Dr Petra Fischer

In August 2021, I set up my Waves and Breaks neuroscience research group at the University of Bristol, where I have secured funding from the Medical Research Council, EPSRC and the Rosetrees Trust for my work on dystonia and Parkinson’s disease. The “waves” refer to waves of synchronized neural activity that can be measured invasively and non-invasively throughout the brain, and “breaks” are the equally important pauses in activity created by inhibitory neurons. Both, synchronized periods of activity and sychronized breaks , are thought to be critical in coordinating movements and processing of sensory information. I have been studying neural synchronization for over 10 years, first during my MSc in Cognitive Science and then during my PhD and postdoc in Oxford.

I received my DPhil in Clinical Neurosciences in 2017 at the University of Oxford supervised by Professor Peter Brown and Huiling Tan. In my thesis, I studied cortical EEG and local field potential (LFP) activity from the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in Parkinson’s patients to understand the role of cortico-subcortical oscillations in movement control. I continued to work at the MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit in Oxford as postdoc for four years, studying spike-field coupling in an international collaboration with Professor Mark Richardson.

Besides running my research group, I also teach Statistics, Cognitive Neuroscience, and Neural Systems and Computations as Senior Lecturer, and have been supervising PhD, Master’s and undergraduate student projects. Outside of work, I enjoy exploring new corners in the city and countryside, and also surfing when the wind and weather play ball. I am also a fan of Bristol’s vibrant live music scene.

Dr Nadia Cerminara

I am a Lecturer at the School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience and have been co-supervising undergraduate and graduate student research projects with Petra. My overall research interest is to understand the neural mechanisms that underlie the control of movement. This includes the role of the cerebellum, motor cortex and basal ganglia. Using an in vivo systems level approach, a key aim of my work is to determine the sensorimotor information processing that occurs in motor circuits during the performance of both well-rehearsed movements and during motor learning/adaptation.

Dr Ehsan Jafari

In June 2024, I successfully defended my PhD thesis, “Novel Approaches in Functional Electrical Stimulation for Rehabilitation: Development, Analysis, and Optimization,” at ENS de Lyon. My research focused on addressing key limitations of functional electrical stimulation (FES) as a neurorehabilitation method for individuals with neurological movement disorders such as spinal cord injury, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. I developed a multifaceted approach involving transcutaneous textile electrodes, spatially distributed sequential stimulation during isometric and cycling exercises, and biomechanical optimization.

I joined the Waves and Breaks neuroscience research group in March 2025 to work on the MRC-funded project “Personalized neurostimulation for Parkinson’s inspired by neurophysiological signatures of symptom improvements observed after physical exercise”. In this project we will design non-invasive stimulation protocols that are guided by neurophysiological recordings (i.e., EEG and LFP) that capture patients at their best in terms of movement and executive control.

Outside of research, I enjoy exploring topics in politics, society, and sports, and I am particularly passionate about playing table tennis as a hobby.

Rui Ni, BSc

I am a PhD student at the University of Bristol, starting in September 2023. I completed my undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at Imperial College London, where I developed a strong interest in neuroscience. During an internship at a neuromodulation lab, I developed a strong interest in EEG analysis and neuromodulation. I am specifically interested in the clinical applications of EEG analysis and neuromodulation for uncovering mechanisms and potential treatments for various neurological disorders. 
 
My research focuses on investigating how dopamine levels influence voluntary movement by examining their impact on brain oscillations and behaviour, particularly increased impulsivity. I am especially interested in developing and testing non-invasive neuromodulation protocols aimed at improving daily life for individuals with Parkinson’s disease, while minimising unwanted side effects, such as impulsivity commonly associated with dopaminergic medications. 

Currently, I use a novel behavioural task developed by our lab, to investigate how dopamine modulation impacts impulsivity and action-related EEG activity.
In my spare time, I enjoy crocheting, reading comics, keeping a scrap book, and collecting stuffed toys.   

Feel free to contact me at rui.ni@bristol.ac.uk for any inquiries or potential collaboration opportunities. 

Amy-Rose Taylor, MSc

I am a Neuroscience graduate and have been working in the Waves and Breaks lab as a Research Assistant since June 2025. My Master’s degree at the University of Bristol culminated in a research project titled ‘Vibrotactile stimulation and guided box breathing: A novel approach to upregulating alpha power to reduce anxiety’. This introduced me to the field of neurotechnology and sparked my interest in its applications for mental health and neurological disorders. I am particularly interested in using closed-loop systems and biofeedback to monitor and modulate neural activity, with the aim of disrupting pathological patterns of neuronal firing.

I am currently working on a Rosetrees Trust-funded dystonia project, using portable closed-loop EEG and vibrotactile stimulation devices to modulate brain activity and reduce dystonia symptoms. We are developing and testing a portable device for home use. 

When I’m not in the lab I enjoy horse riding, climbing, reading and exploring nature and new areas.  
 

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Jude White, BSc

I completed my undergraduate BSc in Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Bristol in 2023 . I am a current member of Petra’s lab, completing my MRes in temporal sensory integration, using electroencephalography (EEG) paired with a custom audio/vibrotactile temporal discrimination task. I am excited for the development of this exciting lab and field!

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