Portrait Karin Kucian

​PD Dr. sc. nat.
Karin
Kucian

Neurobiologin
Forschungsgruppenleiterin
Zentrum für MR-Forschung
Akademischer Werdegang

2015: Venia legendi (PD) of the Medical Faculty of the University of Zurich, Switzerland
2006:MSc in Education, Biology, Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland
2005: PhD in Neurobiology, Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland
2002: MSc in Biology, Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland

Weiterbildung

2017: ‘Good Clinical Practice GCP’ Training Module 3, University of Zurich.
2013: Medientraining für Forschende, Die Schweizer Journalistenschule (maz), Luzern.
2013: Rhetorische Kommunikation: Formen des Gesprächs, DIDACTICA, UZH / ETH Zürich.
2012: ‘Good Clinical Practice GCP’ Training Module 2, University of Zurich.
2010: ‘Good Clinical Practice GCP’ Training Module 1, University of Zurich.
2009: Projektmanagement bei der Betreuung von Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten, DIDACTICA, UZH / ETH Zurich.
2006: Forschungsprojekte leiten, PRO-WISS, University of Zurich.
2006: Projektmanagement in wissenschaftlichen Projekten, PRO-WISS, University of Zurich.
2004: ‘Presenting – Publishing – Communication’, Didaktikzentrum ETH Zurich.
2003: SPM-Kurs, Neurozentrum, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf.
2003: ‘Writing English for Science’, Sprachenzentrum UNI / ETH Zurich.

Preise und Ehrungen
  • 2019: Prize for best research of the Swiss Society of Dyslexia/Dyscalculia (Verband Dyslexie Schweiz VDS)
  • 2017: Prize for best oral presentation at the retreat of the children’s research center (CRC) of the University Children’s Hospital Zurich.
  • 2017: 1st prize for best poster “Mathematical anxiety in the brain of children” at the workshop “Linguistic and Cognitive Influences on Numerical Cognition” at the University of Tuebingen.
  • 2016: Certificate for Highly Cited Research in Trends in Neuroscience and Education for the contribution “Interventions for improving numerical abilities: Present and future”.
  • 2014: Worlddidac Award 2014 for our training software "Calcularis".
  • 2009: Poster prize from the University Children’s Hospital Zurich.
  • 2006: 3rd prize at the Brains at Work contest from GE healthcare.
  • 2005: Invitation to the 6th Schlössmann Seminar from the Max Planck Society, Germany.
  • 2003: Poster prize from the University Children’s Hospital Zurich.
Tätigkeiten in Expertengremien
  • 2017: Editor of the Journal “Lernen und Lernstörungen”, hogrefe
  • 2017: Scientific advisory board member of the Swiss Society for dyslexia and dyscalculia (Verband Dyslexie Schweiz VDS)
  • 2014: Editorial board member of the Center for Neuroscience Zurich (ZNZ) Newsletter
  • 2011: Organisation committee member of Retreat of Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich
  • 2011: Organisation committee member of Brain Fair, UZH and ETH Zurich
Mitgliedschaften
  • 2021: Member of URPP Adaptive Brain Circuits in Development and Learning (AdaBD)
  • 2019: Member of Society for Research on Learning Disorders (SRLD)
  • 2019: Member of Zurich Developmental Science Research Exchange Network
  • 2018: Member of Swiss Society for Early Childhood Research
  • 2016: Junior project leader of the Center for Neuroscience Zurich (ZNZ)
  • 2014: Editorial board member of the Center for Neuroscience Zurich (ZNZ) Newsletter
  • 2011: Editorial board member of “Lernen und Lernstörungen”, Hans Huber Verlag.
Forschungsschwerpunkte
  • Numerical Cognition, Dyscalculia & Math Anxiety: Investigation of neuronal and behavioural characteristics of numerical cognition and its development in children with and without developmental dyscalculia. Investigation of negative impacts of low numeracy and math anxiety on health and well-being.
  • Intervention: Development and evaluation (on neuronal and behavioural level) of intervention programs to support numerical understanding from childhood to adulthood.
  • Prediction: Identification of predictive factors on neuronal and behavioural level that forecast future development of numerical skills.
  • Screening: Development and evaluation of specific screening methods to detect problems in numerical processing of kindergarten children.
  • Cognitive Brain Development: Investigation of neuronal development of different cognitive functions, which are related to number processing and calculation, like visuo-spatial skills and mental rotation.
  • Methods: Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), functional MRI, Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), MR-Spectroscopy, functional and structural connectivity, behavioural assessments.
Eingeworbene Drittmittel
  • 2022 “S M I L E - Schwierigkeiten beim Mathematiklernen: Interventionsmöglichkeiten für JugendLichE“. Research grant of the URPP ADAPTIVE BRAIN CIRCUITS IN DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING (ADABD), University of Zurich. Principal Investigator: K. Kucian; Co-Investigator: Ch. Ruff, S. Brem
  • 2022 “S M I L E - Schwierigkeiten beim Mathematiklernen: Interventionsmöglichkeiten für JugendLichE“. Research grant of the PALATIN FOUNDATION. Principal Investigator: K. Kucian; Co-Investigator: E. Moser-Opitz
  • 2022 „Neural correlates of negative emotional effects related to numeracy in children“. Research grant of the EMDO FOUNDATION. Principal Investigator: K. Kucian
  • 2021 „What role does the hippocampus play in developmental dycalculia?“. Research grant of the ANNA MÜLLER GROCHOLSKI FOUNDATION. Principal Investigator: U. McCaskey; Co-Investigator: K. Kucian, R. Tuura.
  • 2021 “Dyscalculia: Neural origins of disrupted magnitude processing and effects on risk taking”. Research grant of the URPP ADAPTIVE BRAIN CIRCUITS IN DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING (ADABD), University of Zurich. Principal Investigator: Ch. Ruff; Co-Investigator: K. Kucian, S. Brem.
  • 2020 “Numeracy and well-being: Improving negative emotional consequences of children with numerical learning disorders”. Seed money grant of the LEADING HOUSE FOR LATIN AMERICAN REGION, University of St.Gallen. Principal Investigator: K. Kucian; Co-Investigator: N. Estévez, U. McCaskey.
  • 2019 “Do children with developmental dyscalculia have a general magnitude deficit? Investigation of the neuronal underpinnings of magnitude and spatial processing”. Research grant of the OPO
    FOUNDATION. Principal Investigator: U. McCaskey; Co-Investigator: K. Kucian, M. von Aster, R. Tuura.
  • 2018 “Do children with developmental dyscalculia have a general magnitude deficit? Investigation of the neuronal underpinnings of magnitude and spatial processing”. Research grant of the CHILDREN’S RESEARCH CENTER (CRC) ZURICH. Principal Investigator: U. McCaskey; Co-Investigator: K. Kucian, M. von Aster, R. Tuura.
  • 2015 “Typical and atypical structural brain development in number processing”. Research grant of the NOMIS-FOUNDATION. Principal Investigator: K. Kucian; Co-Investigator: M. von Aster, R. Tuura, U. McCaskey.
  • 2013 “Schulbezogene UES (SCHUES) – Prävention und Therapie unter Einbezug neuronaler Korrelate und des Entwicklungsverlaufs“. Follow-up Research grant of the FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH GERMANY (BMBF). Principal Investigator: G. Esser, M. von Aster; Co-Investigator: K. Kucian, A. Wyschkon.
  • 2011 “Neuro-plasticity after training in children with and without developmental dyscalculia: macro- & microstructural changes and brain metabolism”. Research grant of the CHILDREN’S RESEARCH CENTER (CRC) ZURICH. Principal Investigator: K. Kucian; Co-Investigator: M. von Aster.
  • 2010 “Entwicklungsverlauf, neuronale Korrelate, Prävention und Therapie von Umschriebenen Entwicklungsstörungen schulischer Fertigkeiten, insbesondere der Dyskalkulie“. Research grant of the FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH GERMANY (BMBF). Principal Investigator: G. Esser, M. von Aster; Co-Investigator: K. Kucian.
  • 2009 “Developmental dyscalculia - behavioural characteristics, neuronal correlates and intervention”. Research grant of the NOMIS-FOUNDATION. Principal Investigator: K. Kucian, M. von Aster; Co-Investigator: E. Martin, S. Walitza.
  • 2007 “Brain Functions and Training Intervention in Children with Developmental Dyscalculia”. Research grant of the SWISS NATIONAL FOUNDATION (SNF). Principal Investigator: M. von Aster; Co-Investigator: E. Martin.
  • 2005 “Developmental and Training Induced Cerebral Representation of Number Processing in Children with Developmental Dyscalculia”. Research grant of the UNIVERSITY OF ZURICH. Principal Investigator: K. Kucian.
  • 2003 “Development of cerebral number processing in adults and children with and without specific developmental disorders (dyscalculia, dyslexia)”. Research grant of the CENTER FOR NEUROSCIENCE ZURICH (ZNZ). Principal Investigator: M. von Aster, E. Martin; Co-Investigator: K. Kucian.
Publikationen