Silvia pursued a Bachelor’s in General Biology at Comenius University in Bratislava, where she conducted her thesis research in the neuroscience lab led by Lubica Lacinova from the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

For her Master’s, she studied Animal Physiology and Ethology at Comenius University in Bratislava, focusing on the role of delta-opioid receptors in regulating neuronal excitability in the hippocampus. She collaborated during this time with two renowned labs: Lubica Lacionava’s lab at the Slovak Academy of Sciences and Peter Jedlicka’s lab at Justus Liebig University Giessen and Frankfurt in Germany.

Highlighted Achievements

• Initiation of an international collaboration with Peter Jedlicka’s lab in Germany during her Master’s. This immersive six-month internship facilitated the combination of data from electrophysiology experiments with computational models, uncovering intricate ion channel-dependent mechanisms. The experience provided Silvia with exposure to programming and the cutting-edge of neuroscience, complemented by visits to institutions like the MPI for Brain Research and the NeuroScience Center at Goethe University.
• Recognition as a scholarship recipient from the National Scholarship Program of the Slovak Republic, sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research, and Sport of the Slovak Republic
• Being part of Peter Jonas’ research group at ISTA
• Serving as the Student Representative for the Neuroscience track since 2021 at ISTA

Why are you doing a PhD?

For me, the driving force behind choosing science is a profound passion for understanding the world, particularly the intricate nature of the brain. There is vast space for exploration and discovery in this field, and it’s thrilling to be a part of it.

What do you like about life in Vienna/Austria?

The best thing about Vienna is its multicultural vibe and endless opportunities. If you feel like hiking, attending Opera, playing sports, you name it – everything is within reach! No wonder Vienna tops all city charts to live in.

How do you balance work and life during your PhD?

I’ve found a few attitudes that have helped me maintain balance: Listing my values and priorities and making decisions based on them. Setting clear goals and staying organized for efficiency at work. And I make sure to reserve “sacred” time for self-care and connecting with my loved ones.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECT?

I am working to understand how neuronal microcircuits in the hippocampus work. Specifically we are studying the synaptic connections among different types of interneurons and hippocampal granular cells. To achieve this goal we record the electrical activity of different cells simultaneously. In doing so, we study different properties of the neuronal circuits. Our results contribute to understanding of the mechanisms which underlie the storing of information in the hippocampus (i.e. memory). 

WHAT made you interested in pursuing neuroscience?

Before starting my career in neuroscience I used to work with patients with neurological disorders (e.g.,cerebral palsy, Down’s Syndrome, stroke). I realized that my work as a therapist was very limited because the treatment that we could offer to our patients was very scarce, and actually most of the available treatments are palliative and not curative. The main reason is that the information available about how the nervous system works is very limited, more than what most people believe. This fact motivated me the most for changing my career from a therapist to a researcher. I think that creating knowledge is a beautiful way of contributing something to our society and indirectly to helping people.  Another reason for pursuing neuroscience is that it is fun! I am always driven by my excitement to try to understand how things work.

WHAT Do you like most about being at ISTA?

Many things! From a research point of view, ISTA offers many facilities for carrying out our projects in optimal conditions. I can talk about my group because it is the one that I know best. For me it has been a great experience,  challenging from time to time, but for the same reason I have learned and continued learning many things every day. From a social perspective, we have a very international environment at ISTA, which I love it.

WHAT attracted you to the PhD program AT ISTA?

The most important thing for me was the research group that I applied for. Before starting my PhD, I knew exactly what I wanted to study and the professor that I wanted as a supervisor.

In addition, I was also motivated by the first year of coursework at ISTA and the availability of courses in other fields. Even though I knew beforehand in which research field I would like to work, I also wanted to improve my knowledge in scientific fields that were not directly related to neuroscience. Something very good about ISTA is that you can find courses for improving skills that can be very helpful for your research project.

WHAT Advice would you give to prospective students?

I would encourage students to do what they really want to do, being brave and passionate in pursuing that. This will help them to be focused and enjoy their academic experience. When we do things with passion many beautiful results come out of that.

WHAT are the most important things that you’ve learned?

That it is very important to give the best of ourselves in everything that we do. In our work, with the people that we appreciate, and most importantly for ourselves.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECT?

At the onset of zebrafish development the egg is composed of a mixture of yolk granules (the food supply on which the developing embryo will feed during the first days of its development) and cytoplasm from which all of the embryonic tissues will develop. For development to start, the cytoplasm and yolk granules need to segregate with all the cytoplasm accumulating at one side of the oocyte and yolk granules on the other. This segregation process is typically called cytoplasmic streaming or flow. The goal of my project is to unravel the physical basis of cytoplasmic streaming in zebrafish eggs.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING AT ISTA?

During my MSc, I became interested in Biomechanics, but still didn’t have a clear idea of what I could do during my PhD. Therefore, I decided to continue and explore more Biophysics. I found that ISTA offered me a very unique opportunity where I could take basic courses in Biology during my first year and beyond that I can experience biological research during my rotations as well. Moreover, by taking courses such as statistics and modeling, I hoped to fill the gap between my background in engineering and Biophysics. Overall, the first year at ISTA was a great help to me in choosing the field of computational and experimental cell biology for my PhD.

WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE COMING TO ISTA?

Just before joining ISTA and after finishing my Masters degree, I was working as a teaching assistant at the University of Tabriz in Iran.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE PHD PROGRAM AT ISTA?

The very important feature of the PhD program at ISTA for me was the lab rotations and the opportunity of trying very broad areas of science from computational and experimental physics to experimental biology.

WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR YOU?

I always start my experiments early in the morning, which will last until noon. During the afternoon I analyze the experiments and acquired data, read papers and design new and future experiments.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU MEET YOUR SUPERVISOR(S) & HOW DO YOU WORK TOGETHER?

Both of my supervisors (Professors Hof and Heisenberg) provide me with great freedom in my experiments and this helps me to try different ideas. Often we meet (with one of them at a time) whenever I have exciting results or I feel that my experiments do not work or that I need to share my thoughts and get some advice. Therefore, our meetings are very flexible and the great thing is my supervisors are often available and I can reach them easily.

Where do you live, Vienna or around ISTA?

I live in Vienna. The campus of ISTA is very quiet and perfect for running in the woods and being away from hustle and bustle of Vienna.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS?

To take advantage of the multi-disiplinary PhD program at our institute and step out of their comfort field!

What are the most important things you’ve learned?

I think during my PhD I am being trained to act both independently and also in-group and how to collaborate across sciences.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECT?

Our research lies at the intersection of combinatorics and topology. We study simplicial complexes, which are “higher dimensional” generalizations of graphs (a.k.a. networks). We try to understand geometric and topological properties of these complexes implied by their combinatorial structure.

WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN PURSUING MATHEMATICS?

In high school, I had a very inspirational and supportive math teacher. She attracted me to mathematics, and encouraged me to participate in various math camps and competitions. In these camps I realized that thinking about math problems is not only a lot of fun but also an amazing social experience.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING AT ISTA?

The friendly atmosphere, everyone here is super helpful.  Secondly, the first year, where besides the rotation projects, we are taking classes together with students from completely different fields. Third, the amazing administrative support and infrastructure.

WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE COMING TO ISTA?

I was an undergraduate student at the Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest and a member of the Eötvös József Collegium, a college of the university. During my undergrad, I spent two semesters studying abroad; one each at Beloit College (Beloit, WI, USA) and at the University of Heidelberg (Heidelberg, Germany).

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE PHD PROGRAM AT ISTA?

I heard about ISTA for the first time in the fall of 2012 from a professor in Budapest who was teaching an exciting course at the Eötvös University. Just two weeks afterwards, the annual Student Visit Day at ISTA took place. I thought I have nothing to lose if I buy a train ticket (from Budapest to Vienna and back) and visit the campus. It was an absolutely amazing experience: I sort of fell in love with the campus immediately. I could talk a lot to students and professors, and I even played some table soccer.

WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR YOU?

My typical day is relatively flexible; ideally, it consists of quiet thinking, but also attending seminar talks, courses, and meeting up with colleagues for a coffee to get some inspiration or just for a break.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU MEET YOUR SUPERVISOR(S) & HOW DO YOU WORK TOGETHER?

We try to meet up at least once per week, but often we have brainstorming more frequently. We share our ideas, discuss possible next steps, or make a step back if we realize its necessity. Besides research, we also talk about other aspects of being a mathematician.

Where do you live, Vienna or around ISTA?

In the first year, I lived on campus, and as of the summer of 2014, I’ve been living in Vienna in a shared flat, together with 3 fellow students from ISTA. We have a lot of fun together.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS?

If you can, you should come to the Student Visit Day and see it for yourself!

What are the most important things you’ve learned?

Patience and persistence are extremely important. Research is often frustrating (especially if you’re stuck), but talking to colleagues/friends or going for a run can help a lot.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECT?

I am interested in understanding the properties of cell-cell adhesion in different progenitor cells which assemble into distinct germ layers during zebrafish gastrulation. So, I am trying to develop a biomimetic assay with which I can study the adhesion complexes at single-cell level in a controlled environment.

WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN PURSUING CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY?

My interest in developmental biology initially started as an interest in stem cell research. However, I came to realize that basic developmental biology was the key to understanding the working mechanisms of differentiation. Several internships in developmental biology groups before my PhD gave me the opportunity to study how embryos are shaped. I was especially intrigued by the mechanical aspects of morphogenesis which eventually led me to cell adhesion and cytoskeleton.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING AT ISTA?

I like the collaborative environment. At ISTA, the diverse fields of research groups do not limit people to their group only – on the contrary they try harder to understand what everyone else is doing and collaborate following the interdisciplinarity motto. That helps a PhD student to increase his/her knowledge in different fields and run more unique projects.

WHAT did you do before coming to ISTA?

I did three internships. In addition to working in my own department in Turkey, I wanted to gain some experience outside. The first was EMBL, Heidelberg Germany. I worked on early mouse development in the Hiiragi lab. I really liked the project, and it made me want to continue working in developmental biology. Seeing the embryos and their development over time, how they have the potential to grow to a full organism was fascinating. The postdoc who was supervising me was an ISTA alumnus, and that’s how I learned about the ISTA grad school.

One summer later, I wanted some experience in the US, so I did an internship at MIT, in David Page’s lab at the Whitehead Institute. There I worked on mouse germ cell development. That gave me the opportunity to see how the graduate school model works.

I took one semester off from my studies, during which I did another internship at the Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Frank Schnorrer’s lab. There I worked with Drosophila and the microtubules’ importance in muscle development.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE PHD PROGRAM AT ISTA?

First, the quality of research groups, but also the fact that initially I was most interested in the Heisenberg group’s research and even if affiliation with that lab wouldn’t work out, there are several other research groups that I would consider working with for my PhD project.

Second, the US-style program which I believe is more rewarding than its counterparts. The rotations are very important and the teaching assistance experience of the graduate school. The graduates from such programs, it seems to me, are more desirable for future academic career options.

WHAT is a typical day like for you?

I come to the lab and usually plan experiments weekly, but every morning I go into the specific details of what I need to achieve that day. I conduct my experiments, which sometimes consists of spending time at the fish facility in the lab, and also microscropy imaging—which is actually my favorite part.

I also collaborate with the Loose Group lab, where I make sample preparations.

On days when I don’t do experiments, I analyze the data, sometimes I do a bit of writing. I try to organize my lab book and protocols, in order to help plan the next set of experiments. I get feedback on my results and further improve my experiments. Talking to people is very important, so I discuss the next steps, published articles on the subject, getting feedback, and also try to learn about what others in my lab or my friends are working on. I also have coffee breaks with my classmates who in different research groups every now and then.

How often do you meet your supervisor(s) & how do you work together?

I meet up with my supervisor, Carl-Philipp Heisenberg, on a weekly basis, but he’s available most of the time when I have an urgent question to ask. I take advantage of the open door policy of ISTA whenever I can. 

Since it’s a collaborative project with Martin Loose’s lab, I can also readily approach him or his lab members if I have questions.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS?

The first thing I would suggest prospective applicants do is to find group(s) that they would be most interested in. Some people might think that the rotations are a waste of time, but for me it really helped. For instance, setting up future collaborations, learning different techniques and gaining lab experience, and getting to know and being able to talk to different people. I would really take rotations seriously and make good use of them, as it forces you to discover a new field.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECT?

My current research project is about cancer cell migration in microfluidic devices. I am investigating the biophysics and the role of cellular machinery in different geometric designs to understand how cancer cells migrate through different pores in the tissue.

WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN PURSUING CELL BIOLOGY?

Despite the advances in technology, there is still a lot we don’t know about the biophysical aspects of cells. My previous work was mostly about signaling pathways and gene expression regulation. I think I lacked a higher level of understanding such as cell biology and biophysics of “living matter”, which is why I would like to pursue it further. In general, I am mostly curious about immunology and cancer– two topics which are actually perfect for studying cell biology, as both pathogens and cancer cells are masters of exploiting cellular processes.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING AT ISTA?

To me the best thing about ISTA is the interdisciplinary environment, which allows me to learn skills from different disciplines. There are plenty resources here which allow me to apply a variety of methods for my research.

WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE COMING TO ISTA?

Before coming to ISTA, I was doing my master’s and continued to work on my project after finishing my degree. For the last couple of years I have started a small business in IT, through which I could finance my studies. In this context, I offered a variety of services, including system administration, web programming, mobile development and IT support for scientific entities.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE PHD PROGRAM AT ISTA?

I was attracted by the groups which do interdisciplinary and top-class research.

WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR YOU?

Mostly, I start by planning my day. Deadlines usually dictate how I prioritize my work. An important portion of the day is covered by either data analysis or experiments in the lab.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU MEET YOUR SUPERVISOR(S) & HOW DO YOU WORK TOGETHER?

The frequency of meetings with my supervisors is irregular, depending on whether I need feedback or input on my work from them. In our meetings we have thorough discussions on our experimental approach and potential alternatives and improvements. Whenever I need help, advice or direction, I try to arrange a meeting, which is very convenient.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE, VIENNA OR AROUND ISTA?

I live in Vienna. It is sometimes challenging to live far away from the work place but the shuttle bus makes commuting much easier. The nature surrounding ISTA is also very nice and offers recreational possibilities.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS?

I would advise them to discover the variety of research topics in ISTA and see which ones are the most interesting to them. Don’t hesitate if some of those topics are not exactly overlapping with your background. If you are curious, contact the group leaders to see how suitable these topics are to your skills and education. Don’t be shy.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECT?

My research goal is to better understand the origins of cancer and to find novel treatment approaches. To this end, it is vital to study how different signaling pathways act together to form a cohesive signaling network, and how perturbations affect it in vitro and in vivo. In order to control cellular signals with high spatio-temporal resolution, I employ optogenetic receptors to develop models for cancer research. In my latest project, I developed an optogenetic receptor that is constitutively active in the dark and can be inhibited by illumination, thereby mimicking, for example, the effect of a drug that inhibits the receptor.

WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN PURSUING CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY?

My interest in cancer research in particular was incited when my grandmother died from lung cancer when I was 14, and I simply wanted to better understand what had happened to her. But I had always been fascinated by biology. In my childhood I collected caterpillars to observe their metamorphosis into butterflies. A strong desire to understand how such complex events work drove me to pursue a career in science. During my studies of molecular biology, what intrigued me the most was the realization of how complex such signaling events are on a molecular and cellular scale and how precisely they have to act together to lead to the desired outcome, and how grave the consequence if such signals are dysregulated and out of balance.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING AT ISTA?

I like the wide open campus and that we are so close to nature here. In summer, I like to go to work by bike, it’s about 5km through the woods for me and a really nice route. I often have lunch in the park underneath the trees. But my favorite thing about the institute is probably the interdisciplinarity and lack of a strict hierarchy. The English speaking work environment favors a more informal way of communication (no German “Sie” required), people are treated equally and expertise is shared between everyone – undergrads, PhD students, post docs and PIs. So even during my time as an intern/undergrad, I was always made feel welcome and my input was appreciated. I think this is something very special about ISTA.

WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE COMING TO ISTA?

I had a student job as an assistant lab technician at the University of Vienna before I started as an intern at ISTA to work on my Master’s thesis.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE PHD PROGRAM AT ISTA?

The way the program is organized – similar to US/UK grad schools – was really intriguing for me. I enjoy learning new things a lot, also outside my own field, so I was also looking forward to attending the classes in my first year.



WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR YOU?

There isn’t really a typical day, with experiments taking anywhere from 12h to several days. Depending on what I am doing, I sometimes have a seemingly regular work day and spend a lot of time at the computer, reading, doing data analysis or writing. Or I spend the whole day running around in the lab. One day, I somehow even managed to walk around 7km within the institute, according to my sports watch! But I like this most about my job – it’s not just sitting at your desk and typing all day. It’s a good mixture of all kinds of tasks.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE, VIENNA OR AROUND ISTA?

After living for some years in Vienna and other cities, I currently live in my old home town of St. Andrä again, basically the neighboring village of Maria Gugging/Klosterneuburg. Living in the city has its appeal, but I enjoy being closer to nature and so close to my work place right now. I personally like that the campus is not in the crowded center of the city, but in this rather calm and green area. I enjoy going for lunch outside on warmer days and sitting in the park, or going for a run in the nearby woods.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS?

I can wholeheartedly recommend you read “How to be a graduate advisee” by Indira M. Raman, published in Neuron in 2014. It was recommended by Simon Hippenmeyer to us during a Neuroscience course I took in my first year.

My favorite quote, that I think is also one of the reasons why I enjoy my work so much:
“Graduate school should be the most fun you ever have. Understanding this idea requires recognizing that “fun” is not simply entertainment, but the long-term pleasure of learning things that you want to learn, of being paid a stipend to go to school, of making yourself into the educated, reasonable, capable person that you want to be.”