João Campagnolo
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João Campagnolo

My Research Stay at Visual Intelligence: João Campagnolo

João Campagnolo is a PhD Candidate in the Neuroscience Department of the University of Copenhagen (KU). He visited SFI Visual Intelligence in Tromsø from April to May 2025.

My Research Stay at Visual Intelligence: João Campagnolo

João Campagnolo is a PhD Candidate in the Neuroscience Department of the University of Copenhagen (KU). He visited SFI Visual Intelligence in Tromsø from April to May 2025.

By Petter Bjørklund, Communications Advisor at SFI Visual Intelligence

Tell us about your PhD project

My PhD thesis investigates the neural correlates of stress resilience in zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio), using both ex vivo and in vivo brain recordings to compare stress-resilient and stress-vulnerable individuals.

Why did you choose Tromsø and Visual Intelligence for your research stay?

To make sense of this high-dimensional neural data, I needed robust computational tools and fresh perspectives on pattern analysis, which is where the Visual Intelligence group comes in. One of my PhD supervisors suggested that I ought to visit Professor Benjamin Ricaud in Tromsø, as he would be able to leverage graph theory to describe the functional networks that underly stress resilience. I couldn’t resist the possibility of briefly moving to a place this exotic, while working with a ML-focused group.

What has been the outcome of your research stay?

Working with graphs was not just technically useful—it was genuinely exciting. This experience reaffirmed my interest in mathematical approaches to neuroscience, and I’m eager to continue exploring graph-based methods in future analyses of neural activity.

How was life in Tromsø?

When I arrived in Tromsø in April, I found a welcoming community of researchers—with a broad range of backgrounds and interests. The surroundings were just as enthralling: I saw the northern lights for the first time, got to commute by skis, tried the local “delicacies” (one can skip the "brunost"), and learn about the arctic culture.

I am incredibly grateful to everyone at UiT who made this stay possible, and I sincerely hope this marks the beginning of ongoing collaboration between us.

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