TEAM MEMBERS
UNIV.-PROF. MAG. DR. CARMEN MORAWETZ
Principal Investigator
Carmen Morawetz is a professor in the areas of cognitive, affective, and social neuroscience within the Psychology Department at the University of Innsbruck. Her research focuses on understanding how emotions are generated, how individuals regulate their emotions, and how emotional experiences influence cognitive functions such as decision-making, language, and memory. She employs a multidisciplinary approach, combining behavioral, physiological, and neuroimaging measures. Before joining the University of Innsbruck, she earned her Ph.D. at the University of Goettingen and completed postdoctoral training at Freie Universität Berlin and the Medical University of Vienna.
Room 3S14
+43 (0)512 507-56064
Consultation hour:
Monday, 4pm according to prior agreement
RENATE STRASSER
Administrative Manager
Renate Strasser works in the Department of Psychology and supports the ANL. Warm, approachable, and highly efficient, she values direct contact and ensures that requests are handled swiftly and reliably. Her responsibilities span travel arrangements, purchasing, and day-to-day office management, keeping operations smooth for staff and students alike. With unfailing good humor, she lightens the workload and makes work easier for everyone. A longstanding and loyal team member, she has supported the department for many years and remains deeply committed to its people and mission.
Room 3S07
+43 (0)512 507-56009
Consultation hours:
Daily, 9-12am
GAIA LAPOMARDA, MSc PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Gaia proudly refers to herself as an "affective warrior," advocating for the recognition and appreciation of emotions in our daily lives. Her research focuses on individual differences in the generation and regulation of emotions, exploring how these differences influence cognitive domains such as perception and decision-making. As a strong proponent of the embodied cognition approach, she investigates the dynamic interaction between the brain and body by integrating behavioral, physiological, and neuroimaging methods. Prior to joining the lab, she earned her Ph.D. at the University of Trento, Italy, followed by two years of postdoctoral training at New York University in Abu Dhabi, UAE. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, hiking in nature, and baking for friends.
Room 2S12
+43 (0)512 507-56042
SOFIA AMAOUI, MSc PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Sofia has a strong interest in neuroscience as a valuable approach to understand social phenomena. She is particularly interested in studying the (neuro)psychological and neural underpinnings of Intimate Partner Violence against Women. Currently, she aims to take a more preventive approach by examining the social attitudes that promote this violence, with the goal of supporting intervention programs and ultimately reducing or eliminating this social concern.
Before joining the lab, she earned her Ph.D. at the University of Granada, Spain, and then completed 9 months of postdoctoral training at Lusófona University in Porto, Portugal, where she conducted research on EEG and interoception during pregnancy. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering and spending time with family and friends.
Room 3S19
+43 (0)512 507-56048
MIRNA HAJRIC, MSc
PhD student
Mirna completed her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of Novi Sad, Serbia, and her Master's degree in Clinical Psychology at Karl-Franzens-University in Graz, Austria. During her studies, she developed a strong interest in brain research, neuromodulation, and neuroimaging techniques. As a member of the Affective Neuro Lab, her research focuses on exploring the neural mechanisms underlying human emotion regulation in social contexts. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, playing video games, and volunteering.
Room 3S15
+43 (0)512 507-56078
MI LANDE, MSc
PhD student
Mi completed her Bachelor's degree in Biology at the Technical University of Brunswick, Germany, and went on to earn a Master's degree in Behavior, Neurobiology, and Cognition at the University of Vienna, Austria. As a member of the Affective Neuro Lab, she combines her long-standing passion for sleep research with an interdisciplinary approach, investigating the neurobiological foundations of sleep paralysis and its connection to emotional experiences by integrating insights from psychology and neurobiology. In her free time, she enjoys playing the guitar, drawing, reading, and playing tennis.
Room 5W04
+43 (0)512 507-56093
CHRISTINA GRAMMENOU, MSc
PhD student
Christina completed both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Psychology at the University of Salzburg, specializing in cognitive neuroscience. Prior to joining the Affective Neuroscience Lab, she worked as a research assistant at the University Hospital of Tübingen and as a guest scientist at the Epilepsy Center in Freiburg. She will contribute to the IMPROVER project (“IMPROVing Emotion Regulation”), aiming to develop and test a novel, neuroscience-informed emotion regulation training program using non-invasive brain imaging methods and Ecological Momentary Assessment. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing volleyball, and practicing yoga.
Room 5W04
+43 (0)512 507-56093
NILS WEHNER, MSc
PhD student
Nils obtained both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Psychology at the University of Innsbruck. His passion for emotions—particularly emotion recognition and regulation—developed even before his academic career and was the driving force behind his decision to study psychology. As a member of the Affective Neuro Lab, his research focuses on investigating emotional resilience in adolescents and exploring ways to strengthen it. In his free time, he enjoys staying active through various sports, traveling, and cooking.
Room 2S17
+43 (0)512 507-56089
ANNA GMEINER, MSc
PhD student
Anna completed both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Psychology at the University of Innsbruck. Driven by her fascination with neuroscience and her passion for understanding how our surroundings shape mind and brain, she is now investigating how different environments influence well-being and neural processes. As a member of the Affective Neuro Lab, her doctoral project focuses on environmental neuroscience, with the aim of uncovering how nature and built spaces impact emotional health and resilience. Outside the lab, Anna is most at home on mountain trails. She is an avid trail runner, passionate about sports of all kinds, and brings the same creativity and energy she shows in science to her athletic pursuits and everyday life.
Room 3S15
+43 (0)512 507-56078
LAURA GERVAIS, MSc
PhD student
Laura has long been fascinated by the human brain and the many questions that remain unanswered in our effort to truly understand human behavior. As part of her PhD project "DEACON – DEcoding Affective CONtrol," she is excited to investigate the role of cognitive abilities in emotion regulation. She values a neuroscientific perspective as essential for gaining a more holistic understanding of psychological processes. Laura completed both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Psychology at the University of Innsbruck. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, creating art and music, and engaging with cultural activities.
Room 3S15
+43 (0)512 507-56078
Student Assisstent
Ludwig Ebbers
Miljana Savic
Student Assisstent
Former Lab Members
​
Research Interns
Ludwig Ebbers
Laura Marchesini
Aaron Tolone
Sonja Kittelberger
Marion Roth
Javen Rothhar Schneider
Jonathan Weber
Maximilian Boll
David Lang
Pia Steinemann
Anastasia Borisow
Anna Gmeiner
Valentin Lohmer
Vincent Wahl
Sebastian Caspar
Corinna Eber
Adam Schönstedt
Lisa-Marie J. Rese
Julia Stephanie Sulzmann​​
​
​
MA Students
Thimo Klink
Pia Steinemann
Katharina Floßmann
Johanna Muro
Lea Scantamburlo
Anna Gmeiner
Laura Gervais
Sunniva Karner
Nelly Berger
Aaron Tolone
David Lang
Jonathan Weber
Selina Herb
​
​
​
International Visiting Students
Sofia Amaoui (University of Granada)
Sama Rahnemayan (Tabriz University of Medical Sciences)
María Pérez González (University of Granada)
​
​
MA Students
Florian Hemetsberger
Luis Glenzer
Andreas Jürgens
Nils Wehner
Laura Koglek
Eva Katharina Böhm
Sebastian Brauner
Miriam Happacher
Antonia Versamis
Sebastian Brauner
Inka Bürger
Corinna Eber
Hannah Faller
Stephanie Krämer
Amelie Scherz
Katharina Spitz
Anna Uhlmann
​