Our research group aims to understand how GABAergic inhibitory neurons and synapses contribute to neural circuit function and behavior, and how abnormalities in the GABAergic network result in psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. To this end, we take two complementary and intertwined approaches to study GABAergic system dysfunction across multiple levels, spanning from molecules and cells through to circuits and behavior.

At the molecular and cellular level, we assess the diversity of GABAergic postsynaptic protein complexes, as well as studying how disease-related molecular changes in these complexes contribute to circuit and behavioral abnormalities. To this end, we are currently implementing a proximity labeling-based proteomic approach to investigate the molecular composition of GABAergic postsynaptic complexes in health and disease.

At the systems level, we investigate how GABAergic neuron subtypes and circuits are differentially activated during behavior in mouse models of psychiatric disorders. In this context, we assess the activity of neuronal networks during behavior through in vivo Ca²⁺ imaging using miniature endomicroscopes.

Positions held

Since 2021  
Associate Professor, Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany

2019-2021  
Research group leader, Institute of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Germany

2015-2018  
Project group leader, Department of Moleculare Neurobiology, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Germany

2010-2014  
Postdoctoral researcher, Department Moleculare Neurobiology, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Germany

2007-2010  
Postdoctoral fellow, Picower Institute of Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

Education

2019 
Habilitation in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Germany

2002-2007 
PhD in Neurosciences, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, USA

1997-2001 
M. Biochem. in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Oxford University, UK