My research lies at the intersection of health and technology – focused on the co-design, purpose-development, evaluation, and implementation of individually tailored exergame-based training programs for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

My mission is to rigorously commit to multidisciplinary and patient-centered research with adequate theoretical underpinnings by advancing research methodologies and putting them into practice to collaboratively create credible, well-accepted, and effective solutions that have the potential to enhance clinical practice and improve care for individuals and communities in need.

To make the most out of this process, I put a strong emphasis on the involvement of all relevant interest holders throughout all project stages. This includes the targeted primary end-users (e.g., patients), secondary end-users (e.g., exercise or therapy practitioners, relatives and supporters of primary end-users), other research institution(s), (healthcare) provider institution(s), technology developer(s), technology provider(s), and additional interest-holders, such as patient advocacy groups, funding bodies, policy makers, and end-user representatives.

My vision is to sustainably improve clinical care through personalized training concepts that are finely tuned to local needs and requirements – and thereby actively contribute to the digital transformation of healthcare and community-centered health promotion initiatives. 

My passion for research began during my time as a competitive track and field athlete. I was particularly drawn to technically complex disciplines such as javelin throwing and pole vaulting, where I sought to optimize my training routines to perfect my technique and maximize performance.

To further develop my knowledge and use it to make a tangible impact in the real world, this journey led me to become a professional fitness trainer, allowing me to use my expertise to help others achieve their goals and improve their health. Over three years, I developed a particular fascination with the broader effects of physical activity and exercise beyond the neuromuscular system. This realization inspired me to pursue a career as an academic researcher with the goal of one day advancing knowledge about the role of physical activity and exercise in health promotion and disease prevention.

To this end, I started studying Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich in 2016 and started contributing to research early on as a research assistant. During my Master’s degree, I had the opportunity to contribute to a project that developed and evaluated an exergame-based motor-cognitive training for chronic stroke patients. As soon as I started this project, I felt that I’d found my professional passion and had finally “arrived” where I always belonged, as this work aimed to integrate the knowledge of several fields that have captivated me, including exercise science, neuroscience, neuropsychology, behaviour change, and emerging technologies. This experience solidified my desire to one day make a tangible contribution to the advancement of the field - and thus to the prevention and treatment of patients with neurodegenerative and neurological diseases. 

Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to continue on this path by completing my Dr. Sc. ETH between August 2020 and April 2024 in the laboratory of Prof. Dr. Eling D. de Bruin. I coordinated the iterative co-design, development, and evaluation of the ‘Brain-IT’ training concept for the secondary prevention of mild neurocognitive disorder. This process resulted in a new intervention type specifically targeting various relevant mechanisms of action to alleviate the pathological state of mild neurocognitive disorder by combining an individually tailored exergame-based motor-cognitive training with biofeedback-guided resonance breathing. This project was my first significant contribution to the field and has definitely reinforced my calling as an academic researcher. 

Outside of life as a researcher, I am still a sports enthusiast (in particular tennis; although no longer competitively) and enjoy taking bastu (that's how the Swedes call Saunas here), watching documentaries, and spending time with friends and family, including my two cats, Daisy and Stella. These activities help me maintain a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.