is lenacapavir, an injectable drug that demonstrated remarkable success at preventing HIV infection with one shot every 6 months. Learn more about this year’s #BOTY and other big advances in science: scim.ag/3BrCtUn
As a physicist, I seek to gain a mechanistic understanding of the functionality of the human brain and the resulting behavior. Depending on the resolution of the examined data, behavior is to be understood as an emergent phenomenon of the interactions of individual neurons, populations of neurons or whole brain regions. With the help of generative neural networks, I reconstruct empirical neuronal activity and use the resulting models as surrogates for the underlying dynamical system. They can then be used for in silico experiments to simulate the response of the brain to artificial conditions and thus draw conclusions about the physiology.
Besides that, I am interested in the development of deep learning models for the prediction of time series and the reconstruction of dynamical systems in general.
I spend my free time doing sports (running, hip hop, cycling) or let my thoughts run free while hiking. You can reach me at niklas.emonds@iwr.uni-heidelberg.de.
My recent research has focused on developing machine learning algorithms for extracting dynamical systems models from empirical time series data. One of my main motivations was to make these approaches work in real world clinical settings, including multi-subject data, very short, noisy, and non-Gaussian time series. A novel research direction I want to pursue is the intersection of creativity and generative AI.
Outside of research, I enjoy many things art-related (making music with my jazz trio triolog, literature, cinema), as well as cooking, playing chess and traveling.
I studied psychology and mathematics. My research interprets psychological processes as dynamical systems that can be analyzed and controlled. I develop and apply recurrent neural networks, control theoretic, and reinforcement learning methods to time series data of human affect and behaviour. My goal is to optimize interventions to improve mental well-being, and to gain a better understanding of these inherently nonlinear processes.
I am a Postdoctoral fellow at the AI Health Innovation Cluster, working with the University of Heidelberg and the ZI Mannheim to develop computational models of social interactions for adaptive gamified treatment approaches. I hold an MSc in Cognitive and Decision Sciences, an MRes in Computer Science (Machine Learning) from University College London, and a PhD in Experimental Psychology, specializing in experimental and computational approaches to strategic social interaction. My research focuses on social learning in mental health disorders, particularly exploring how cognitive interventions from leading psychotherapies can be integrated with computational behavior models to address social learning dysfunction.
Outside office hours, you’ll probably find me hiking around the hills in Heidelberg.
I’m a Data and Computer Science student at the University of Heidelberg, with a strong background in software development and machine learning. I’ve worked on web development, iOS apps, computer games, and full-stack projects. My current research adventures include diving deep into topics like Large Language Models and Retrieval-Augmented Generation—yep, the cool AI stuff!
I’ve studied in Germany, Italy, and India, and I’m always excited to take on new challenges and build scalable solutions.
When I’m not geeking out over code, you’ll find me in the kitchen whipping up some Indian cuisine (seriously, hit me up if you’re hungry). I also love jamming on the piano or violin, swimming, and occasionally crushing it at table tennis!
My work is driven by a deep curiosity to uncover the underlying mechanisms of human behavior, ranging from individual cognitive functions to complex social dynamics. Through machine learning and computational models, we aim to bridge the gap between human cognition and societal interactions, advancing both scientific understanding and practical applications.
I studied mathematics at the University of Mannheim, where I was first introduced to both reinforcement learning and generative time series modelling, sparking my interest in their algorithmic foundations and applications to computational neuroscience.
My current focus is on using reinforcement learning models to better understand the psychological and neuroscientific processes behind human decision-making, particularly in social interactions and psychiatric disorders.
I’m also exploring how reinforcement learning concepts can be integrated with dynamical system reconstruction, especially in the presence of chaos and randomness.
Outside of academics, I enjoy playing and coaching Ultimate Frisbee on an international level.