Richmond L. Crisostomo

(B.Sc. Applied Physics, M.Sc. Quantitative Biology) [Doctoral Student, Computational Neuroscience]

PhD Student

Biomicrotechnology Lab (Prof. Dr. Ulrich Egert)
Department of Microsystems Engineering - IMTEK
Georges-Köhler-Allee 102
D-79110 Freiburg

Tel. 0049 (0)761 203 7523
richmond.crisostomo@imtek.uni-freiburg.de

Current Research

Morphogenic Impact of Excitatory-Inhibitory Interaction on the Structure of Neuronal Networks

Our goal is to gain a mechanistic understanding of the interplay between inhibitory and excitatory neurons in the activity-dependent self-organization of neuronal network structure. We will construct theoretical and computational frameworks for modeling mesoscale neuronal network development accounting for the interplay among homeostatic growth, excitatory and inhibitory activity, and morphogenetic processes. In principle, unraveling the dynamical structural, functional, and behavioral aspects shaping nontrivial emergent features of developing neuronal networks. This project is in collaboration with experimental PhD study with neuronal networks developing in vitro using electrophysiology, fluorescence imaging, optogenetic manipulation, and morphometric analyses. Insights from in-vitro experiments will help constrain biologically plausible and interpretable models consistent with quantitative measurements from these networks.

Techniques

Mathematical modeling, numerical simulations
Dynamical systems analysis, control theory
Stochastic methods for modeling biological systems
Network science for modeling and analysis
Signal/ Image Processing
Statistical data analysis

Academic Background

Since 10/2023: Doctoral student in Computational Neuroscience, University of Freiburg
2021-2023: M.Sc. Quantitative Biology, University of Montpellier, France
2014-2019: B.Sc. Applied Physics, University of the Philippines-Diliman

Research Positions

2023-Present: Doctoral Researcher, Biomicrotechnology, University of Freiburg
2023: Visiting Scientist, Quantitative Life Sciences Section, The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste Italy
2022: Research Intern, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, University of Montpellier, France
2016-2019: Student Researcher, Instrumentation Physics Laboratory, National Institute of Physics - University of the Philippines, Diliman