??Big news?? I will be starting as a tenure-track Assistant Professor (W2) of Neuroscience at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München in April 2025! The Schroeder lab will investigate how the brain ?? generates internal states, and then uses this information to adapt behavior in dynamic environments. Specifically, we will study how emotions, motivations and needs are processed in the subthalamic circuits of the mysterious zona incerta, an emerging hub that regulates an impressive range of behaviors. In parallel, we will aim to develop new therapeutic directions for psychiatric disease via neuromodulation ??. To achieve these goals, my team will use cutting-edge molecular, cellular and circuit-level technologies together with diverse behavioral paradigms ?? and advanced machine learning techniques. I am truly grateful ?? to my mentors, colleagues, family and friends who made it possible for me to realize my dreams. This credit goes most of all to my incredible supervisors – Johannes J. Letzkus, and Joris de Wit – and to the incomparable Erin Schuman. I would also like to give special thanks ?? to Nadine Gogolla for her support these last years and to my wonderful future colleagues at LMU, especially Benedikt Grothe and Laura Busse, for their assistance in transitioning to this exciting new role. Finally, none of this would have been possible without the tireless support of my husband Felix Schröder, Dr., MBA. I feel deeply humbled to have the opportunity to join the Faculty of Biology at LMU and to be able to teach within the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences - LMU Munich. I cannot wait to become part of the amazing Munich neuroscience community ?? and to get started on all of the projects I’ve planned! The lab will be recruiting postdocs and PhD students. Please spread the word, and reach out if you’re interested in joining the team! ??…more