Neuroscience Career Path event
A world full of opportunities: What career paths for neuroscientists?
“Why do I do what I do and what did I do to do it”?
This symposium is dedicated to students and early career scientists: 3 speakers that are currently working in various sectors outside academia (such as business, pharma, publishing, etc.) will reveal during short talks and informal meet & greet discussions how their neuroscience academic background successfully contributed to their career-paths. They will share which moments they experienced as decisive for choosing their career tracks and how they dealt with these possibly intimidating situations.
The event is organised by the FENS Committee for Higher Education and Training (CHET).
Chair: Dirk Schubert, (The Netherlands), Chair of the FENS Committee on Higher Education and Training (CHET), Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen
Speakers:
Ane Charlotte Christensen, Medical Advisor at MSD, Norway
Dr. Ane Charlotte Christensen is a medical advisor in oncology at MSD, where she leverages her expertise to bring innovative cancer therapies to patients in Norway. She conducted her doctoral research in Neuroscience at the University of Oslo, utilizing in-vivo electrophysiology and optogenetics in rodent models to investigate the functional activity of neurons during navigation. Utilizing and experimental and exploratory approach, her basic research has helped improve our understanding of neuronal plasticity and development of the navigational system.
Charlotte holds a master’s degree in molecular biology and a PhD in Neurophysiology from the University of Oslo. In 2022, she transitioned from postdoctoral research to her current role as a medical advisor in oncology at MSD Norway. MSD is a global pharmaceutical company committed to saving and improving lives around the world. With a diverse portfolio that encompasses oncology therapies and vaccines, MSD significantly contributes to clinical research in Norway. By collaborating with healthcare professionals and institutions, MSD contributes to the advancement of new treatments, ensuring that patients can access the latest therapeutic options and benefit from innovative research.
Plinio Casarotto, Deputy Editor at Cell Press, Denmark
Dr. Plinio Casarotto is a neuropharmacologist from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. He conducted research developing modulators of brain plasticity at the University of Helsinki, Finland, focusing on novel therapeutic strategies for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. With extensive experience in neuroscience and drug development, he has authored numerous high-impact publications and contributed to advancing the understanding of brain plasticity. Currently, Dr. Casarotto serves as a Deputy Editor at Cell Press, where he supports the dissemination of research in neuroscience and pharmacology, while continuing to develop the publication of studies in strategic therapeutic areas in Cell Press journal portfolio.
Klas Petterson, CEO at NORA.ai, Norway
Klas Pettersen is the CEO of NORA – Norwegian Artificial Intelligence Research Consortium, a collaboration between eight Norwegian universities, five university colleges, and four research institutes within artificial intelligence. NORA’s mission is to strengthen Norwegian research, education, and innovation within AI.
Klas received his Master of Science (siv. ing.) degree in Physics from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, where he studied quantum mechanics and the theory of relativity. He then turned to neuroscience and received a PhD in computational neuroscience in 2007 from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU).
After his PhD Klas worked as a postdoctoral researcher and research scientist within computational neuroscience at The Norwegian University of Life Sciences, at the University of Oslo, and as a Visiting Scholar at the University of California San Diego. Klas also worked as a consultant within informatics for a major international consulting company. Since NORA.ai was established in 2019 he has been the CEO of NORA.