Deniz Kumral

@denizkumral.bsky.social

cognitive neuroscientist, mother, a cat-lover.

1/5 During my PhD, brain structure felt cleanly divided: VBM / cortical thickness → gray matter DW-MRI → white matter microstructure Two methods, two worlds. Then I joined a postdoc and that separation was not so clear in my mind.

fun fact after receiving another grant rejection: within my postdoc phase: I have submitted 14 external grants: 4 received, 7 rejection, 1 didnot proceed further, 2 under review. I am even not writing internal uni-grants (internal), CRC drafts and other stuff. Is it what research mean? really?

My husband was looking for a tool to fix his bike, and when we said “should we ask friends?”, our 4-year-old jumped in: “Ask ChatGPT.” Even without watching TV or using a phone/tablets, he is picked up an awareness of AI just from listening to our conversations. That's so scary!

I recently watched the dinosaur documentary on Netflix. I realized why I never had a “dino phase”: they remind me to ask why are exist? Sometimes I am afraid of existence itself: being here, and at the same time getting old and dying. I feel that we are so small and fragile.

I’m currently redesigning my Body–Brain–Emotion seminar for our General Psychology MSc students. Last year, we covered the spectrum from basic sensory processes to perception (e.g., cardiac effects), as well as breathing and sleep, gut-brain interaction.

Two days ago, my PhD supervisor, visited Freiburg to give a talk on heart-brain interaction (to the public audience). Beyond the excellent/provocative talk and research, what I saw was that almost everyone after a PhD left academia. Such great names. It is hard to survive, especially in Germany.

Teaching Neuropsychology of Aging this semester was a really great experience. We covered everything from neural dedifferentiation to biomarkers (sex, BP, sleep) and dementia, but what stuck with students surprised me. One wrote down just one word: EDEKA.

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Another night, and I am again doing accounting for all running scientific projects, where to relocate, which HiWi needs to be where, and when to apply for what… 😅📊 And also a general ORGA! I think I enjoy the management of "something". If I wasnot doing science, I’d probably end up in management. 🤔

Finally I am looking for a motivated student assistant (HiWi, 80 hours/month) at Uni Freiburg (Neuropsychology) 🧠 Project on sleep, EEG, heart–brain dynamics & memory. MATLAB/Python a plus. 📩 deniz.kumral at psychologie.uni-freiburg.de

Okay, I’m back 🌤️ After being quiet on social media for quite a while. The past year was a real roller-coaster 🎢 — challenging, exhausting, but also shaping: 🦠 Being sick during Kita (Kindergarden) times 🚫 No Kita for a whole month 📝 Applying for grants… and getting rejected ✨

If you are at #PuG2025, @denizkumral.bsky.social will be giving a talk on the “Temporal dynamics of microstructural plasticity in the human brain” as part of the Emergence and Transfer of Memory Representations Symposium in room 0.004 Z6 at 14.30! 🧠

Heidrun Schultz@heidrunschultz.bsky.social · last yr.

At #PuG2025? Into memory? We've got just the symposium for you. "The emergence and transformation of memory representations in the human brain". Co-chaired with @rolandbenoit.bsky.social and featuring @denizkumral.bsky.social, Anne Bierbrauer, and @mgarvert.bsky.social. Today, 2:30pm in 0.004 Z6.

Teaching a seminar this semester called Body-Brain-Emotions—same name as the research group from my PhD days. My work has shifted since then, but the idea that the brain works in isolation? Still not me. 🫀🧠

🕒 less than 24h until the doors to the 12th #MindBrainBody Symposium will open. Safe travels and very much looking forward to seeing you there! Please check out day 1 below and find all details at mindbrainbody.de

Screenshot of program on day 1
Michael Gaebler@michaelgaebler.com · 2y ago

📣 Come join us for the #MindBrainBody Symposium 2025! 📆 March 10-12, 2025 📍 Berlin & online 🔎 mindbrainbody.de Keynotes: - Ivan de Araujo - Nadine Gogolla - Maria Ribeiro @ribeironeuro.bsky.social - Markus Ullsperger - Tor Wager - Veronica Witte @veronicawitte.bsky.social #interoception

Logo of the MindBrainBody Symposium

Today, I took a day off just for myself and did absolutely nothing. After an 8-hour Harry Potter marathon, I wondered about Andrey Zvyagintsev, one of my favorite directors (#Leviathan). Turns out, he was hospitalized for a while due to a COVID-induced coma. Wasn't expecting that news at all.

Delighted to share that I’ve been selected for the Eliteprogramm für Postdoktorandinnen und Postdoktoranden by Baden-Württemberg Stiftung. I pushed my limits—from writing a 20-30 page German document to having an interview in German. Grateful for this opportunity and network.