Maximilian Ferle

EDUCATION

College / University:
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Highest Degree:
B.Sc.

Major Subject:
Biochemistry, Biophysics, Bioinformatics

Lab Experience:
Organic Chemistry: Synthesis, extraction and purification
Biology: (fluorescence-) microscopy; cultivation, transformation (CaCl2, Electroporation) and metabolic analysis of microorganisms; mammalian cell culture, transfection (Lipofectamine); purification of synaptic vesicles from rat brain
Biological Chemistry: Protein extraction and purification, western blotting, protein interaction studies, automated peptide-synthesis; DNA extraction and purfication, PCR, electrophoresis, automated oligonucleotide synthesis; formation of liposomes, reconstitution of membrane proteins, encapsulation of soluble proteins
Bioanalytics: HPLC, ITC, stopped-flow, photometric enzyme-kinetics, AFM imaging and force measurements, fluorimetric FRET measurements
Data analysis: Interpreting of MS- and NMR-spectra; Programming in Python and R

Projects / Research:
2020: Bachelor’s thesis "The role of tight junction proteins for directional coordination, nematic organization and jamming transitions of migrating epithelial cell sheets" Dept. of Biophysical Chemistry (Prof. Janshoff), Institute for Physical Chemistry
2019: Characterization of a vesicular nucleotide transporter (VNUT). Dept. of Neurobiology (Prof. Jahn), MPI for Biophysical Chemistry

Scholarships:
2020 - 2021: Stipend by the International Max Planck Research School

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND GOALS:

As a biochemist, I am interested in deciphering the function of the very building blocks of living matter in the grand scheme of complexly regulated biological systems. I am therefore amazed by the molecular modulation and the cellular circuitry which fine tunes the transmission of sensory signals, as it is the case with visual perception at the retina or auditory perception within the cochlea. Moreover, it fascinates me how genetic dispositions and environmental stimuli can interfere with these processes and consequently compromise these highly complex systems.
Having an interdisciplinary background, I see the benefits of synthesizing knowledge from different branches of science.
Here, neuroscience offers multi-level approaches for elucidating the inner workings of nature’s most complex biological networks. By combining biological techniques, physical modeling and computational applications, I strive to understand how sensory information is processed on a molecular level and how this ultimately dictates cognitive responses in mature organisms. Based on this, I aim to cast light on new aspects of neuropathic diseases, which pave the way for clinical applications aiding the suffering of those affected.