Raneem Shtaya

I completed my Bachelor’s degree at Birzeit University, Palestine (2018–2023), where my fascination with the brain started growing. I was deeply drawn to understanding how it works and how it shapes our inner worlds. Pursuing this path was not without challenges, and circumstances led me to continue my journey abroad, eventually bringing me to Barcelona.

I completed my Master’s in Brain and Cognition at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Class of 2025). During this time, I carried out my thesis at IDIBAPS under the supervision of Albert Compte (Brain Circuits and Behaviour Lab) and co-supervision of Eloy Martinez-Heras (Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases Group – ImaginEM). My research examined how the brain reactivates recent memories and how these processes are disrupted in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis and schizophrenia. I’m still at IDIBAPS, continuing to explore the questions that grew out of my Master’s research.