People and Contact

My passion for electrophysiology began with an undergraduate summer project at Christof Schwiening’s lab, where I studied pH signaling in snail neurons. Dissecting garden snails and handling e-phys apparatus that seemed to have come out of a sci-fi movie set, I loved every minute of it—even when a nematode parasite swam across the field of neurons! Outside the lab I enjoy PC games and nature/landscape photography, although becoming a first-time dad in 2023 seems to devour most of my free time.

I am serving as the laboratory assistant in our group. My expertise lies in molecular biology, and I am dedicated to cultivating teamwork and providing support to the group through my skills and experience. I am driven by the desire to create a positive and collaborative atmosphere where everyone can thrive and develop collectively.

My project in the lab focuses on biophysical characterization of CaV2.1, the main voltage-gated calcium channel in the brain responsible for initiating neurotransmitter release. I use voltage-clamp fluorometry to probe how different parts of the channel move in response to different stimuli. Some of my broader research interests include ion channels (structure, function, and biophysics), mental disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety), and cool animals (tardigrades, jellyfish, axolotls).

I did my bachelor's and postgraduate degree in Dundalk Institute of Technology. I have graduated with a PhD in electrophysiology. Currently, I am working as a postdoc in Linköping university. My curiosity about the design and evolution of nature has led my way into studying science.

I'm Serena Pozzi, I come from Italy, where I completed both my bachelor's and master’s degrees in biology at the University of Milano Bicocca. In October 2022, I joined Antonios Pantazis' lab for my PhD project on cardiac electrophysiology. I’m mainly working on the cardiac sodium channel trying to uncover its role in the development of cardiac arrhythmias. When I’m not in the lab you can certainly find me reading a book or watching a tennis match.

As a research assistant in the Pantazis Lab, I focus on understanding the behavior of voltage-gated calcium channels in the brain under physiological and disease conditions. My research interests lie in exploring the intricate dynamics of these channels. Outside of academia, I have a keen passion for music, hiking and photography.