Janelle Pakan is Group Leader of the Neural Circuits & Network Dynamics research group funded by the Center for Behavioural Brain Sciences at the Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg. She completed her PhD work in Canada at the University of Alberta and postdoc work at UBC before relocating to Europe to complete Fellowships in Ireland and at the University of Edinburgh. 

Her research is focused on understanding the functional neural circuits that underlie the transformation of sensory information to behavioural output in both health and disease states. She utilizes functional neuroanatomical techniques and advanced two-photon imaging in behaving mice in combination with virtual environments.