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Melanni Nanni Zepeda

@melanninannizepeda

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Results-driven PhD in Neuroscience with expertise in neuroimaging.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I am seeking opportunities that allow me to leverage my neuroimaging expertise in a collaborative environment, focusing on innovative research that translates into clinical applications.

I am a results-driven PhD in Neuroscience with extensive expertise in fMRI data analysis, multimodal neuroimaging, and the integration of behavioral and physiological data. My academic career has been dedicated to conducting and leading methodologically rigorous research in both university and hospital settings. I apply advanced statistical and computational techniques to investigate brain function, developing and implementing data-driven models that extract meaningful insights from complex datasets.

As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, I lead cross-disciplinary collaborations, integrating neuroimaging and brain stimulation to develop potential treatments for Generalized Anxiety Disorder based on emotion regulation biomarkers. My experience includes analyzing multi-site fMRI datasets and automating batch processing for efficiency using custom Python and MATLAB scripts. I have also contributed to grant writing and research funding, collaborating with teams to develop competitive proposals for large-scale neuroimaging studies.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Current

Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, Department of Psychiat

Jan 2024 - Present (1 year 5 months)

Led a cross-disciplinary collaboration integrating neuroimaging and brain stimulation (tACS) to develop a potential treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Analyzed multi-site fMRI datasets and multimodal integration using custom Python and MATLAB scripts, automating batch processing for efficiency.

FMRI Python Matlab Clinical Research Data Analysis

Research Scientist

University Hospital Tubingen

Jan 2023 - Dec 2024 (1 year 11 months)

Developed an fMRI-compatible preprocessing pipeline for pupil size data, ensuring accurate physiological signal extraction during scanning. Designed and optimized fMRI preprocessing pipelines for naturalistic paradigms, improving signal quality by 30%.

FMRI Preprocessing Pupilometry Data Quality MRIQC Pipeline Development Naturalistic Paradigms Signal Processing

Research Scientist (Industry Collaboration Project)

University Hospital Jena & Heel International Pharmaceutical

Jan 2020 - Dec 2023 (3 years 11 months)

Investigated the neural correlates influenced by a stress-relief product, identifying anxiety-related neuroimaging biomarkers that predicted treatment response. Coordinated between academic researchers and industry partners, ensuring alignment on project goals and deliverables.

Neuroimaging Project Coordination FMRI Clinical Trials Data Analysis Stakeholder Management

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Autonomous University of Baja California

BA, Psychology

Pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, gaining foundational knowledge in psychological theories and research methods. Coursework covered various aspects of human behavior and cognitive processes.

University of Tubingen

PhD, Neuroscience

Conducted doctoral research focusing on the neural mechanisms of emotional engagement and disengagement. Dissertation titled 'Navigating emotional waves: Probing Neural Mechanism of Emotional Engagement and Disengagement' explored complex brain responses to emotional stimuli.

National Autonomous University of Mexico

MSc, Neurobiology

Completed Master of Science in Neurobiology, with a dissertation on the neural correlates of the natural viewing of an emotionally loaded video. Research involved analyzing brain activity in response to dynamic emotional content.