Mingrun Shi

email me at mingrun.shi@kcl.ac.uk

I joined the InPuts Lab as a PhD student in October 2022. My research focuses on applying multimodal neuroimaging approaches, including magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), functional MRS (fMRS), and functional MRI, to investigate how brain mechanisms such as metabolite dynamics, functional connectivity, and cortical neuron firing activity relate to behavioural features in neurodevelopmental disorders, with a particular focus on autism. I am especially interested in understanding the neural basis of sensory, motor, and social differences across development and adulthood.

My work combines both data acquisition and advanced analysis across a wide range of study designs and populations. I have contributed to pharmacological neuroimaging studies analysis involving compounds such as psilocybin and clobazam, as well as large-scale, multi-site cohorts including AIMS-2-TRIALS LEAP.

I am currently leading a pilot study that I co-designed to acquire high-field (7T) MRS, fMRS, and fMRI data, at St Thomas’ Hospital. This project integrates neuroimaging with behavioural measures in autistic adults and provides hands-on experience in ultra-high-field data acquisition, protocol development, and project coordination. As part of this work, I also supervise MSc students involved in data collection and analysis.

In my daily life, I’m an Arsenal supporter, a cat lover (though I’ve yet to have one of my own), and I’ve recently picked up puzzles, which I think will become an important part of my relaxation time.