I work at the intersection of MRI, computational modelling, machine learning, and clinical translation. My research aims to make brain imaging more clinically meaningful: from diffusion and functional MRI models that reveal changes in the brain’s architecture, to eye-tracking paradigms that capture cognitive and sensory signatures. I focus on building computational frameworks for large-scale brain activity and digital biomarkers to better detect and monitor brain health across ageing and neurodegeneration.
Currently, I’m affiliated with the University of Newcastle and the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI).
Research Interests
- MRI analytics (diffusion, fMRI, physiological coupling)
- Eye-movement and behaviour modelling
- Neural Mass Models for large-scale models of brain activity
- Translational neuroimaging for ageing and dementia
- Brain temperature and thermometry
Education
2023:
Dr. biol. hum. (Doctor of Human Biology)
Medical Faculty, Ulm University, Germany
2012:
Diplom-Physikerin (Master of Science in Physics)
Dresden University of Technology, Germany
Professional appointments
2023 – :
Computational Neuroimaging Fellow
University of Newcastle, Australia
Systems Neuroscience Group, Supervisior: Prof Michael Breakspear
2020 – 2023:
Research Assistant
Ulm University Medical Centre, Germany
Neurophysiology Group, Supervisor: Prof Jan Kassubek
2019 – 2020:
Educational Project Coordinator
Biberach University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Institute for Educational Knowledge Transfer, Supervisor: Dr Jenny Blank
2012 – 2012:
Research Assistant
Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research, Dresden, Germany
Institute for Complex Materials, Supervisor: Dr Anja Waske
Funding
2025:
AU$9,917 – Key Research Area Funding, HMRI Brain Neuromodulation Research Program
”Thermoregulatory and cholinergic neuromodulatory signatures of amyloid burden in older adults”; Lead Chief Investigator (CI)
2025:
AU$20,000 – Newcastle Permanent Innovation Accelerator Program Finalist Award, HMRI
”Assessing Hearing by Vision”; Sole CI
2024:
AU$785 – Annual Meeting Care Giver Grant, Organization of Human Brain Mapping (OHBM)
2024:
AU$7,983 – Fellowship Accelerator, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle
”Integrating senses: Decoding cognitive Interplay in closed captioned multimedia consumption”; Sole CI
2023:
AU$2,500 – Seed Funding, HMRI Brain Neuromodulation Research Program
”Optimisation of eye‑tracking data preprocessing pipeline”; Sole CI
Awards and recognition
2023:
Greater than the sum of our parts Award
awarded to the Imaging Centre team by the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) to recognise collaborative excellence
annabehler.com 