I explore how attention shapes our interaction with the world
By studying how attention operates in real-world settings, I aim to understand how we process, filter, and respond to the vast amount of information we encounter in everyday life, influencing our decisions, behaviors, and interactions.
From curiosity to cognition
I grew up in Göttingen, Germany, and my fascination with cognition kicked off during my social year at a care facility, where I quickly learned that the human brain is as puzzling as it is fascinating. Not wanting to put myself in a box too early, I opted for a B.Sc. in Cognitive Science in Osnabrück—a little bit of everything to keep my options open. Then I jumped into the deep end with an M.Sc. in Neuro-Cognitive Psychology at LMU Munich.
I was lucky enough to stay at LMU for my Ph.D., where I spent years figuring out how we learn to block out distractions (it’s trickier than it sounds). Now, my focus is firmly on attention—and trying to keep mine in one place.
Some days, I’m a cognitive psychologist.
Other days, I’m just trying to negotiate with a 3-year-old over why we can’t have ketchup for every meal. And when I’m not doing either, I’m getting into games (yes, I’m that person who still plays Magic: The Gathering).
Balancing family life, research, and hobbies is a bit like juggling – except the balls are covered in tomato sauce, behavioral data, and booster packs. But hey, it keeps things interesting and occasionally gives me some fresh perspectives on attention and behavior.
