Valentina Emiliani

Valentina Emiliani is a Research Director at the Vision Institute in Paris. She made her PhD in Physics in Italy, and worked as a postdoc in Berlin, Florence, and Paris. She has played a key role in the optogenetics revolution by proposing the use of techniques like holography generalized phase contrast and temporal focusing to sculpt the excitation volume for precise control of individual neurons or ensembles of neurons in the intact brain. Combining these approaches with optogenetics, enable unparalleled spatiotemporal precision, propelling optogenetics to a new level where it is possible to use light to mimic specific patterns of brain activity and relate them to animal behaviour. 

Valentina Emiliani was a Falling Walls Winner in the Physical Sciences category in 2023.