The organizing committee welcomes you here on our webpage. We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves.
I’m Vida Zabihian, a PhD student at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. My research focuses on cholesterol dependent regulation of mechanosignaling and synaptic function during neuronal ageing. I am particularly interested in how membrane cholesterol changes in ageing affect mechanisignaling pathways, and synaptic integrity in the brain.
Outside the lab, I enjoy traveling, discovering new places and cultures, and spending time with friends and family.
My name is Jascha Brüggemann, I am 34 and part of the SynAGE program.
I work on the acquisition and analysis of MRI data on topics such as ‘Microvascular and synaptic plasticity in ageing’ and ‘ALS’. Professionally, I am interested in human brain structure and how it changes as a result of the ageing process and neurodegenerative diseases.
In my spare time, I love all kinds of sports and exploring nature and cities in a camper van.
Hi, my name is Mona Claes. I am currently a second-year PhD student at the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology in Magdeburg, LIN. My research focuses on modulatory receptors and the impact of presynaptic autophagy in ameliorating tauopathy.
In my free time, I love reading books.
Hi, I’m Anil Menon, a second-year PhD researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology. My research sits at the intersection of circuit neuroscience and the biology of aging. Specifically, I study how aging alters hippocampal–retrosplenial circuit function and contributes to ageíng-related hyperactivity and memory decline. I combine in-vivo two-photon glutamate and GABA sensor imaging with behavioral paradigms and molecular profiling, aiming to understand how excitatory and inhibitory signaling shifts across synaptic and circuit levels in the aging brain.
When I’m not in the lab, you’ll likely find me at a chessboard or on a badminton court. My late-night coding and analysis sessions almost always come with a cup of tea and a carefully curated playlist.
Hi there – My name is Mariana Nunes, and I’m a PhD student at the Institute of Biology of the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. My project focuses on temporal association learning and age-related changes in hippocampal circuitry, with a particular interest in how cholinergic modulation and entorhinal–hippocampal interactions contribute to memory formation in the aging brain.
When away from the lab, I enjoy drawing, discovering new music to add to my collection, and catching live concerts whenever I can.
I’m Dana Zöllner – the scientific coordinator of the research training group SynAGE. My scientific background is in physics, where I have investigated how materials microstructures – from metal to sea shells – undergo temporal changes during processing and application. As scientific coordinator I’m responsible for the training program of our PhD and MD students.
In every free minute I hike in the nearby Harz Mountains or film railways, both large and small.
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contact
Dr. Dana Zöllner
isync2@ovgu.de
+49 (0) 391 – 6755104