Helena Maria (Linda) Olsthoorn

EDUCATION

College / University

University College Roosevelt, Utrecht University

Highest Degree

Bachelor of Science (Hon.)

Major Subjects

Life Sciences and Cognitive Science

Country

The Netherlands

Lab Experience

Basic techniques in molecular and cellular biology, western blotting, gel electrophoresis, DNA extraction, in situ hybridization, cryosectioning, immunohistochemistry, fluorescent microscopy. Animal models: Mouse and Avian embryo.

Projects / Research

Dec 2014 – May 2015: The Pathological Mechanism underlying Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, exploring the loss-of-function hypothesis in ALS caused by C9orf72 and the role of interactor FMRP and its targets in axonal degeneration by mutant FUS. Dept. of Translational Neuroscience, Prof. Jeroen Pasterkamp, Utrecht University
July – Aug 2014: The Role of ALS-linked Proteins TDP-43 and FUS in Avian Neural Circuit Development. Dept. of Molecular Life Sciences, Prof. Dr. Esther Stoeckli, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Scholarships / Awards

2015 – 2016:

Stipend by the International Max Planck Research School

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND GOALS

The molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurological disorders, for example ALS, are one of my main scientific interests. Being able to break down the mystical nervous system in molecular and cellular mechanisms which (partly) explain these disorders motivates me to discover what else is there that we do not understand yet. The interaction of different proteins with each other and in different situation is an important part of this and that fascinates me tremendously as well.