Professional Experience
2013–2024 Research Associate, Dept. of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Chacron Lab
2011–2013 Post-Doctoral Fellow, Dept. of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Advisor: Dr. Maurice Chacron
Project: sensory processing of 2nd order stimulus statistics and related behavior in weakly electric fish.
2011–2011 Research scientist, Inst. of Zoology, Dept. of Neuroethology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
2009–2011 Post-Doctoral Fellow, Graduate School Bionics: Interactions across Boundaries to the Environment (GK 1572), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. Advisor: Prof. Dr. Gerhard von der Emde
Project: design of a biomimetic electrolocation sensor for coronary diagnostics.
2009–2011 Program coordinator, Graduate School Bionics: Interactions across Boundaries to the Environment (GK 1572), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
2008–2009 Research scientist, Institute of Zoology, Dept. of Neuroethology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
Project: neuroanatomy of the trigeminal nerve of Gnathonemus petersii.
2008 Research scientist, Center for Neurodynamics, University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Advisors: Dr. Michael Hofmann, Dr. Lon A. Wilkens
Project: efferent projections from the midbrain to motor control centres in the brain stem in Polyodon spathula.
Education
2008 Ph.D. Neuroscience, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Advisor: Dr. Gerhard von der Emde
Thesis: characterization of receptive fields of electrosensory neurons and their responses to object resistances in the electrosensory lateral line lobe of the weakly electric fish, Gnathonemus petersii.
2002 M.Sc. Biology (Diploma), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Advisor: Dr. Walter A. Maier
Thesis: studies on Trombiculids of the Siebengebirge near Bonn: small mammal hosts, infection rates with Borrelia burgdorferi and comparative DNA analysis.
Teaching Experience
2019 Scientific Course Consultant, Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA; Course: Neural Systems & Behavior
Lecture Title: adaptive coding in the electrosensory system.
2018 Scientific Course Consultant, Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA; Course: Neural Systems & Behavior
Lecture Title: electroreceptors - An overview across species.
2017 Scientific Course Consultant, Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA; Course: Neural Systems & Behavior
Lecture Title: electroreceptors - An overview across species. [video]
2015 Teaching Assistant, Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA; Course: Neural Systems & Behavior
Lecture Title: electroreceptors - An overview across species. [video]
2014 Teaching Assistant, Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA; Course: Neural Systems & Behavior
Lecture Title: electroreceptors - An overview across species.
2013 Teaching Assistant, Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA; Course: Neural Systems & Behavior
Lecture Title: behavioral responses to low frequency envelopes.
2012 Teaching Assistant, Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA; Course: Neural Systems & Behavior
Lecture Title: envelope tracking in a weakly electric fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus.
2010–2011 Advisor, Graduate School Bionics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Imène Al Ghouz (Diploma (M.Sc.) thesis)
2009–2010 Advisor, Graduate School Bionics, University of Bonn, Germany; Martin Gottwald (Diploma (M.Sc.) thesis)
2008 Course Assistant, University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO, USA; Course: Neuroanatomy
2003–2008 Course Assistant, Inst. Of Zoology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany;
Courses: Zoology, Neurobiology, Neuroethology, Life Science Informatics
2001–2002 Course Assistant, Inst. of Parasitology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Course: Parasitology
Grants & Awards
2018 Project Grant awarded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/); grant #: 159694; received by Maurice J Chacron and Michael G Metzen, CAD 657900. (Link)
2012 Award to participate in the “10th International Congress of Neuroethology” and the preceding satellite symposium “Electric Fishes: Neural Systems, Behavior and Evolution” from August 4th – 10th 2012 at the University of College Park, MD, USA, US $ 475.
2007 Travel grant by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) to participate in the “8th International Congress of Neuroethology” and the preceding satellite symposium “Electrosensitive Systems” from July 21st – 27th 2007 in Vancouver, Canada. (KON 563/2007 ME 3348/1-1), EUR 2115