Raised in both Denmark and Australia, Anastasia Sofia Weakley joins the NAD PhD programme with an open mind, allowing herself to be inspired.
After completing her bachelor’s studies in Sydney, Australia, Anastasia moved back to Denmark to study a master’s degree in Neuroscience at the University of Copenhagen which she completed in 2024. She is interested in a range of different topics within neuroscience:
”I am very interested in understanding the placebo effect and how it affects us since many studies have shown that we can actually benefit from this effect by utilising the body’s self-healing properties. Other topics I am interested in include perceptual neuroscience, mental health and the biological basis for mental illnesses, movement neuroscience and movement disorders,” Anastasia explains.
Anastasia is going into the pre-PhD year with an open mind, leaving herself open to inspiration and allowing herself to be surprised:
“I see the rotations as a great learning opportunity. In relation to my PhD project, it also allows me to find a team of supervisors with similar interests to me and with knowledge about the techniques I plan to use,” Anastasia says.
Raised in both Denmark and Australia, Anastasia has an international outlook and appreciates the flexibility and adaptability this has given her:
“I am really grateful for being able to call two countries my home. I think it has made it easier for me to move to new places and adjust to new environments. Studying in both countries has also given me an opportunity to experience different research environments and cultures. Going to three different rotation labs during the pre-PhD year does not intimidate me – I am really excited about going somewhere new,” Anastasia explains.
Anastasia’s first rotation will be in the Body, Pain and Perception Lab led by Francesca Fardo at the Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Aarhus University.