University of Helsinki
Meet the organizers of the symposia, the student council 2024. We are 9 students from University of Helsinki:
Sofie de Sena
I am a PhD student in the Brain & Mind Doctoral Programme at the Department of Neurosciences, University of Helsinki. I received my BSc in Psychology with a minor in Statistics from Victoria University of Wellington. I hold a MSc in Neuroscience with a specialization in Health and Disease from the University of Helsinki.
Interests: Neurodevelopmental disorders and early childhood brain development
Tiina Paakkunainen
I am a Master’s student in the Neuroscience Master’s Programme at the University of Helsinki. My BSc is in Molecular Biology from University of Helsinki.
Interests: Anxiety and stress related disorders and early life stress
tiina.paakkunainen@helsinki.fi
Kirsi Holopainen
I am a 2nd year PhD student in the Brain & Mind Doctoral Programme in University of Helsinki and researcher in Helsinki University Hospital. I research paired associative stimulation in spinal cord injury rehabilitation. My background education is Master of Health Care and Physiotherapist.
Interests: Neuromodulation, rehabilitation, neuroplasticity
kirsi.j.holopainen@helsinki.fi
Piia Haakana
I am a PhD researcher in the Brain&Mind doctoral program at the department of Physiology, University of Helsinki. My research topic is Paired Associative Stimulation in spinal cord injury rehabilitation. My Msc is in Biology of Physical Activity from University of Jyväskylä. I have also studied Bsc in Physiotherapy from Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences.
Additionally I work as a clinical biomechanist at the New Children’s Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital.
Interests: Neuromodulation, rehabilitation, treatment of paralysis
Matilde Aquilino
I am a PhD researcher in the Brain & Mind Doctoral Programme at the Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki. My MSc is in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology. I study the importance of neural progenitor cell metabolism in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Interests: Neurodevelopmental disorders, brain organoids
Katja Kaurinkoski
I am a PhD researcher in the Trophins Lab, Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki. I completed the Biological Sciences BSc at the University of Leicester, UK, and underwent the Neuroscience MSc at the University of Helsinki. I study how the environment, antidepressants, and psychedelics affect neuroplasticity. I’m also a science communicator with The Science Basement.
Interests: neuroplasticity, mental health disorders, gut-brain axis, sleep science, SciComm
Paula Pastor Muñoz
I am a PhD researcher in the Trophins Lab, Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki. My Bsc is in Genetics and my MSc in Neuroscience. I study the molecular mechanisms of neuroplasticity under different treatments.
Interests: Neuroplasticity, mental health, neurodevelopment, science communication
Marcel Gil Ortiz (marcel.gilortiz@helsinki.fi)
I am a PhD researcher in the Trophins Lab at the Neuroscience Center (University of Helsinki). I completed my Master’s in Basic and Applied Neurosciences in University of Valencia (Spain), after graduating from the Bachelor’s in Sports and Exercise Sciences in the same university. My current research focuses on understanding the relationship between context, stress and psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity. In addition I am a member of The Science Basement.
Interests: neuroplasticity, stress-related disorders, gut brain axis, exercise and science communication
Cem Karakus (cem.karakus@helsinki.fi)
I am a PhD researcher in the Biomedicine Doctoral Programme, working on a collaborative project between two labs at the HiLife Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki. I completed my Master’s in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrated Neurosciences at Aix-Marseille University (France). My current research focuses on understanding the relationship between lipids and proteins and its impact on the chloride homeostasis in an epileptic context.
Interests: Ask me.
Labs: Di Scala Lab // Rivera Lab
Our themes span from neuro development to the brain plasticity and brain imaging
