A Controlled Foraging Task for Studying Natural Vision
Y Zhang, T Näher, M Pandinelli, P Fries. (2025). "A Controlled Foraging Task for Studying Natural Vision." Systems Vision Science Summer School and Symposium 2025.
CV
Education
- Ph.D. in Systems Neuroscience, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands, 2021 – 2026
- Thesis: Latent Structure in Brain and Behavior: From Geometric Brain State Decoding to Saccadic Rhythmicity
- MPI for Biological Cybernetics (Tübingen) & Ernst Strüngmann Institute (Frankfurt). Supervisor: Pascal Fries.
- M.Sc. Research Master – Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Netherlands, 2019 – 2021
- summa cum laude. WSUM Master Thesis Prize
- B.Sc. Psychology, Trier University, Germany / Troy University, AL, 2013 – 2019
Work Experience
- Jun 2026 – Present: Research Scientist, Peripheral Neural Interfaces
- Meta Reality Labs, New York, NY
- May 2025 – Nov 2025: Research Scientist Intern
- Meta Reality Labs, New York, NY
- Developing real-time deep learning models for peripheral neural interface decoding, enabling sub-millisecond latency input for next-generation wearable human-computer interaction.
- Jul 2024 – May 2025: PhD Researcher
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- ML pipelines using Riemannian geometry for fNIRS brain state decoding and awareness detection in disorders of consciousness.
- Real-time causal sleep oscillation detection models.
- Oct 2021 – Jul 2024: PhD Researcher
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience, Frankfurt, Germany
- Gamma renewal process model with rate-rescaling for inter-saccade interval rhythmicity across three primate species.
- Vector-field decompositions of large-scale macaque ECoG arrays.
- cTBS-over-rFEF experiments with concurrent EEG
- Nov 2022 – Nov 2023: Statistics Instructor
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Interdisciplinary M.Sc. Neuroscience
- Taught statistical modeling, data analysis, and interpretation; developed interactive Python and MATLAB course materials.
Skills
- Neural Decoding & Real-Time Models: Causal CNNs, LSTMs, sequence-to-sequence, Viterbi/CRF decoding, on-device inference, EMG neuromotor decoding, EEG sleep oscillation detection, closed-loop neurostimulation
- Machine Learning & Deep Learning: PyTorch, PyTorch Lightning, Transformers, contrastive/self-supervised learning, foundation-model pretraining, transfer learning, CNNs, RNNs, GANs, autoencoders, Bayesian optimization
- Neuroimaging & Signal Processing: Riemannian geometry (pyRiemann/SPDLearn), EEG/fNIRS/EMG/ECoG pipelines, time-frequency analysis, connectivity analysis, aperiodic spectral decomposition, MNE-Python
- Sensor Fusion & Wearables: Multimodal integration (EMG, EEG, fNIRS, eye tracking, HRV, respiration, motion), real-time biofeedback systems, wearable neural interface prototyping
- Infrastructure: Python, MATLAB, JavaScript, SQL, Linux/HPC (SLURM), Git, Docker
Awards
- IEEE Brain Discovery & Neurotechnology Workshop Poster Prize – 1st place, ML & Computer Paradigms (Riemannian geometry for fNIRS-BCIs), 2024
- WSUM Master Thesis Prize – Best M.Sc. thesis, Faculty of Neuroscience & Psychology, Maastricht University, 2021
Publications
Assessing the Role of Sleep in Spatial Schema Formation using Virtual Reality
L Bastian, H Hamann, T Näher, K Rauss, J Born. (2025). "Assessing the Role of Sleep in Spatial Schema Formation using Virtual Reality." Psychologie und Gehirn (PUG).
The Causal Role of Frontal Eye Field in Saccade Rhythmicity
T Näher, F Breuer, I Celik, M Lueckel, Y Zhang, L Bastian, TO Bergmann, et al. (2025). "The Causal Role of Frontal Eye Field in Saccade Rhythmicity." Psychologie und Gehirn (PUG).
SODEEP: A lightweight causal CNN for real-time slow oscillation detection
T Näher, L Bastian, J Born, P Fries. (2025). "SODEEP: A lightweight causal CNN for real-time slow oscillation detection." SfN Nano-Symposium Presentation.
Frontal Eye Field inhibition causes enhanced saccade rhythmicity
T Näher, F Breuer, M Lueckel, Y Zhang, L Bastian, TO Bergmann, P Fries. (2025). "Frontal Eye Field inhibition causes enhanced saccade rhythmicity." Brain Stimulation.
tVNS affects and depends on autonomous and central nervous system states
T Näher, L Bastian, N Kroemer, SC Mednick, J Born, P Fries. (2025). "tVNS affects and depends on autonomous and central nervous system states." Brain Stimulation.
Closed-loop transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation of sleep slow oscillations
L Bastian, T Näher, HVV Ngo, NB Kroemer, S Mednick, P Fries, J Born. (2025). "Closed-loop transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation of sleep slow oscillations." Brain Stimulation.
Sensitive and specific fNIRS-based approach for awareness detection in disorders of consciousness: proof of principle in healthy adults
L Bastian, T Näher, A Vorreuther, M Lührs, A Benitez Andonegui, P Fries, et al. (2025). "Sensitive and specific fNIRS-based approach for awareness detection in disorders of consciousness: proof of principle in healthy adults." Neurophotonics, 12(4), 045001.
Riemannian geometry boosts functional near-infrared spectroscopy-based brain-state classification accuracy
T Näher, L Bastian, A Vorreuther, P Fries, R Goebel, B Sorger. (2025). "Riemannian geometry boosts functional near-infrared spectroscopy-based brain-state classification accuracy." Neurophotonics, 12(4), 045002.
Gamma in awake macaque V1 causes response-gain modulation
M Pandinelli, T Näher, E Psarou, I Grothe, P Fries. (2024). "Gamma in awake macaque V1 causes response-gain modulation." Neuroscience 2024, 514-515.
Riemannian Geometry for the classification of brain states with fNIRS
T Näher, L Bastian, A Vorreuther, P Fries, R Goebel, B Sorger. (2024). "Riemannian Geometry for the classification of brain states with fNIRS." bioRxiv, 2024.09.06.611347.
Rhythms for Vision: Temporal dynamics of primate saccades
T Näher, Y Zhang, EN Uygur, P Fries. (2024). "Rhythms for Vision: Temporal dynamics of primate saccades." Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS).
Sleeping Soundly: Memory Formation for Voices in Three-Months-Old Infants
L Bastian, EM Kurz, T Näher, K Zinke, M Friedrich, J Born. (2024). "Sleeping Soundly: Memory Formation for Voices in Three-Months-Old Infants." Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS).
Long-term memory formation for voices during sleep in three-month-old infants
L Bastian, EM Kurz, T Näher, K Zinke, M Friedrich, J Born. (2024). "Long-term memory formation for voices during sleep in three-month-old infants." Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 215, 107987.
Primate saccade rhythmicity
T Näher, Y Zhang, M Pandinelli, P Fries. (2023). "Primate saccade rhythmicity." bioRxiv, 2023.09.27.559710.
Looking at the bigger picture: Cortical volume, thickness and surface area characteristics in borderline personality disorder with and without posttraumatic stress disorder
CC Vatheuer, I Dzionsko, S Maier, T Näher, L van Zutphen, A Sprenger, et al. (2021). "Looking at the bigger picture: Cortical volume, thickness and surface area characteristics in borderline personality disorder with and without posttraumatic stress disorder." Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 311, 111283.