Bewilligungen im Jahr 2008 - Volkswagen Stiftung

Fellowships Computational Sciences
Berlin
Hydrogen-bond network in protein folding
Bewilligung: 30.06.2011 Laufzeit: 3 Jahre
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Detailed atomistic models of proteins can only be used to study short times, and thus can
involve only very limited conformational changes in large systems. They are also of little use
for understanding general principles of proteins and how complex macroscopic properties
emerge from elementary interactions. Coarse grained models are used to overcome these
problems. However, such models fail to describe many properties of proteins, like the phase
diagram of these macromolecules and the forces favoring the formation of secondary structures.
The project´s goal is to overcome these limitations and to construct a protein model that contains
the correct thermodynamics and topology of real proteins, but is still simple enough to
reveal general principles. The approach differs from previous attempts in the use of the hydrogen
bonding network as the framework within which the protein folding problem will be formulated.
Freie Universität Berlin
Fachbereich Physik
Dr. Cristiano Dias
Arnimallee 14
14195 Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin
Fachbereich Physik
Dr. Markus Miettinen
Arnimallee 14
14195 Berlin
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Göttingen
Signal propagation in networks of cortical neurons
Bewilligung: 18.03.2011 Laufzeit: 3 Jahre
How do neurons within recurrent cortical networks respond to dynamical signals? Can
networks of threshold neurons describe the activity of networks in vitro? These important,
yet unresolved, questions will be the main focus of this fellowship. A combination of
analytical and numerical techniques within the theoretical framework of correlated
Gaussian processes is used for numerical network simulations with a predefined
structure and interactions. During a two-year stay at the Center for Theoretical
Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, the focus is on signal processing in
recurrent networks of threshold neurons. The interaction of stimulus evoked and intrinsic
activity is studied in order to reveal the biophysical basis of signal relay in cortical
neurons. Back in Germany, the opportunity to directly probe the theoretically predicted
dynamical network responses in a closed-loop opto-genetically controlled network is
seized. The expected contribution refers to the computational side. Analytical model
predictions are derived for validating and refining the model assumptions.
Max-Planck-Institut für experimentelle Medizin, Göttingen
Abteilung für Molekulare Biologie neuronaler Signale
Dr. Tatjana Tchumatchenko
Hermann-Rein-Straße 3
37075 Göttingen
Tel.: 0551 3899-550
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