Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel Advisor: Ofer Yizhar Design and Characterization of Light-Gated Proteins for the Investigation of Medial Prefrontal Cortex Function
MSc
2011
LMU Munich, Graduate School of Systemic Neuroscience, Germany Advisors: Shimon Marom (Technion) and Lars Kunz (LMU) Dynamical Modes in Coupled Large-Scale Networks
BSc
2009
Department of Biology, University of Constance, Germany Advisor: Marcel Leist Genetic Modification of Embryonic Stem Cells
Professional Experience
2023-present
Ambizione Project Leader, Department of Neurobiology, FMI, Basel, Switzerland. Investigation of affect processing in decision-making.
2018-2023
Postdoctoral fellow with Andreas Lüthi, Department of Neurobiology, FMI, Basel, Switzerland. Valence and salience representation in the basolateral amygdala.
Mentoring
Andres De Vicente – PhD thesis – ongoing: Valence in Decision-Making
Nikolaos Armeniakos – PhD thesis – ongoing: The BLA microcircuitry guiding foraging behavior
Pritish Patil – MSc thesis: Chloride-channel mediated BLA inhibition during fear conditioning
Dan Blum – lab rotation: Stable protein expression via feedback expression repression
Jonathan Nutkiewitz – lab rotation: Closed loop gene expression control
Teaching
The central aim of my teaching strategy is to foster a dynamic and engaging learning environment that promotes critical thinking. To this end, I encourage active participation, discussions, and hands-on experiences. I believe that learning is most effective when students are actively engaged in the material, applying theoretical concepts to real-life scenarios, and participating in problem-solving activities. By promoting interactive learning, I seek to foster critical thinking skills, creativity, and independent thought among my students. I encourage students to think beyond canonical textbook concepts by exposing them to current scientific literature. My aim is to create an inclusive environment that values diversity and creates a safe space for students to express their thoughts and ideas freely, ensuring that every student can thrive and succeed. Finally, I am an approachable and supportive mentor to my students. I encourage open communication and provide constructive feedback to help students identify their strengths and areas for improvement. By fostering a positive learning environment, I aim to inspire confidence and motivate students to reach their fullest potential.
Courses Taught
2025
In vivo electrophysiology and behavior modules co-organizer – Transylvanian Experimental Neuroscience Summer School, The Pike Lake, Transylvania, Romania (2 weeks – 60h block course)
2023
In vivo electrophysiology and behavior modules instructor – Transylvanian Experimental Neuroscience Summer School, The Pike Lake, Transylvania, Romania (2 weeks – 60h block course)
2021
Instructor – Cajal Course: Optogenetics, chemogenetics and biosensors for cellular and circuit neuroscience (1.5 week – 90h block course)
2019
Instructor – Cajal Course: Biosensors and actuators for cellular and systems neuroscience (3 week – 180h block course)
2019
Speaker – Nencki Institute Open Lab – Ephys and Optogenetics Workshop (8 h block course)
2014
Instructor, Methods in Neuroscience Lab course, module: Whole-cell patch-clamp recording in primary neuronal cultures, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. (2 weeks – 60h block course)
Awards
2018
Giora Yoel Yashinski Memorial Prize for outstanding PhD thesis, awarded by the Weizmann Institute of Science
2017
Computational and Systems Neuroscience travel grant
2016
FENS Young Investigator Training Program
2016
FENS and IBRO-PERC stipend for attending TENSS
2011
Technion Scholarship during Master Thesis Research
2011
PROSA LMU Scholarship of the DAAD & State of Bavaria (declined)
Funding
Novartis Foundation Young Investigator Grant
Institution: Novartis Foundation for Medical-Biological Research Type of funding: Competitive funding Funding period: 03/2025 – 02/2026 Personal Role: Project leader
SNSF Ambizione grant with Flexibility grant
Institution: Swiss National Science Foundation Type of funding: Competitive funding Funding period: 03/2023 – 02/2027 Personal Role: Project leader
Horizon Europe: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Individual Fellowship
Institution: EU’s research and innovation funding program – Horizon 2020 Type of funding: Competitive funding Funding period: 03/2021 – 02/2023 Personal Role: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellow
European Molecular Biology Organization: Postdoctoral Fellowship
Institution: European Molecular Biology Organization Type of funding: Competitive funding Funding period: 07/2019 – 02/2021 Personal Role: EMBO Postdoctoral Fellow
Leadership and Management Activites
2021-2023
Basel Postdoc Network Committee Member
2019-2024
Postdoc representative, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research
2017-2018
Organizing committee students-invited lecture series in brain sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science
Reviewing Activities
Journals
Molecular Psychiatry, Nature Communications, Nature Methods, and Scientific Reports
Funding agencies
External expert reviewer for ERC LS9 Advanced Grant 2024 and Le Studium Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies
Invited Presentations
2024
Les Rasses meeting: Value processing in the amygdala
2023
Les Rasses meeting: State-, context-, and task-dependent value processing in the amygdala
2023
Bernstein Seminar Freiburg: From optogenetic inhibition to value and valence coding
2021
Department of Biomedicine Basel: Investigation of neuronal circuits: Genetic Approaches in Biomedical Research
2015
Israel Society for Neuroscience: Biophysical constraints of optogenetic inhibition at presynaptic terminals
2014
Israel Society for Neuroscience: Neuromodulation of dynamic network connectivity in the medial prefrontal cortex
Advanced Coursework
2022
Animal study director – LTK Module 2 – Training for persons responsible for directing animal experiments
2021
EMBO Laboratory Leadership course
2016
FENS Young Investigator Training Program 2016 – research stay with Jakob B. Sørensen, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
2016
Transylvanian Experimental Neuroscience Summer School (TENSS), Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2013
ELSC International School: Intracellular In-vivo Recording, Eilat, Israel
2012
FENS-IBRO Winter School: Brain Dynamics and Dynamics of Brain Disease, Obergurgl, Austria