Research Areas

• Diffusion Tensor Imaging
• Affective Disorders
• Translational Research
• Transitional periods (e.g., adolescence, postpartum)

 

 

 

Selected Publications

Kraus, A., Dohm, K., Borgers, T., Goltermann, J., Grotegerd, D., Winter, A., (…), Meinert, S.* (*equal contribution) & Dannlowski, U.* (2025) Brain Structural Correlates of an Impending Initial Major Depressive Episode. Neuropsychopharmacology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-025-02075-6

Flinkenflügel, K.*, Meinert, S.* (*equal contribution), Hirtsiefer, C., Grotegerd, D., Thiel, K., et al. (2024). Associations between white matter microstructure and cognitive decline in major depressive disorder versus controls in Germany: a prospective case-control cohort study. Lancet Psychiatry, 11(11), 899-909. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00291-8

Meinert S., Nowack N., Grotegerd D., Repple J., Winter N.R., Abheiden I., et al. (2022). Association of brain white matter microstructure with cognitive performance in major depressive disorder and healthy controls: a diffusion-tensor imaging study. Molecular Psychiatry, 27, 1103-1110, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-021-01330-8

Meinert, S., Leehr, E.J., Grotegerd, D., Repple, J., Förster, K., Winter, N.R., et al. (2022). White matter fiber microstructure is associated with prior hospitalizations rather than acute symptomatology in major depressive disorder. Psychological Medicine, 52(6), 1166-1174. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720002950

Meinert, S., Repple, J., Nenadic, I., Krug, A., Jansen, A., Grotegerd, D., et al. (2019). Reduced fractional anisotropy in depressed patients due to childhood maltreatment rather than diagnosis. Neuropsychopharmacology, 44(12), 2065-2072. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-019-0472-y

Academic CV

2024-present	Postdoc, junior research group leader “Transition Research in Affective Disorders” (TRIAD) at the Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Germany
2024-present	PI in the DFG CRC/TRR 393 “Trajectories of Affective Disorders”, 1st funding period project A04 “Brain network characterization of symptom changes using intense sampling” (2024-2028).
2022-present	Additional qualification in child and adolescent psychotherapy (CBT) at the German Society for Behavior Therapy (DGVT), Münster, Germany
2020-present	Postdoc at the Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Münster, Germany, affiliated with the DFG CRC 1451 „Key Mechanisms of Motor Control in Health and Disease“
2016-2022	PhD in Psychology (summa cum laude)
2016-2021	Approbation as psychotherapist, specialty Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) at the Institute for Psychological Psychotherapy Training (IPP), University of Münster, Germany
2025-2023	Scientific staff member at the Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Germany, affiliated with the DFG FOR 2107 “Neurobiology of affective disorders: A translational perspective on brain structure and function”
2014-2016	M.Sc. Psychology, University of Münser
2011-2014	B.Sc. Psychology, University of Münser

 

Honors and Awards

2025	ECNP Rising Star Award
2025	Promotion Award of the University Society from the University Society Münster e.V.
2025	Publication prize 2025 of the Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung for the publication Flinkenflügel, K.*, Meinert, S.*, et al. (2024). in Lancet Psychiatry.
2024	Oral presentation abstract price of the DGPPN 2024
2024	Invited speaker: “ECNP’s Got Talent”, ECNP 2024; 1st place in the competition
2024	Congress travel scholarship, ECNP Workshop for Early Career Scientists in Europe, 2024, Nice, France
2023	DGPPN-dissertation award – Hans-Heimann-Price 2023
2023	ECNP Excellence Award
2023	1st place in the Young Mentor Award of the DGPS
2023	SOBP Travel Fellowship Award, SOBP 2023, San Diego, California, USA
2020	Invited speaker at the “New findings” symposium at the ECNP 2020
2018	Congress travel scholarship, DGBP 2018