Team Çalışkan
We are a young research group situated at the Department of Genetics and Molecular Neurobiology at the Institute of Biology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg.
Gürsel Çalışkan, PhD
Principal Investigator
Gürsel is a trained neurophysiologist (MSc, PhD) with a molecular biology (BSc) background. During his doctoral training at the Charité Medical Faculty in Berlin, he had an extensive training on in vitro electrophysiology combined with training on in vivo tetrode recordings and prepared a thesis on the effects of different stress-related neuromodulators on the hippocampal network oscillations. After his postdoctoral stage in the lab of Prof. Oliver Stork, studying how different types of interneurons are involved in regulation of different aspects of fear memory and generalization, he remained as Group Leader at the Department of Genetics & Molecular Neurobiology.
He is a dad, a beer enthusiast, loves travelling and uses every oppotunity to take a nap.
Sara Enrile Lacalle, PhD
PostDoc
Sara studied Biology in Madrid, Spain before starting her MSc in Integrative Neuroscience in Magdeburg. She recently finished her PhD dealing with amygdalar modulation of hippocampal engrams for which she uses engram labelling methods, chemogenetics, one-trial learning behavioural paradigms and in vitro electrophysiology. She is also a member of junior group Engram Technologies - Demiray Lab.
She is a cooking enthusiast, enjoys being inside the kitchen and appreciates good restaurants. Loves fashion and is always looking forward to new trends. Will be the one organizing spontaneous plans and making sure everyone is enjoying themselves. A good glass of wine and a nice conversation is enough to make her happy.
Jeimmy Marcela Cerón González, PhD
PostDoc
Jeimmy completed her BSc and MSc in Psychology at the National University of Colombia in Bogotá, Colombia. She recently finished her PhD at Stork Lab investigating how different RASopathy-associated mutations in GABAergic interneurons affect brain function, behavior, and potential sex-specific outcomes. Her PostDoc work combines behavioral, molecular, and chemogenetic approaches to better understand the role of gut-vagus-brain axis on chronic stress.
Outside the lab, she loves visiting new places, trying new recipes, learning to play the keyboard (slowly but surely), and battling family and friends in the game Parqués. She's also on a never-ending quest to find the perfect chocolate cake, frequently disguised as innocent trips to cafés.
Debora Manz, MSc
PhD Student
Debora received her BSc in Neuroscience with Psychology from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, and her MSc in Integrative Neuroscience from the Otto-von-Guericke University in Magdeburg. For her PhD project she investigates how early-life stress affects social fear transmission and engram formation in male and female mice. She uses RAM labelling, behavioral paradigms, immunohistochemistry and in vitro electrophysiology.
When she’s not in the lab, Debora is all about whipping up new cookie recipes and baking
fancy cakes, crafting jewelry, sewing her own clothes and staying active with exercise.
Mariana Nunes, MSc
PhD Student
(Associated Stork Lab)
Mariana completed her BSc in Biology and MSc in Neuroscience at the University of Lisbon. She is a member of Stork Lab and part of SynAGE graduate program. Her PhD project deals with cholinergic mechanisms that support novelty detection in the hippocampus during aging with a strong interest in synaptic plasticity and engram encoding, she aims to uncover new insights into memory dynamics. Gürsel is taking active role in her supervision as junior faculty in the department.
When she’s not investigating memory and synaptic magic, Mariana’s on a mission to pet every dog she meets. Her favourite genres are comedy and horror and she enjoys swimming, drawing and experimenting with new art mediums. Her ambitions are not merely scientific, as she dreams of owning the biggest vinyl collection in Europe (at least).
Sushmita Senapati, MSc
MSc Student
Sushmita completed her B.Tech in Biotechnology from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India, before joining the MSc program in Integrative Neuroscience at OvGU. Her MSc thesis project focuses on characterizing network oscillation dynamics in a GABA-deficient genetic mouse model, mainly employing in vitro electrophysiology to obtain extracellular recordings. She is also building a computational model of the hippocampal CA1 subregion to further her understanding of elements of the oscillatory drive in the same mouse model.
Outside the lab, she loves expressing herself through painting and strumming on her guitar — music and colors help her recharge and think in new ways. You’ll often find her watching clouds drift by like it’s serious business, bingeing a good anime series, or planning her next travel adventure.
Sophia Rempel
BSc Student
After Sophia finished her apprenticeship as a biology laboratoryworker at the Fraunhofer institute of toxology and experimental medicine in Brunswick, she decided to start her bachelor in biomedical sciences in Magdeburg. As the new member in `Synapto-Oscillopathy" team she is working closely with Jeimmy, helping her with her new project which focuses on the gut-vagus-brain axis.
Outside of university she likes to knit, read, cook and plan her next roadtrip. To stay active, she also goes to the gym.