Dr. Caroline Schnakers is a clinical scientist and internationally recognized expert in the field of disorders of consciousness (DoC), with over 25 years of experience. She currently serves as Associate Director of the Research Institute at Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare in California and chairs the DoC Special Interest Group for the International Brain Injury Association. Her research focuses on assessing brain activity and cognition in patients with severe brain injuries using behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging techniques as well as on innovative neuromodulation interventions such as Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound. Dr. Schnakers has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications (h-index: 62) in leading journals. She has held academic appointments at UCLA and led multiple international symposia and workshops on consciousness. She currently has an affiliation as an Adjunct Research Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery at Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC).