Who are we?
Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology Research Group Members
Nóra Bunford, Ph.D
Bunford Nóra has been the leader of the Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology Research Group since August 2018.
Nóra earned her bachelor's degree in psychology and philosophy in the United States in 2008 at Southern Illinois University of Carbondale, where she was a student-athlete on a sports scholarship. She then obtained her master's degree in clinical and counseling psychology in 2010 at Illinois State University, where she was awarded a study scholarship. In 2016, Nóra received her doctoral degree and specialization in child and youth clinical and mental hygiene psychology from Ohio University, where her dissertation research was supported by the "Elizabeth Münsterberg Koppitz Graduate Student Fellowship" from the American Psychological Foundation. After thirteen years of studying abroad, she returned to Hungary in 2016, where she received several independent research grants, first the New National Excellence Program's young lecturer/researcher scholarship, and later the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Premium Postdoctoral Research Program's scholarship. In 2017, Nóra received the Junior Prima Award in the category of Hungarian Science for her work. She is the author of numerous domestic and international presentations, book chapters, and scientific articles, and has been working with adolescent ADHD for nearly a decade.
András Keszeg, MD
Dr. András Zoltán Keszeg currently works as a child and adolescent psychiatrist trainee in the collaborative clinical partnership of the Semmelweis University, Department of Child Psychiatry, First Children's Clinic. He completed his medical studies at Semmelweis University between 2009 and 2015. He aspired to become a psychiatrist since the age of thirteen and approached working with children during his university practice. During his university years, he worked and conducted research in the photocarcinogenesis laboratory of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology and Skin Oncology Clinic until his graduation. However, after that, he started working at his current workplace in the clinic. Over the years, he has regularly presented at domestic conferences, such as MAGYIPETT and MPT congresses. In his work, he has a particular interest in developmental disorders of the nervous system and behavioral dependencies. Since September 2020, he has been a PhD student at the Semmelweis University Doctoral School.
Ákos Pogány, Ph.D
Pogány Ákos is a behavioral ecologist who first earned a biology teaching degree at the University of Pécs and then completed his doctoral studies at the Department of Ethology at Eötvös Loránd University in 2009. Currently, he conducts research on the inheritance mechanisms and functions of intrafamily gender roles, funded by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Bolyai János Research Scholarship and the New National Excellence Program Scholarship. He primarily uses small songbirds as models for his studies. He is also involved in various other research projects, all driven by his motivation to understand the evolution of social behaviors. In his research, he employs diverse methods, including field observations and experiments, as well as laboratory experiments. He pays great attention to research planning, experimental design, and statistical analysis, which also contributes to the work of our research group in these areas.
Reicher Vivien, PhD
Degrees: Biologist B.Sc., Cognitive Scientist M.Sc.
Position: Postdoctoral research assistant
Vivien Reicher is a certified biologist and cognitive science researcher. She pursued her doctoral studies at the Department of Ethology at Eötvös Loránd University. In her work, Vivien has explored the neural and behavioral correlates of emotional processing in dogs, including aspects of learning and individual development. By combining various methodological approaches, including ethology and neuroscience, she has investigated the (neuro)cognitive abilities of dogs. She works as a scientific assistant in our research group, where her primary responsibilities include conducting and analyzing sleep EEG studies.
In her free time, Vivien enjoys spending time in nature.
György Hámori, MA
Degree: Psychology M.A.
Position: Predoctoral research assistant
György Hámori holds a position as a predoctoral research assistant in the Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology Research Group. He completed his studies in the field of Cognitive and Neuropsychology at the University of Szeged in 2020. His thesis work, conducted under the supervision of Nóra Bunford, was part of the Momentum project and focused on the methodological development of measuring event-related potentials related to adolescent reward responsiveness. Currently, he is a doctoral student at the Doctoral School of Psychology at Budapest University of Technology and Economics, where he investigates the psychometric properties of EEG signals in adolescents.
During his studies, he participated in numerous research projects involving both young and elderly populations, as well as healthy individuals and those diagnosed with psychiatric disorders (such as psychosis spectrum disorders). His experiences include research activities at the Rehabilitation Department of the Psychiatry Clinic of the University of Szeged and internships at the Affective and Psychopharmacological Department of the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Clinic of Semmelweis University.
He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Szeged from 2014 to 2017, focusing on the relationship between cognitive functions and anxiety in the elderly population for his thesis.
Throughout his university studies, he frequently participated in science popularization programs, such as Researchers' Night and scientific debates.
As a member of our research group, he is involved in conducting EEG studies, data analysis, and programming. When he's not at the computer, he aims to offset the prolonged sitting by incorporating some much-needed movement into his routine.
Evelyn Csenge Posta, MA
Degrees: Sociologist B.A., Psychologist M.A.
Position: Predoctoral research assistant
Evelyn joined the team as a research assistant in May 2020.
She graduated from the Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Developmental and Clinical Child Psychology. Using data obtained in the context of the Budapest Longitudinal Study of ADHD and Externalizing Disorders (BLADS), in her thesis she focused on adolescent non-suicidal self-harm and suicidal behavior. Throughout her studies, she also attended method-specific trainings, in 2017 she completed a basic course in Drawing Analysis at the Institute for Drawing Analysis, and in 2021 she completed an Autogenic Training course at the Hungarian Association of Relaxation and Symboltherapy. Since 2022, she has also been pursuing trainings held by the Hungarian Family Therapy Association.
Evelyn obtained her first BA degree in Sociology from the Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary in 2017. During her BA years, she gained experience in conducting both qualitative and quantitative field research and data analysis and also had the opportunity to study Sociology at the ISCTE - Lisbon University Institute in Portugal for half a year.
In 2020, she volunteered for the media programme of Dear Society, where she participated in a media and social sensitization training. Evelyn considers it important to think about and act on issues that affect society. Her responsibilities in our research team include communicating with participants, liaising with adolescents and their parents, making appointments and assistance with various administrative tasks.
In addition, Evelyn conducts first clinical visits and, if necessary, performs EEG measurements.
Alexandra Rádosi, MA
Degree: Psychology M.A.
Position: Predoctoral research assistant
Alexandra has been working in the lab since 2018. She started her PhD studies at the Mental Health Doctoral School of Semmelweis University in September 2019. The aim of her PhD research is to broaden our knowledge on the complex relations between neural and subjective indices of reinforcement sensitivity, affectivity and adolescent substance use. Her main task in the lab is to manage and carry out fMRI measurements and analyses, though she gained experience in all experiments and measurements carried out in the lab; for example, she conducted several EEG assessments and administered a number of cognitive performance tests and clinical interviews. Alexandra also manages and supervises lab interns and volunteers.
Alexandra is the scientific secretary of the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology. In this position, she assists with administrative tasks and organizes scientific events such as the Magyar Tudomány Ünnepe, Researcher’s Night, and other institutional meetings.
Alexandra obtained a master’s degree in Psychology in 2018 at Eötvös Loránd University, specializing in Developmental and Clinical Psychology. During her bachelor studies, she volunteered at the Institute between 2014 and 2016 and, for her BA thesis portfolio, completed a bachelor’s level internship focusing on infancy research. She gained additional experiences via internships and volunteer activities, including by joining the Department of Child Psychiatry of 1st Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University (2018), Vadaskert Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Hospital and Outpatient Clinic (2017), and Psychiatry Department of Szent János’s Hospital (2015). She conducted a non-clinical internship at Újbudai Szemünk Fénye Central Nursery (2018). As a volunteer, she was member of the On-site Directing Crew of ‘Pszichodiák Alapítvány’ and took part in organizing and conducting the 20th Budapest Psychology Days (Pszinapszis), one of the largest cultural-scientific events in Europe organized entirely by volunteers. As a senior high school student, she placed 6th at the National Great French Pen Recitation Competition (La Grande Dictée 2013).
In her free time, she enjoys travelling, going to the movies, baking and cooking, and sports such as biking and (ice-) skating.
Claudia Szajli, MA
Degree: Psychology M.A.
Position: Predoctoral research assistant
Claudia Szajli graduated in psychology from the Pázmány Péter Catholic University. She is currently PhD student at the Doctoral School of Psychology at Eötvös Loránd University. In her doctoral research she examines the development of emotion regulation, emotional dysregulation and their impact on changes in adolescent aggression, bullying/victimization, and social functioning. In her previous research works, she mainly dealt with the investigation of adolescent future orientation, social support and coping. In 2016, she reached first place in the Scientific Students’ Associations Conference (TDK). Her professional perspective was enriched by her studies abroad, she spent half a year at the Catholic University of Leuven with Erasmus scholarship.
She is also active as psychologist lecturer at Pázmány Péter Catholic University. In addition to her researcher and educational work, she also considers practical work to be important. She previously gained experience as a School Psychologist in a high school, worked at Life Counseling Center, Family Support and Child Welfare Center, and in the business sector. In order to spread psychological knowledge she used to work as a specialist journalist for the Mindset Psychology, and as a professional organizer of the Budapest Psychology Days.
Claudia spends her free time with traveling, she also shows professional interest in the study of cultural differences.
Mária Takács, MSc
Degrees: Mathematician B.Sc., Cognitive Scientist M.Sc.
Position: Predoctoral research assistant
Mária Takács is a PhD student at the Doctoral School in Psychology of Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). Her focus is broadly on physiological measures of cognitive constructs and specifically on electrophysiological measures of those.
She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Pécs, with her thesis focused on the mathematical bases of Discrete- and Fast-Fourier Transformation. An exact method of this analysis is called Cooley-Tukey algorithm, which is a relatively simple way to comprehend time and frequency domains and the application of DFT and FFT on continuous data.
She received her master’s degree in Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience from 2019. During her master’s training, she investigated the electrophysiology of neurons including brain oscillations and event-related potentials. Also during her master’s training, she began working as a research assistant at the research group. Her main tasks are to conduct EEG measurements and to manage and supervise our volunteers.
For her doctoral research, her interest is in emotion regulation and sex differences and she intends to study these by combining EEG with pupillometry, working not only with resting state and task-based but also sleep EEG as well as saccadic eye movements. She aims to apply these measures simultaneously to obtain a more nuanced and precise understanding of emotion regulation strategies across mental disorders and sexes.
Tünde Welker, MSc
Degrees: Special Education Teacher M.Sc., Psychology M.A.
Position: Predoctoral research assistant
Tünde Welker has been working as a scientific assistant in the group since August 2019. She earned her first degree in Special Education from Eötvös Loránd University in 2016, with a focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders and Psychopedagogy. During her studies in Special Education, she was awarded the Presidential Scholarship in 2015. She completed her professional internships at various institutions, including the Autism Foundation, the Early Intervention Center, the Pedagogical Service, and Semmelweis University Clinic I, where she worked in the child psychiatry department. Her undergraduate thesis focused on early autism diagnosis, particularly in high-functioning children.
Following her studies in Special Education and concurrently with her further education, Tünde primarily worked with autistic children and their families in different age groups and settings. She provided individual and group therapy within various contexts, including daytime care facilities for adults, early intervention programs for young children, and foundation-based support for preschool and school-aged children. She also volunteered with refugee children, disadvantaged youth, and homeless individuals.
Tünde completed her Bachelor's (2017) and Master's (2019) degrees in Psychology at Eötvös Loránd University, specializing in Developmental and Clinical Child Psychology. During her studies, she actively participated in various research projects. Her Master's thesis investigated the relationship between socioeconomic status and stress reactions, and she gained clinical experience at a child protection center.
She believes it is crucial to maintain an active presence in clinical settings alongside her research work. She considers collaboration between professionals and families, as well as the mutual sharing of knowledge, essential for effectively supporting the development of young individuals.
Kristóf Ágrez, BA
Degree: Behaviour analyst B.A.
Position: Bachelor's level research assistant
Kristóf joined the group in January 2021. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Psychology at the Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, where he also completed his undergraduate studies in Psychology, in 2020. Specializing in clinical and health psychology, he is mainly interested in understanding and the treatment of mental disorders; consequently, he would like to gain experience in both research and clinical settings with the ultimate aim of becoming a scientist-practitioner.
During the final year of his undergraduate studies, Kristóf worked as a volunteer to assist in the special education of a third grader with autism spectrum disorder. From September 2019 until March 2020, every week, he spent two schooldays in the classroom, taking part in a wide range of activities, from assistance with math to playing soccer.
In his free time, he is likely to be found attending a concert, reading a book or spending time with his friends, preferably outdoors.
Within the group, Kristóf conducts EEG experiments and takes part in clinical assessments and interviewing. Beyond data collection, he is constantly working to master the art of neuroimaging data analysis, primarily using resting-state fMRI. In his master’s thesis, he explores how the interplay of childhood maltreatment and reinforcement sensitivity relates to resting-state functional connectivity in adolescents with and without ADHD.
