Matthias Merkel

Research and Education

Oct. 2015 – today Postdoctoral research, Prof. Lisa Manning
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
Dec. 2014 – Sept. 2015 Postdoctoral research, Prof. Frank Jülicher
Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
2010 – Nov. 2014 Ph.D. in physics
Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, and Technical University of Dresden, Germany
Thesis:
“From cells to tissues: Remodeling and polarity reorientation in epithelial tissues”
Supervisor:
Prof. Frank Jülicher
Grade:
summa cum laude
Ph.D. defense:
21st November, 2014
2003 – 2009 Diploma in physics
Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, and Technical University of Dresden, Germany
Thesis:
“Synaptic Short-Term Plasticity and Information Transmission”
Supervisor:
Prof. Benjamin Lindner
Final grade:
1.0
Degree obtained:
21st December, 2009
2007 Internship at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
Summer Student Programme (10 weeks), Geneva, Switzerland
2005 – 2006 Studies at the École Normale Supérieure (ENS)
1 year, Paris, France
June 2003 Abitur (A levels)
Max-Steenbeck Gymnasium, Cottbus, Germany
Final grade:
1.0

Awards and Fellowships

2017 Postdoctoral Speaker Award from the GSNP section at the APS March Meeting
2016 Otto Hahn Medal from the Max Planck Society for my Ph.D. thesis
2003 – 2009 Stipend for undergraduate studies from the German National Academic Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes)
2004 Student’s award by the German Physical Society (DPG)
2003 Student’s award by the German Physical Society (DPG)
2003 Silver medal at the 34th International Physics Olympiad, Taipeh, Taiwan
2002 Gold medal at the 33rd International Physics Olympiad, Bali, Indonesia