With the 2025 Flux Congress mere months away, the Flux Trainee Committee is excited to spotlight some of your fellow attendees through our trainee research profiles. If you’re a trainee—whether a student, post-bacc, or postdoc—and would like to be featured, we invite you to fill out our interest form!
At Flux, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of researchers who are shaping the future of developmental cognitive neuroscience. In our new Trainee Spotlight series, we will highlight the achievements, aspirations, and contributions of outstanding trainees within our community. These young scientists are not only pushing the boundaries of research but also embodying the spirit of collaboration and innovation that drives our field forward.
Today, we are excited to introduce Dr. Joana Sa de Almeida. Let's dive into their journey, insights, and what motivates them to make a lasting impact in developmental cognitive neuroscience.
Dr. Joana Sa de Almeida
Postdoctoral Researcher, Unige (Switzerland) & Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (Australia)
What is the focus of your research?
I use multi-modal MR imaging (mainly diffusion and structural MRI) to study the development of the brain of infants and children born preterm. During my PhD, I have mainly focused on the effect of an early music intervention during NICU stay on preterm infants' brain development. Currently, for my post doc, I am focusing on the long-term effects of prematurity on cortical microstructure at school-age and its correlation with executive function outcomes, in comparison to full-term peers.
What is your most interesting research finding or inquiry so far?
An early music intervention given to premature infants during their NICU stay leads to an enhanced maturation of both cortical and white matter structures involved in emotional processing, namely the orbito-frontal cortex, temporal pole, uncinate fasciculus (a fiber bundle connecting the previous two regions), insula and amygdala.
What do you enjoy doing when not researching (hobbies, interests, etc)?
When not doing research, I also work as a medical doctor in developmental pediatrics, which is my main clinical area of interest. I assess, treat and support children with a variety of neurodevelopmental delays. When not working, I love hiking or swimming. The Swiss Alps have been a constant hiking favorite spot for many years and, more recently, I started to discover the Australian coast, ocean and animal life. I also like a good stand up comedy show.
Best piece of advice you have received as a trainee?
You have to do it yourself if you want something done.
Do you have any advice for early-stage trainees?
Despite the fact that the beginning of a PhD can be very challenging, and although it may not seem any easier along the way, undertaking a PhD is an incredible experience that offers the opportunity to learn, experiment, fail without major consequences and try again, until you will finally master a topic of your interest. There is no other job that will give you the same amount of time and flexibility to learn about something you are interested in.
Most useful resource that you would recommend to other trainees in developmental cognitive neuroscience?
Depends on the topic. In MR imaging, all the MRtrix, FSL and Freesurfer tutorials.
Please list any social media accounts / personal websites that you would like us to highlight:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joana-Sa-De-Almeida