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Zurna Ahmed
Professional experience
Researcher, PostDoc,
German Primate Center, Sensorimotor Group of Alexander Gail,
Göttingen, Germany
12 / 2022 - present
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Leading the project "Full-body actions beyond walking," collaborating with machine vision experts to develop a machine learning-based tracking system for free-roaming monkeys.
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Established robust data management and analysis infrastructure tailored to novel data types.
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Mentored students and presented research findings at international conferences.
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Conceptualised and executed an innovative experiment with freely moving rhesus macaques
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Successfully trained and recorded from rhesus macaques with 128-channel wireless electrophysiological recordings.
Researcher, PhD Student
German Primate Center, Sensorimotor Group of Prof. Dr. Alexander Gail
Göttingen, Germany
August 2018 - December 2022
Project 1:
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Led the project "Constructing a novel environment for freely moving rhesus macaques," advancing systems neuroscience.
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Designed and implemented an in-house camera acquisition system using Python for synchronised recordings.
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Seamlessly integrated diverse recording systems into laboratory software.
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Led a dynamic team of 7 scientists within a larger interdisciplinary group of 15 experts.
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Contributed to a large-scale scientific collaboration securing €12.5 million in funding.
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work in progress: publishing in peer-reviewed journals
Project 2:
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Led the project “Neural correlates of action effect anticipation” and development of a paradigm for chair-seated rhesus macaques.
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Developed a specialised software solution for touchscreens and conducted data analysis with Matlab.
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Trained rhesus macaques and conducted 256-channel electrophysiological recordings.
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Analysed data and wrote detailed written reports of research findings and conclusions
Project 3:
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Led research, development, and construction of an innovative haptic device for freely moving rhesus macaques
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Designed and programmed an innovative task for a European project with €4.2 million in funding.
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Led an interdisciplinary team of 4, spanning various fields and skills.
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Trained rhesus macaques and conducted wireless neural recordings with 192 channels.
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Analysed data and wrote detailed written reports of research findings and conclusions
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work in progress: publishing in peer-reviewed journals
Project 4:
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Part of the interdisciplinary and European project “Deep Movement Diagnostics (DeMoDiag)” developing computer vision-based diagnostic tools for movement disorders.
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Designed a modular experimental room with synchronised cameras for precise marker-less tracking.
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Conducted a pilot study involving 13 subjects, validating the diagnostic tools.
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Utilised Python-based machine learning algorithms for data analysis.
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Analysed data and wrote detailed written reports of research findings and conclusions
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work in progress: publishing in peer-reviewed journals
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Internship
German Primate Center, Sensorimotor Group of Prof. Dr. Alexander Gail
Göttingen, Germany
October 2017 - August 2018
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Developed a novel method for custom-fitting and designing cranial implants used in systems neuroscience.
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Created an open-source pipeline for custom design and fitting of implants.
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Published research in a peer-reviewed journal and provided a comprehensive GitHub repository.
Quality and Project Manager
H+H Maslanka
Tuttlingen, Germany
March 2015 - September 2015
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Conducted quality assessment and improvement for process engineering methods.
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Gained hands-on experience in precision mechanics, soldering, and lathe work.
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Executed endurance tests and analysed results for endoscope components.
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Conducted research and testing of novel materials for endoscopy quality improvement.
Project Manager
Karl Storz Endoscopy
Tuttlingen, Germany
September 2013 - February 2014
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Conducted market analysis for competitive products
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Designed and executed experiments using novel materials.
Product Manager
Karl Storz Endoscopy
Schaffhausen, Switzerland
March 2013 - September 2013
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Developed an application tip for a holmium laser light guide for use in Otorhinolaryngology.
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Designed and executed experiments using novel materials.
Education
PhD Candidate
German Primate Center, Sensorimotor Group of Prof. Dr. Alexander Gail
Göttingen, Germany
August 2018 - December 2022
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Degree: Dr. rer. nat.
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Thesis Title: "Neural correlates of action effect anticipation - towards ecologically more relevant paradigms."
M.Sc. in Neuroscience
University of Oldenburg, Lab of Prof. Dr. Jutta Kretzberg
Oldenburg, Germany
October 2015 - September 2017
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Thesis Title: "Intracellular Recordings and Hodgkin-Huxley Model simulation of leech neurons."
B.Sc. in Medical Engineering
Hochschule Furtwangen
Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
March 2011 - February 2015
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Degree: Ing.(FH)
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Thesis Title: "Development of an application tip for a holmium laser light guide for applications in Otorhinolaryngology."
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Computer Skills
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Matlab: Excellent
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Python: Good
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SciLab: Good
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C++: Basic knowledge
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Arduino: Excellent
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Microsoft Office: Excellent
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Fusion 360: Excellent
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Rhino: Very good
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SolidWorks: Very good
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ProEngineer: Basic knowledge
Languages
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English: Fluent in speaking and writing (C1)
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German: Fluent in speaking and writing (Native language)
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Urdu: Fluent in speaking (Native language)
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Hindi: Fluent in speaking
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Italian: Level A2
Awards
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DPZ “Promotionspreis 2022” for the best PhD thesis in 2022, Göttingen, Germany. https://www.dpz.eu/en/news/news/single-view/news/neurowissenschaftlerin-gewinnt-promotionspreis-des-deutschen-primatenzentrums.html
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Young Investigator Award at Neurizons Conference, Göttingen, Germany https://www.neurizons.uni-goettingen.de/
Extracurricular Activities (more details upon request)
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Chair of Organization Team of the Women Career and Networks Symposium
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Team member of sub-team Finances of Women Careers and Networks Symposium
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Participant of the Margaret-Maltby Mentoring Program
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PhD Representative at the DPZ
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Member of Leibniz PhD Network
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Member of GGNB Times
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Co-Chair of Neuroscience Student Body Council at the University of Oldenburg
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Member of the Admission Committee of Master’s Program ‘Neuroscience’ at the University of Oldenburg
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Member of Career Day Neuroscience organization team at the University of Oldenburg
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Member of Department Council at University of Oldenburg
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Member of the Faculty Council at Hochschule Furtwangen
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Member of Buddy Program at Hochschule Furtwangen
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Participation at Dundee Youth Festival
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Teaching Urban Dance
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Invited and conference Talks
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Various invited talks and conference presentations at international events (for more details please refer to corresponding website tab)
Outreach / Science Communication
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Active involvement in public engagement and science communication efforts(for more details please refer to corresponding website tab)
Publications
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Authored papers and conference posters in various scientific journals and conferences (for more details please refer to corresponding website tab)