My name is Xiaoshan (Serena) Song, and I am from Shanghai, China. I completed my bachelor’s degree in the Science of Nursing (4 years) at Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, followed by a master’s in Physiology (3 years) at Fudan University, where I specialized in the central and immune mechanisms of stress-induced hypertension. This work was published in ACS Neuroscience and Hypertension Research. After my graduation, I spent two years working as a biology and homeroom teacher at Shanghai High School International Division (SHSID). During this time, I discovered my passion for psychology and education, alongside my interest in medical research. I later continued my studies in Child Development and Education (2 years) at the University of Amsterdam, where I conducted research on social anxiety disorder in adolescents and on transfer motivation among trainees.

Currently, as a PhD researcher, I am investigating the factors that influence user acceptance and adoption of eXtended Reality (XR) in medical education. My work focuses on understanding both what and why; what factors impact users’ decisions to accept XR, and why students and educators choose to use – or not to use- this technology in their learning and teaching. Through collaboration with the INSIDE: INSIGHT project network, our goal is to develop effective guidelines for integrating XR into medical and healthcare education.

Starting date: 1^st June 2025

Hi everyone!

My name is Flynn Post. My pronouns are they/them, and I’m from the Netherlands. I studied Biomedical Sciences at Leiden University for both my bachelor’s and my master’s. During my bachelor’s, I studied abroad for a semester at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, with the Erasmus program. Further, I completed a minor in (bio)medical education. Besides my studies, I assisted in the dissection hall of the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) for 3.5 years, where I guided students during their dissection practica. Here, I discovered my love for anatomy and teaching. I channelled that passion into creating educational material on heart anatomy for the ‘Love to Share Anatomy’ competition of the Dutch Anatomist Association (Nederlandse Anatomen Vereniging, NAV), where I won first place.

During my PhD at Ghent University, Belgium, I will focus on instructional design and effectiveness evaluation of Extended Reality applications in anatomical education. First, I will create 3D anatomical models of the perineum and external genitalia through dissection and subsequent scanning. These 3D models will be integrated into an Extended Reality (XR) environment. During several iterative design cycles, this anatomical XR environment will be perfected for medical and healthcare education. I will focus on the education design and formulate a list of requirements for anatomical XR environments. The effectiveness of our final environment will be investigated during several intervention studies where I will examine the effect on factual, conceptual & transfer of knowledge. Additionally, I will explore the impact of various instructional approaches and modalities.

I look forward to collaborating within the INSIDE:INSIGHT consortium. We have a wide variety of people, interests and expertise. I’m excited to learn and grow during the coming years, both professionally and personally. We will develop an amazing Open Access XR learning environment for anatomical knowledge and surgical skills.

Hello, my name is Damian BORVON and I am from France.
I graduated in October 2024 and hold a Research-Oriented MSc in Computer Science specializing in Interactive, Intelligent and Autonomous Systems from ENIB, co-accredited by IMT Atlantique, ENSTA and UBO, as well as an MSc in General Engineering with a focus on AI and Simulation from ENIB.
My interest in human-centered AI systems and research began during my research internship at CNRS, IRL Crossing, in Adelaide, Australia, where I developed machine learning models to predict human performance using physiological data from wearable sensors.

I further developed my skills in applied AI during my previous role as a Data/AI Engineer at the French Ministry of Interior, where I designed and industrialized AI-powered tools linked to administrative work, spanning over 10,000 workers nationwide.
Previously, at EDF, I built interactive diagnostic applications for faulty nuclear systems using explainable AI and proposed data-driven strategies to improve thermal reliability on alternators.
Beyond technical work, I have a strong commitment to education and mentorship. I mentored middle school students from rural areas through “Les Cordées de la réussite” a national equal-opportunity initiative, and have experience as a private tutor for high school students in Mathematics, Physics, and English.
During my PhD at TU Graz, I will focus on developing authoring tools for medical and healthcare education in XR.

My goal is to create accessible, semi-automated solutions that enable educators to design immersive learning experiences without requiring deep technical expertise. I am particularly excited to explore how AI can streamline content creation from existing medical resources while ensuring pedagogical accuracy.
In my free time, I used to compete semi-professionally in e-sports, where I played and coached in tournaments across Europe and the Middle East, achieving multiple top placements. I also enjoy watchmaking and combat sports.

Starting date: 1st October 2025

My name is Alexa Schrickel, and I am from Germany. I have an interdisciplinary background, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Leiden University, a Master’s degree in Integrative Neuroscience from the University of Edinburgh, and a Master’s degree in Applied Cognitive Psychology from Leiden University. After graduating, I continued working at Leiden University as a research assistant. Throughout my studies, I developed a strong interest in how individuals differ, both in learning and manifestation of neurological conditions, and how these differences can be better understood and addressed.

As part of the INSIDE:INSIGHT doctoral network, I am pursuing my PhD at the University of Minho in Portugal. My research focuses on the gamification of teaching in medical and healthcare education using artificial intelligence and serious games. I am especially interested in personalized learning trajectories and real-time adaptive feedback to improve learning and decision-making in medical domains, such as neuroanatomy. I am also interested in how data-driven approaches can support more effective and diverse learning paths in education.

Through the INSIDE:INSIGHT network, I am looking forward to collaborating across disciplines to develop theory-informed, data-driven learning technologies. I am excited to contribute to the development of innovative educational technologies while growing as a researcher in an interdisciplinary and international environment.

Starting date: 1^st of January 2026

My name is Ana Sofia Santos and I am from Porto, Portugal. In November 2023, I graduated from my integrated master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minho, Braga.
During my master’s, I specialized in computer vision and medical image analysis. For my thesis, I developed a pipeline for predicting brain metastases recurrence after radiotherapy treatment, in collaboration with Brainlab. I also had the opportunity to collaborate with the faculty of Psychology at my university through a research fellowship, where I focused on structuring fMRI data and developing pipelines to support PhD students in processing and storing their data efficiently.
I also tutored children and teenagers (mainly between 7th and 9th grades), an experience that revealed a passion for education I had not discovered before. Finding ways to adapt to each student’s learning style and witnessing them achieve milestones, gave me a deep sense of fulfillment while sharpening my resilience and problem-solving skills.
During my PhD, I will explore the emerging technology of digital humans and their impact and applications in healthcare services and medical education. I am especially interested in how this technology can break down language and communication barriers in patient care, streamline time-consuming tasks for healthcare professionals and enhance both clinician training and patient education.
Through the INSIDE:INSIGHT network, I look forward to the collaborative environment with other students from different backgrounds. I want to learn from my colleagues and their academic fields, as I believe it will inspire new approaches to my research. Within this project, I hope to grow not only as a researcher but also as a member of an interdisciplinary community, and to continue my mission and pursue to offer something great to the world.

My name is Thomas Canino, a French national born and raised in Dubai, where I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Psychology. During my studies, I developed an interest in education, which led me to pursue a Research Master’s in Educational Sciences at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

Building on this foundation, my interest in educational technology and learning sciences motivated me to join the INSIDE:INSIGHT doctoral training network. I am currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Oulu, where my research focuses on learning regulation processes within virtual reality (VR) environments. Specifically, I investigate how self-, co-, and socially shared regulation of learning unfold among nursing and healthcare students during immersive simulations. The broader aim of my work is to conceptualize and develop a learning dashboard that provides learners with real-time feedback on their learning processes, fostering reflection and supporting the development of effective regulation strategies based on multimodal data obtained in VR.

Through the INSIDE:INSIGHT network, I hope to deepen my understanding of XR-enhanced pedagogical models, collaborate closely with other researchers and partner institutions, and gain interdisciplinary insights that will strengthen both the theoretical and applied impact of my research.

My name is Mayowa Chinonso Gidi-Fanimokun, and I am originally from Nigeria. I recently completed a Master’s degree in Informatics at the University of Skövde in Sweden, where I later explored the use of immersive technologies for learning.

Before starting my master’s degree, I worked for seven years as a 3D character animator, where I created animated educational videos for several clients in my home country. It was during this period that I developed a strong interest in how visual media and emerging XR technologies could be combined with educational content to help students gain knowledge and skills that might otherwise be difficult to access.
My master’s thesis investigated how augmented reality learning experiences influence short-term memory retention, combining elements of game design, human–computer interaction, and educational psychology.

As part of the INSIDE:INSIGHT Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network, I am now a doctoral researcher at apoQlar GmbH in Hamburg, with academic supervision from the University of Duisburg-Essen. My research contributes to the SurgiLearnX project, which focuses on the development of an XR-enhanced MOOC platform for surgical and medical training. Working closely with apoQlar’s R&D team, I explore how extended reality technologies can be integrated with online learning environments to deliver interactive medical courses that combine immersive 3D visualization, clinical data, and practical simulation. The goal of this work is to support scalable medical education by enabling students and healthcare professionals to learn complex surgical concepts through immersive XR experiences within a global online learning platform.
Through the INSIDE:INSIGHT network, I look forward to collaborating with researchers from diverse disciplines and institutions across Europe.

Outside of research, I enjoy playing chess, watching TV shows, and spending time with friends.

My name is Antonella Giangualano, I am Italian and currently a PhD candidate at the University of Twente within the INSIDE:INSIGHT Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network. My research focuses on simulation-based training and the use of multimodal sensor-based monitoring to assess performance and mental workload in healthcare education. Specifically, I investigate how immersive technologies and real-time workload monitoring can contribute to understanding skill acquisition and error recovery processes in medical training contexts.

Before starting my PhD, I completed a Master’s degree in Applied Experimental Psychological Sciences at the University of Milano-Bicocca (Italy), where I conducted research on immersive VR for physics learning and environmental education in real-world classrooms. Over time, I developed a strong interest in how people learn and perform when interacting with technology, bringing together elements of cognitive psychology, human–technology interaction, and educational science.

Through INSIDE:INSIGHT, I aim to contribute to the development of evidence-based, data-informed immersive learning environments, while collaborating across disciplines within the network. In the long term, I hope to apply this research toward the design of adaptive feedback systems that support safer and more effective learning in healthcare.

Outside of research, I enjoy visiting new places, walking in nature, listening to music, and, despite being Italian, I’m a terrible cook — so I stick to eating instead.