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New Research Group Led by Prof. Dr. Julia Linke

Starting October 1, 2025, Prof. Dr. Julia Linke leads a new research group at the LIR. The lab integrates clinical and developmental psychology with a cognitive neuroscience perspective, using an approach known as “from bench to bedside to curbside.” In the basic research domain (bench), the group focuses on uncovering the fundamental mechanisms of healthy development and resilience and identifying neurobiological signatures of stress-related symptoms. The team focuses on critical life transitions (adolescence, the transition to university, parenthood) and high-risk populations (e.g., individuals with minority identities, teachers, healthcare professionals), with special attention to sex differences. The goal is to leverage insights from this line of work to predict natural developmental trajectories and to design effective short-term interventions, which are evaluated in collaboration with the clinical research unit at JGU (bedside). In addition, the lab aims to develop scalable mini-interventions to promote resilience in the general population (curbside). Participation and science communication are important to the group, and so the group seeks to actively involve stakeholders beyond the academic community to strengthen societal resilience and mental health at the societal level.

 

Prof. Dr. Julia Linke received her Ph.D. from the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim and Heidelberg University and is a licensed psychotherapist for children, adolescents, and adults. After her postdoctoral research at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in the United States, she was appointed Assistant Professor at the University of Texas in Houston. Before coming to Mainz, however, she was the Chair for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy of Childhood and Adolescence at the University of Freiburg, where she studied childhood and adolescence as sensitive periods of brain development that lay the foundation for resilience. Dr. Linke published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles and has received multiple awards for her outstanding research (Allies Muskin Career Development Award, ACNP Travel Award, NIH Fellow’s Award for Research Excellence) and dedicated mentorship (NIMH Director’s Award for Outstanding Mentoring).

 

The lab is currently seeking a postdoctoral researcher, two PhD candidates, and a project coordinator to join the team and contribute to advancing resilience research.

 

Publications:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/julia.linke.3/bibliography/public/

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=-wvQSv0AAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate

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