Research Team

Prof. Pieter Roelfsema (programme leader)

Pieter Roelfsema is the scientific director of the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, with chairs at the Vrij University and the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam, and the recipient of many prestigious grants. His group investigates visual cognition, using computational studies, psychophysical experiments in humans, and electrophysiology in rodents and monkeys. The lab performs electrical microstimulation of the visual cortex and investigates its effects on perception and other cortical areas. https://herseninstituut.nl/onderzoek/onderzoeksgroepen/roelfsema-groep/

Prof. Rainer Goebel (project leader)

Rainer Goebel is a full professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at Maastricht University, the founding director of the Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre, the research director of the FPN Maastricht Research Institute, and the recipient of an ERC advanced grant and coordinating partner in the Human Brain Project. He is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. The lab uses neuroimaging and neural network modeling, and develops advanced analytical tools to study brain mechanisms underlying perception and cognition. Neuroscientific applications of the research include fMRI brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and fMRI neurofeedback studies. https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/r.goebel

Prof. Richard van Wezel (project leader)

Richard van Wezel is a professor in Neurophysiology at the University of Twente (MIRA, Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine), professor in Visual Neuroscience at the Radboud University, director of the Donders Centre for Neuroscience in Nijmegen, the recipient of several prestigious personal research grants (VIDI/NWO, High Potential UU), and the research coordinator of HealthPAC, a large European project on Health and Disease. The lab studies neurophysiology, visual perception, neural plasticity, and translational research, including the development of smart glasses for visually impaired people and Parkinson’s patients. http://www.ru.nl/english/people/wezel-r-van/

Dr. Marcel van Gerven (project leader)

Marcel van Gerven is a professor of Artificial Cognitive Systems and chair of the Department of Artificial Intelligence at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour at Radboud University. He is recipient of an NWO Vidi grant. His lab focuses on understanding the computational basis of cognitive processes and the development of machines that interact with their environment in a meaningful way. The lab studies the brain in naturalistic settings and develops sophisticated statistical and brain-inspired machine learning approaches (neural networks, Bayesian modeling and reinforcement learning). Furthermore, computational models created in the lab are used to drive new advances in cognitive computing, neural data analysis, brain-computer interfacing and neurotechnology. http://www.ru.nl/personen/gerven-m-van/

Prof. Mark Bentum (project leader)

Mark Bentum is a full Professor in Radio Science at the Eindhoven University of Technology. The lab studies the physical layer of radio systems, including low-power communication systems, antennas, propagation, and wireless power, with extensive expertise in radio astronomy, short-range radio communications, novel receiver technologies (for instance in the field of radio astronomy), channel modelling, interference mitigation, sensor networks and aerospace. The sophisticated RF lab facilities used by the group include an anechoic antenna room and reverberation chambers, allowing measurements of up to 100 GHz. http://www.tue.nl/staff/m.j.bentum

Rick van Hoof (PhD student)

Rick van Hoof holds two Bachelor degrees (in Computing Science and Engineering, at Fontys University of Applied Sciences Eindhoven, and Health Sciences, specializing in human biology, at Maastricht University) and found that Cognitive Neuroscience was the perfect field to combine the two. In 2015, he earned his Research Master degree in Cognitive Neuroscience at Maastricht University. His current interests include applications of brain-computer-interfaces (BCIs) related to human visual perception using ultra high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Jaap de Ruyter van Steveninck

Jaap de Ruyter van Steveninck is a PhD student at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, at Radboud University. For the NESTOR project, he uses smart software algorithms to train models, sets up behavioral experiments, and designs and programmes environments for virtual reality simulations. Such VR simulations are used to experience the restored (rudimentary) vision of blind users of a prosthesis implant.

Dr. Yağmur Güçlütürk (previous postdoc)

Yağmur Güçlütürk is an assistant professor at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, at Radboud University, and previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher on NESTOR Project 2. In NESTOR, she uses various computational modeling and psychophysics techniques, such as deep learning and augmented reality, to develop a biologically realistic and clinically relevant visual neuroprosthesis. She did her Ph.D. and M.Sc. (with cum laude) in Cognitive Neuroscience at Radboud University, and B.IT (with firsts and book award) in Artificial Intelligence at Multimedia University. Her previous work was funded by fellowships from the Netherlands Universities Foundation for International Cooperation, and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. https://www.ru.nl/english/people/gucluturk-y/

Dr. Xing Chen (postdoc)

Xing Chen obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience in 2008 from the University of Southern California, after winning a full-tuition Trustee scholarship. She completed her PhD in Visual Neuroscience in 2014, working in the lab of Alex Thiele at Newcastle University. A key initiator and coordinator of the NESTOR programme, she now has a decade of experience in primate electrophysiology and neuroscience. She specializes in chronic recording and microstimulation of the visual cortex, achieving ultra-high-resolution, custom-fitted implantable interfaces for neuroprosthetic applications.

Feng Wang (PhD student)

Feng Wang has over 7 years of experience in primate electrophysiology research, at the National Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning in China, and Carnegie Mellon University in the US. His research interests include biological and artificial vision, as well as visual cognitive function. His role in the NESTOR programme is the development and testing of high-density electrode arrays and other implantable components for human use.

Adedayo Omisakin (PhD student)

Adedayo Omisakin earned his Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering along with a Broadband Telecommunication Technology certificate at the Eindhoven University of Technology. Previously, he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (graduating with high honours), with a specialization in Communication Systems. He then acquired over two years of experience in research and development. His areas of interest include wireless communication, RF antenna systems, and RF mixed signal IC design with optical communication for biomedical applications.

Tom van Nunen (PhD student)

Tom van Nunen graduated from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in December 2017, with a degree in Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC). He carried out an internship as part of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) in Perth, Australia. His role in NESTOR is the development of a wireless power link, enabling a safe, reliable and efficient system for wireless energy transfer to power the stimulator.

The NESTOR consortium comprises the following research organisations:
The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Radboud University, and the University of Twente. © Copyright 2018 NESTOR. All Rights Reserved.