prof. dr. R. (Robbert) Havekes

Education and Research experience:

2015- Current Assistant Professor              

Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES),

University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Lab theme: Defining the molecular mechanisms of memory and how sleep loss attenuates these processes.

2012- 2015 Research Associate

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States                                                   

Advisor: Ted Abel, Ph.D.

Topic 1) : Defining the molecular signaling pathways by which sleep loss leads to impairments in hippocampus-dependent memory storage.

Topic 2) : Defining which A-Kinase Anchoring proteins (AKAPs) compartmentalize and orchestrate crosstalk between signaling pathways critical for memory storage.

 

2007- 2012 Postdoctoral Fellow

University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, United States                                      

Advisor: Ted Abel, Ph.D.

Topic 1): Defining the molecular signaling pathways by which sleep loss leads to impairments in hippocampus-dependent memory storage.

Topic 2): Defining which A-Kinase Anchoring proteins (AKAPs) compartmentalize and orchestrate crosstalk between signaling pathways critical for memory storage.

 

2003- 2007 Graduate Student

University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Advisor: Eddy A. Van der Zee, Ph.D.

Topic: Defining how protein kinases and phosphatases contribute to behavioral flexibility and how sleep deprivation affects these processes.

 

1998- 2003 B.Sc. / M.Sc.

University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Advisors: Menno P. Gerkema, Ph.D. and Eddy A. Van der Zee, Ph.D.

Topic: Developing a learning paradigm in which mice have to associate time of day with visiting specific spatial locations to obtain a reward and use this novel paradigm to define the role of the circadian clock and cryptochrome (CRY) clock genes in Time-Place Learning.

Advisor: Eddy A. Van der Zee, Ph.D.

Topic: Defining the function of the protein phosphatase calcineurin in updating outdated memories.

Grant Support and Awards:

2019-2020       National PKU Alliance 

PI: Robbert Havekes, Co-PIs E.A. van der Zee; F.J. van Spronsen

Total Costs: $40,000

Title: "A novel approach to combat cognitive deficits associated with PKU: the role of the protein cofilin, a key player in synaptic plasticity."

This grant focusses on the development of novel approaches to combat the negative impact of PKU on learning and memory formation.

2017-2020      Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Young Investigators Grant 

PI: Robbert Havekes, Co-PIs S.J. Aton, M. Zurbriggen, J. Kim

Total Costs: $1,350,000 ($375,000 sub-award to Havekes)

Title:   “The molecular circadian clock as a causal mediator of sleep-regulated neurophysiology and cognition.”

This grant focuses on developing optogenetic tools to study the role of the molecular clock in the plasticity and memory phenotypes associated with sleep deprivation.

2017                Ubbo Emmius Foundation

                        PI: Robbert Havekes

                        Total Costs: €50.000

2014             Travel award based on scientific merit, the 22nd Congress of the European Sleep Research Society, Tallinn, Estonia

2014             Travel award based on scientific merit, the 9th Forum of European Neuroscience (FENS), Milan, Italy.

2014             Travel award based on scientific merit, Gordon Conference on Sleep regulation and function, Galveston, Texas

2013             Awarded a certificate for reviewing excellence, Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

2013             Poster prize, Molecular and Cellular Cognitive Society (MCCS) meeting, San Diego, CA

2013             Award for best oral presentation, 10th Annual Research Retreat of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology      

                    (CSCN),Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2008- 2014   Co-writer of funded 1R01MH086415, NIMH ($2,581,081)

PI: Ted Abel

Title: Tools to conditionally regulate intracellular signaling pathways in vivo.

Topic: Development of novel pharmacogenetic approaches to manipulate intracellular signaling pathways critical for memory storage.

2012            American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) Travel award to attend and present at the 51st Meeting,    Hollywood, FL

2012             Travel award based on scientific merit, Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA

2012             Award for best oral presentation, 9th Annual Research Retreat of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology (CSCN), Philadelphia, PA  

2012             Sleep Research Society Meritorious award, the 26­­th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, Boston, MA

2009- 2010   University of Pennsylvania Research Foundation Grant, University of Pennsylvania ($50,000)

Co-PI: Robbert Havekes & Ted Abel

 Title:   Novel pharmacogenetic and optogenetic tools for neurobiology.

 Topic:  Developing viral approaches to locally manipulate calcium and cAMP signaling in hippocampal excitatory neurons.

2008            FENS / IBRO Travel award based on Scientific merit, the 6th Forum of European Neuroscience (FENS), Geneva, Switzerland.

2007- 2009   Dutch Rubicon Fellowship Grant, Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), Rubicon Grant #: 825.07.29. 

A total of $93,000 to cover salary for 2 years.

PI: Robbert Havekes

Title: Living in continuously changing conditions: the neurobiology of memory flexibility

Topic: Using pharmacogenetic approaches to modulate cAMP signaling during memory formation, reversal learning and extinction learning and reversal learning

2006            Gratama Foundation Research Grant (grant #: 06.14) $8,000

                   Co-PI: Robbert Havekes, Eddy van der Zee

                    Title: Development of a novel behavioral paradigm to study behavioral flexibility

                    Topic: Developing a new hippocampus-dependent timing task to study behavioral flexibility in aging mice.

Teaching Experience:

2017-current, Coordinator/Lecturer, ‘Brain and Behavior’  University of Groningen

2016-current, Coordinator/Lecturer, ‘Nutrition, Brain Development, Cognition’ University of Groningen

2016-current, Coordinator/Lecturer, ‘Neurobiology’ University of Groningen

2016-current, Lecturer, ‘Brain and Behavior’ University of Groningen

2016-current, Lecturer, ‘Visualisation techniques’ University of Groningen

2015-current, Instructor, ‘Molecular Neuroscience’ University of Groningen

2015-current, Instructor, Lecturer  ‘Introduction to BCN’ University of Groningen

2015-current, Instructor, ‘Behavioral Neuroscience’ University of Groningen

2015-2016,    Instructor, ‘Chronobiology’  University of Groningen

2015-current,   Lecturer, ‘Neuroscience minor’  University of Groningen

2015-current,   Lecturer, ‘Genes and Behavior’ University of Groningen

2014, Lecturer, ‘Systems Neuroscience’ Graduate student course,       University of Pennsylvania

2010-2011,  Instructor Biological Basis of Behavior program courses 399, 499, Part of Neuroscience Honors Thesis Justin Besen, University of Pennsylvania

2009-2010 ,   Instructor Biological Basis of Behavior program courses 399, 499, Part of Neuroscience Honors Thesis Edward Linton, University of Pennsylvania

2007, Lab instructor,  ‘Brain and Behavior’ University of Groningen

2004-2006, Lab instructor,  ‘The Learning Process’ University of Groningen

2003-2006,Lab instructor,  ‘Animal Physiology’ University of Groningen            

2002,Lab instructor, ‘Chronobiology Research’ University of Groningen

 

 

Mentoring Experience (current degree achieved in parentheses):

2016-2016      Lara van Renssen (B.A.)               Master student                     University of Groningen

2016-current   Frank Raven (M.Sc.)                     Ph.D. candidate                     University of Groningen

2014-current   Judith Kreuzmann                         Ph.D. candidate                    University of Groningen       

2014-2015      Olivia Perez                                  Undergraduate student          Swarthmore College

2013-2015      Angela Zhu                                   Undergraduate student         University of Pennsylvania

2010-current   Vincent Luczak (B.A.)                     Ph.D. candidate                   University of Pennsylvania

2010-2015       Alan Park (Ph.D.)                          Ph.D.                                  University of Pennsylvania

2011-2013       Toni-Moi Prince (Ph.D.)                  Ph.D.                                  University of Pennsylvania

2011-2013       Kyle Steven Krainock (B.A.)           Undergraduate student         Swarthmore College

2011                Sean Massa                                 Undergraduate student         University of Pennsylvania

2011                Vibeke Bruinenberg (Ph.D. cand.)   Ph.D. candidate                   University of Pennsylvania

2009-2011       Leonardo Guercio (Ph.D. cand.)      Technician                           University of Pennsylvania

2010                Burcin Acar (M.Sc.)                       Visiting master student        University of Pennsylvania

2009                Andrew Daniels                             Undergraduate student        University of Pennsylvania

2006-2007       Roelina Hagewoud (Ph.D.)              Master student                    University of Groningen

2006                Koen Hogenelst (M.Sc.)                  Master student                   University of Groningen

2006                Pim Weinreder (M.Sc.)                   Master student                   University of Groningen

2006                Anniek Visser (Ph.D.)                     Master student                   University of Groningen

2006                Robert Otten (M.Sc.)                      Master student                   University of Groningen

2006                Kim Middendorp (M.Sc.)                 Master student                   University of Groningen

2006                Paulien Barf (Ph.D.)                        Master student                   University of Groningen

2005-2006       Irma Kuipers (Ph.D.)                       Master student                   University of Groningen

2004                Thomas Bos (M.Sc.)                       Master student                   University of Groningen

2004                Marjan Timmer (Ph.D.)                   Master student                   University of Groningen

2003                Bregina Pool                                  Master student                   University of Groningen