Current Position
Grant manager @ HTB Lab, University of Iceland (HÍ) since 2023
Supervisor: Hans Tómas Björnsson, M.D., Ph.D.
Education
2018-2021 Université Paris Cité/Paris Descartes (UPD) — Doctoral thesis in Cognitive Science
2016-2019 École Normale Supérieure, Paris (ENS) — Masters for Research in Cognitive Science (CogMaster)
iii — Diplôme de l'ENS
2012-2016 University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) — Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience
2012 Lycée Massillon, Paris — Baccalauréat Scientifique, spécialité Sciences de la vie et de la terre
Laboratory Experience
2.2022-10.2023 Postdoc @ Icelandic Vision Lab, HÍ
Supervisors: Árni Kristjánsson & David Pascucci (EPFL)
Theme: Extraction of spatial statistics by the human visual system
2018-2021 PhD Student @ Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition Center, UPD
ED3C PhD Program Scholar, Université Sorbonne Paris Cité (USPC) — Supervisor: Laura Dugué
Thesis: Attentional cycles travel in space and in time: a computational and
neuroimaging approach
Project 1 – Computational model of traveling waves in the visual cortex applied
to MEG and behavioral data.
Project 2 – Oscillations modulate attentional search performance periodically:
preprocessing, computation and statistical analysis of EEG time-frequency decomposition.
2016-2018 Masters Intern @ Perceptual Systems Laboratory (LSP), ENS
ENS International Selection Scholar — Supervisors: Pascal Mamassian, Claire Sergent
•Designed, coded, tested and analyzed a novel experimental paradigm
•Research question: Can attention modulate visual sequential effects?
2018 Research Intern @ Laboratoire Psychologie de la Perception (LPP), UPD
Supervisor: Laura Dugué
•Analyzed EEG data for time-frequency decomposition
2016 Research Intern @ Consciousness in Decision-Making Laboratory, UCLA
Supervisor: Uri Maoz
•Designed, coded and tested a novel protocol
•Research question: Can people learn to behave randomly?
2015 Research Assistant @ Visual Cognitive Psychology Laboratory, UCLA
Supervisors: Zili Liu, Andrew Silva
•Performed experimental protocols and directed participants
Published Articles
Merholz, G., Grabot, L., VanRullen, R. & Dugué, L. (2022). Periodic attention operates faster during more complex visual search. Scientific Reports 12.6688. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10647-5
Wong, S., Merholz, G. & Maoz, U. (2021). Characterizing human random-sequence generation in competitive and non-competitive environments using Lempel-Ziv complexity. Scientific Reports 11.20662. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99967-6
Teaching & Scientific Communication
2023 Lecture and discussions sessions: Sensation and Perception level 2 (University of Iceland, undergrad)
2023 Poster @ Vision Sciences Society (VSS) 2023 Annual Symposium, Florida, USA
Merholz G., Kristjánsson Á., Pascucci D. Spatial structure aids shape perception and feature extraction. DOI
2022 Poster @ International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON) 2022, Helsinki, Finland
Pascucci D., Menétrey M., Merholz G. Global brain dynamics under visual entrainment.
2022 Poster @ Vision Sciences Society (VSS) 2022 Annual Symposium, Florida, USA
Grabot L., Merholz G., Winawer J., Heeger D., Dugué L. Computational modeling of traveling waves using MEG-EEG in human. DOI
2021 Lecture series: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology (Univ. Paris 8 Saint-Denis undergrad)
2021-2022 Seminars @ KU Leuven - U Paris Cité - EPFL: Spatio-temporal dynamics of scalp-recorded attentional cycles
2020 Lecture series: Perception, Attention, Memory (Univ. Paris 8 Saint-Denis undergrad)
2020 Lecture series: Introduction to Genetics (Univ. Paris X Nanterre undergrad)
2019 Poster @ Vision Sciences Society (VSS), St. Pete Beach, FL, USA (PDF)
Merholz G., VanRullen R., Dugué L. Oscillations modulate attentional search performance periodically
2019 In-house conference organization & poster presentation: INCC PhD & PostDoc Day
2019 Lecture series: Introduction to cognitive science (UPD Paris 5 undergrad)
2019 Poster @ ED3C Doctoral School Scientific Days (PDF)
2018 Trans-disciplinary scientific course (UPD undergrad): student posters evaluation
2018 Poster @ GDR Vision 2018 Conference, Paris, France
Merholz G., VanRullen R., Dugué L. (PDF)
Graduate Examinations
2018 ED3C : Cerveau, Cognition, Comportement, UPD, obtained full PhD funding
2018 Idex Université Sorbonne Paris-Cité, UPD, obtained full PhD funding
2018 Frontières du Vivant Doctoral School, admitted to academic program
2016 Sélection Internationale Sciences, ENS, obtained 3-year full scholarship
2015 Graduate records examinations (GRE), 88th percentile
Leadership and Professional Experience
2019-2023 Co-Founder of ProTest Labs, Paris, France
•Supervision of scientific research activities (IRB00003888)
•Administrative management
•Student trainee mentoring
2018-2022 Transversal Skills Training, IDEX Doctorate Series, Paris, France
•Main skills trained: teamwork, communication, leadership
•Doctoral courses: open science, gender (in)equality, bibliography, LaTeX,
bioinformatics, Bayesian statistics, human perception
2013-2016 Sales Professional @ ASUCLA Computer Store, Los Angeles, CA
•Served customers in person and over the telephone
•Managed scheduling of other employees
2012-2016 Recurring member @ UCLA Volunteer Center
•Participated in varying volunteer work, including community center
beautification, school repainting, and outreach to high school GSAs
2015 Founding member @ Neuroscience Journal Club at UCLA
•Presented and discussed newly published scientific articles
2014-2015 Vice-President of Gamma Rho Lambda National Sorority at UCLA
•Planned and supervised events; managed internal conflicts
2014 Personal Assistant to the Director @ La Quincaillerie, Paris, France
•Directed and assisted operations in new store opening
•Reorganized product pricing system
2013 Cashier & Busgirl @ ASUCLA Concessions, Los Angeles, CA
•Operated registers and served customers
Awards and Honors
2019 ENS Diploma with First-Class Honors (“Mention Très Bien”)
2018 Masters Diploma with First-Class Honors (“Mention Très Bien”)
2013 Dean’s Honors List, UCLA
2012 Baccalauréat Scientifique with First-Class Honors (“Mention Très Bien”)
2009 Brevet des Collèges with Second-Class Honors (“Mention Bien”)
2004 First Place, Red Wheelbarrow English Writing Contest (I was 10 and wrote a pretty good
horror story, apparently)
Specialized Skills
Computer: Advanced level MatLab; intermediate level Python and bash; Mac, Ubuntu, Windows
Languages: bilingual French / English; conversant in Spanish and Serbo-Croatian; introductory Icelandic and Japanese
ENS Masters Coursework
Neuroscience: iii Advanced Cognitive Neurosciences
Cognitive Neurophysiology of Perception (Y. Boubenec)
Functional Neuroimaging Methods (L. Dugué)
Advanced Visual Perception (P. Mamassian)
Action, Decision and Volition (E. Koechlin)
Introduction to Computational Neuroscience
Computational modeling laboratory
Human Voluntary Action (P. Haggard)
Neuroscience of Speech, Music and Mathematics (S. Dehaene)
Neuroimaging of mental representations (S. Dehaene)
Psychology: iii Advanced Psychological Functions
Perception, Action and Attention (T. Collins)
Cognitive Neurosciences in Consciousness (C. Sergent)
Conceptual Modeling Workshop (V. Wyart)
Social Cognition (C. Chevallier)
Psychology of Reasoning (E. Sander)
Philosophy: iii History and Philosophy of Science (S. Roux, M. Bitbol)
Epistemology (P. Egré)
Logic and Existence (L. Rouillé)
Introduction to Logic (P. Egré)
Introduction to Philosophy of Mind (P. Jacob)
Other: iii Evolutionary Biology Applied to Human Cognition (N. Baumard)
Introduction to Linguistics (B. Spector)
Introduction to Neuropsychology (C. Jacquemot)
Japanese for Beginners (S. Komatsu, E. Figon)
UCLA Undergraduate Coursework
Neuroscience: iii Core Neuroscience Courses (Molecular, Integrative and Cognitive)
Neuroanatomy of the Central Nervous System
Current Debates in Consciousness (H. Lau)
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
Psychobiology of Stress and Bodily Disease
Sensation and Perception
Laboratories: Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory
MatLab for Behavioral Scientists
General & Organic Chemistry Laboratories I, II
Physics for Life Science Majors Laboratories I, II, III