PhD STUDENTS
Jingjing Chen
PhD Student (since 2017)
Research area
I am working on the project of developmentally regulated transmitter release at basket cells to purkinje cells synapse in the cerebellum. In particular, I am interested in how this synapse is regulated during different developmental stages. To address this question, I will use pair recording technique to study this synaptic transmission. In addition, electron microscopy will be used to investigate the distribution properties of vesicles and calcium channels.
Olena Kim
PhD Student (since 2015)
Research Area
I started my PhD in the Jonas group in 2015. The goal of the project is to examine structural changes during synaptic transmission and plasticity at hippocampal mossy fiber synapses. To achieve this, I use the technique of “Flash & Freeze”, which allows me to stimulate neurons optogenetically and to freeze the synapse instantaneously, after defined time intervals. In particular, I am interested in possible differences between mossy fiber synapses formed on CA3 pyramidal neurons and those formed on GABAergic interneurons, via filopodial extensions.
Silvia Jamrichova
PhD Student (SINCE 2020)
Research Area
“I am studying the mechanisms of synaptic transmission and plasticity at hippocampal mossy fiber synapse. Specifically, I would like to determine the identity and affinity of the putative calcium sensors for both synchronous and asynchronous neurotransmitter release at this synapse. To address these questions I am using a subcellular patch-clamp technique that allows me to simultaneously record from mossy fiber boutons and CA3 pyramidal cells at a unitary level.”
Peipeng Lin
PhD Student (since 2020)
Research area
My research focuses on the study of synaptic transmission between mossy fibre and pyramidal neuron in hippocampal CA3, by recording simultaneously from the pre-synaptic bouton and the post-synaptic pyramidal cell.