Jill Kries attended primary school in Gilsdorf before continuing her secondary education in Diekirch, where she completed the arts section. Although she initially aspired to become an English teacher, she ultimately chose a different path, enrolling in psychology studies in Brussels. She graduated with a master’s degree in neuropsychology.
“These studies taught me about the cognitive consequences of neurological conditions”, Jill explained. “Can affected individuals still make decisions? Can they control their impulses?” Language, she adds, is itself a cognitive skill. “That is why I chose to focus my master’s thesis on language.”
From an early age, the way in which the brains of patients with aphasia process language has fascinated the Luxembourgish researcher.
For the past two years, Jill Kries has been living in San Francisco, studying at Stanford University – a campus internationally recognised for its research into language and cognition. “Stanford is an opportunity you cannot turn down”, she says.
“I want my research to help patients. At the moment, I am working with children diagnosed with epilepsy”, Jill explains. The children are asked whether they would like to participate in the studies and, if they agree, electrodes are implanted for clinical reasons. “Alongside this, I am also involved in additional projects on the brain and language.” In her work, Jill collaborates closely with researcher Laura Williams.
“I find it fascinating that my acoustic waves enter your ears”, Jill says with a smile, before describing what her research involves in practical terms. “What exactly is happening in the brain for this to make sense? That question keeps me awake at night.”
She explains that countless processes are involved. “The brain works through acoustic frequencies, which are then categorised into phonemes – the basic sounds of language. These are combined into syllables and then into words that carry meaning in the language we have learned. Finally, we also have to process grammatical structures.
A central aim of Jill’s research is to improve and accelerate diagnosis for patients with language disorders. “Individuals with aphasia who also suffer from additional cognitive impairments often have to undergo very lengthy tests”, she explains.
“Instead, they can listen to a ten- to twenty-minute audiobook while we measure their brain activity using EEG electrodes.” This method allows researchers to identify more efficiently which aspects of language have been most affected, for example following a stroke.
Beyond her academic work, Jill has embraced life in California. “San Francisco is a very cool city”, she says. “Within twenty minutes, you can reach excellent hiking spots. There are many young people here, which makes the city vibrant and dynamic, especially in the evenings.”
To unwind from her research, Jill enjoys running and cycling, often taking advantage of the city’s surrounding nature.
Despite living on the other side of the Atlantic, Jill remains closely connected to Luxembourg. She speaks with her parents, brothers, and friends once a week and returns to the Grand Duchy twice a year.
Her contract at Stanford will run for another two years. After that, Jill hopes to return to Luxembourg to continue her career as a researcher. The University of Luxembourg in Belval, she believes, offers ideal conditions to make this ambition a reality.
On 23 October 2025, Jill Kries was honoured with an award from the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), recognising her doctoral research into how the brains of older adults and stroke survivors process language.
