Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
As an Australian with a strong background in neuroscience research, I am currently a paediatric physician at the University Hospital of Heidelberg, Germany. I have worked in several research laboratories as a student and a professional, both in Australia and abroad. I am a fluent speaker of German and have had extensive experience as a high school student, university student and professional in Germany.
Publications: Hardin EC, Schmid S, Sommerkamp A, Bodden C, Heipertz AE, Sievers P, Wittmann A, Milde T, Pfister SM, von Deimling A, Horn S, Herz NA, Simon M, Perera AA, ..., Witt O, Capper D, Sahm F, Jones DTW, van Tilburg CM. LOGGIC Core BioClinical Data Bank: Added clinical value of RNA-Seq in an international molecular diagnostic registry for pediatric low-grade glioma patients. Neuro Oncol. 2023 Apr 19:noad078. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noad078. PMID: 37075810. Schmid S, Mirchia K, Tietze A, Liu I, Siewert C, Nückles J, Schittenhelm J, Behling F, Snuderl M, Hartmann C, Brandner S, Paine SML, Korshunov A, Hasselblatt M, Coras R, Epari S, Stadelmann C, Zechel S, Simon M, Wilson Y, Gianno F, Calixto-Hope GL Jr, Zherebitskiy V, Kaimaktchiev VB, Robinson L, Aldape K, Hoving EW, Tops BBJ, Perera AA, ..., Sahm F, Jones DTW, Capper D. VGLL-fusions define a new class of intraparenchymal CNS schwannoma. Neuro Oncol. 2024 Dec 23:noae269. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noae269. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39713960. Ernst KJ, Okonechnikov K, Bageritz J, Perera AA, Mallm JP, Wittmann A, Maaß KK, Leible S, Boutros M, Pfister SM, Zuckermann M, Jones DTW. A simplified preparation method for single-nucleus RNA-sequencing using long-term frozen brain tumor tissues. Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 14;15(1):12849. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-97053-9. PMID: 40229354; PMCID: PMC11997191.
Tutor of basic clinical skills (physical examinations, blood sample collection, obtaining patient history) to first and second year medical students.
Tutor of virtual anatomy (MRI, CT, X-ray) to first-year medical students at the University of Heidelberg, Germany.
- Invited back to the Neuron Development and Plasticity group under the supervision of Dr. Jenny Gunnersen. - Conducted biochemical experiments to investigate the binding interactions between the SEZ6 protein and its binding partner, alpha-2-delta-1. http://biomedicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au/research2/department-of-anatomy-and-neuroscience/neuron-development-and-plasticity
- Invited to the Innate Immunity Group, Institute of Neuropathology, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, headed by Prof. Dr. Marco Prinz. - Fully funded scientific visit as a Fellow of the Australian German Association (AGA) - Contributed to projects investigating the role of gut bacteria on microglia form and function in the brain. The effect of gut bacteria on macrophages in peripheral organs were also explored in relation to their putative role in gut-brain communication. https://www.uniklinik-freiburg.de/neuropathologie/forschung/innate-immunity-prof-dr-marco-prinz.html http://www.aga.org.au/fellowship/