
Thomas B. Christophel
Thomas (he/him) is a psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist. In the past, he predominently worked at the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience and the Berlin Center for Advanced Neuroimaging. He received his PhD from HU Berlin, Psychology. Thomas leads the Distributed Cognition and Memory group. (for a full CV, press here)
“I am obsessed with the question how we retain immediatly relevant information in working memory and how it relates to human cognition. I care a lot about careful experimental design and levelheaded data analysis. Leading this group is a great joy. Another joy is the kid. Third joy is writing nordic chamber larps, some of which you can find here”

Vivien Chopurian
Vivien (she/her) is a PhD student investigating the dynamic reallocation of short-term memory storage. Before joining the group, she studied psychology and gained experience in social psychology as well as clinical and cognitive neuroscience research in Cambridge and Berlin. If you can’t find her in the lab, she’s probably roaming galleries, surfing in sunnier places, or watching birds.
Joana Seabra
Joana (she/her) is a PhD student investigating categorization in working memory. She has a background in fine arts (University of Porto) and in neuroscience (Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin) and happily combines the two whenever possible. She is easily recognizable in the wild by the traces of oil paint on her face and hands, the humming of a brazilian song from the 80’s or a book of political theory she doesn’t fully understand under her arm.
Andreea-Maria Gui
Andreea (she/her) is a MSc student in Computational Neuroscience focusing on categorization and distractors in working memory. Previously, she studied Computer Science (Technical University of Cluj-Napoca) that she wants to use as a tool for investigating the brain. She is known for being happily distracted by simple sources of joy, such as dancing, thought-provoking books, and sweet cups of hot coffee.
Zhiqi Kang
Zhiqi (he/him) is a master student in Cognitive Sciences at Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin. Previously he studied cognitive psychology at Jacobs University Bremen and worked at the Center for Adaptive Rationality, Max Planck Institute for Human Development. He is now doing his master thesis at DISCO lab on mixed-modality benefits in working memory. Most of his free time is spent on the “souls” video games, cooking and getting lost in Berlin.
Damla Cifci
Damla (she/her) is a master of science student in the Mind and Brain program at Humboldt Universität zu Berlin. She received her BSc degree in psychology combined with a minor in biology at Middle East Technical University, Turkey. If she is not working on her internship project at DisCo lab, she is probably signing up for a new dance course to get new injuries or taking analog photos in ridiculous positions.
Anni Kienke
Anni (she/her) is a B. Sc. student at the FU Berlin. Right now she is primarily interested in gaining experience in conducting research and broadening her general knowledge in psychology. If she isn’t coding at the weekends or trying to understand design choices, you will find her at a cosy café reading a book and watching other people. Although dancing and singing while strolling along the beach always sounds like a good idea.