Personal profile

Qualifications

PhD (Neuroscience) - Ruhr University Bochum, Germany

Diploma Biology -  Ruhr University Bochum, Germany

Biography

I studied Biology and obtained my PhD in Neuroscience (summa cum laude) in 2009 from the Ruhr-University Bochum (Germany). Following my postdoctoral research at the University of Edinburgh (UK), I became a Principal Investigator in 2015 at the Technical University of Munich (Germany). In 2020 my group moved to University of Edinburgh (UK).

Research Interests

I am interested in the mechanisms of neuron-oligodendrocyte communication. How do oligodendrocytes integrate information from neurons, what do they do this this information, and how does this in turn affect the brain?

My research in a nutshell

About 5% of all brain cells are undifferentiated oligodendrocyte precursor cells which tile the brain throughout life. These cells sense nervous system activity and represent the cellular source for new myelin during long-term development, plastic adaptations, and CNS regeneration. However, there are many more oligodendrocyte precursors than ever differentiate, but which still constantly communicate with surrounding neurons and other CNS cells. How this cell population can be triggered to produce new myelin, and how the non-myelinating oligoendrocytes affect nervous system function, remains unclear. 

To address this, we use zebrafish as model organism and a wide range of complementary methods including high-resolution optical microscopy of live cell reporters, optophysiology and biomolecular sensor imaging,  cellular genetic manipulations, and behavioural analysis.

Research Groups

Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences

Websites

czopka-lab.com

Positions available

I am always open to applications from motivated and competitive people who are interested in joining our research group.

- students who wish to pursue an MSc or PhD project in my research group.

- postdocs who are competetive to seek independent funding for fellowships within my group.

Whenever we have funded positions available, these will be advertised on the University of Edinburgh job portal.

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics where Tim Czopka is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
  • 1 Similar Profiles

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or