Salma M. Thalji
PhD Candidate in Neural Information Processing
Circadian Neuroscience · Research Software Engineering
University of Tübingen · Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics · Technical University of Munich
📧 salma.thalji@tum.de LinkedIn
Vision
Drawing on my training in circadian neuroscience, neuroinformatics and electrical engineering, my vision is to help create a world where people can clearly understand how their everyday environments influence their wellbeing. I want health wearable technologies to evolve into companions that translate continuously monitored physiological signals, behavioral habits and environmental exposures into insights that feel personal, practical and empowering. I’m committed to being a leader in the health exposome movement and designing inclusive tools that honor gender, cultural and environmental diversity.
Snapshot
- Areas: Circadian neuroscience; neuroinformatics; physiological and behavioral signal processing; research software engineering
- Current roles:
- Research Software Engineer, Translational Sensory & Circadian Neuroscience Unit (tSCN), Technical University of Munich
- PhD Researcher, Translational Sensory & Circadian Neuroscience Unit (tSCN), Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics
- Interests: Health wearables; inclusive technology design; metadata standards; open science
Education
Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen – Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience
- Advisor: Prof. Dr. Manuel Spitschan (January 2024 – present)
- Advisors: Prof. Dr. Andreas Bartels / Prof. Dr.-Ing. Cristóbal Curio (April 2019 – December 2023)
- Overall Grade: 1.4 (German system)
University of Illinois – Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
- Emphasis: Neural Signal Processing
- GPA: 3.79 / 4.00
- Minors: Bioengineering; Technology & Management
- GPA: 3.76 / 4.00
Doctoral Research Experience
Translational Sensory & Circadian Neuroscience Unit (tSCN Unit)
- Project: GLEE (Global Light Exposure and Experience)
Research initiative focused on standardizing the collection and analysis of light exposure and visual experience data- Lead development of modular, interoperable infrastructure for storing, managing and sharing global light exposure data
- Collaborate with experts and international groups to harmonize metadata standards for light-exposure research
- Lead development of modular, interoperable infrastructure for storing, managing and sharing global light exposure data
- Project: CiViBe (Circadian Modulation of Visual Function – Behavioral Outcomes)
Investigates circadian rhythms of retinal mechanisms and neuroendocrine systems- Co-lead physiological data collection within a forced desynchrony protocol
- Analyze multimodal circadian physiology (continuous glucose monitoring, electrocardiogram, blood pressure, temperature)
- Co-lead physiological data collection within a forced desynchrony protocol
Cognitive Systems Laboratory
- Project: Facial Visuomotor Adaptation & Vibrotactile Perceptual Aftereffects
Provide insights on visuomotor control mechanisms underlying facial movement execution- Built Python pipelines for real-time facial muscle activation (VICON) and toolkits for behavioral and motion signal processing
- Designed Unity-based visuomotor adaptation and tactile psychophysics experiments
- Built Python pipelines for real-time facial muscle activation (VICON) and toolkits for behavioral and motion signal processing
Select Research Outputs
Publications
Thalji, S. M., & Spitschan, M. (2025). dlmoR: An open-source R package for the dim-light melatonin onset (DLMO) hockey-stick method. Journal of Biological Rhythms, November 2025.
Preprint: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.13.632603- Spitschan, M., Biller, A. M., Broszio, K., Fischer, E., Hegewald, J., Rabstein, S., Saathoff, E., Smolders, K., Thalji, S. M., Weigelt, S., & Weiskopf, D. (2025). Ocular light and optical radiation exposure as a modifiable environmental determinant of health: Expert consensus on research gaps and priorities.
Preprint: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.27.25333976
Selected Conference Contributions
Poster: Thalji, S. M., & Spitschan, M. (2025, August 24–28).
dlmoR: An open-source R package for the dim-light melatonin onset (DLMO) hockey-stick method.
XVIII Congress of the European Biological Rhythms Society (EBRS 2025), Lübeck, Germany.Poster: Thalji, S. M., Heinrichs, H. S., & Spitschan, M. (2024, June 20–22).
Estimating the downstream perturbative effects of light stimuli used to probe the circadian modulation of retinal function.
35th Annual Meeting of the Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms (SLTBR 2024), Prague, Czech Republic.Poster: Thalji, S. M., Rehmann, M., & Curio, C. (2020, September).
Perceptual tactile aftereffects around the waist: Insights on the design of stimulation type.
Eurohaptics Conference, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Leadership & Engagement
- Lightning Talk Speaker – Global Light Commons: Open Science and Epistemic Equity
- Panel Moderator – Symposium 7: Circadian Medicine – Detecting the Clock
- Volunteer & Organizer – International science communication platform highlighting women and non-binary scientists
Teaching & Mentoring
- Thesis supervision (6 MSc theses and 2 undergraduate capstone projects)
- University lecturer – Biosignals & Biosystems, Medical Instrumentation and Imaging
- Head Teaching Assistant – breadboard circuits for physiological signals
Workshops & Summer Schools
Skills
- Laboratory: Biophysiological signal recording & analysis; psychophysical experimentation; Vicon facial motion capture
- Computing: Python; MATLAB; R; Unity; C#
- Languages: English (Native); Arabic (Native); German (C1 CEFR); French (A1 CEFR)