A Global Fellowship between Italy and Japan to provide a strong impact on basic neuroscience: Claudia is studying the propagation of sensory information within the barrel cortex and her job attitude is a great example of worldwide research and information exchange.

Claudia Cecchetto is a biophysicist specialized in in vivo electrophysiological recordings from the rodent primary somatosensory cortex. She obtained her PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Padova in 2016, where then she has worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow.

In 2017 she has been awarded a Canon Foundation Research Fellowship and in 2018 he received a MSCA Global Fellowship.

Can you explain your project to us? What are the objectives of your research?

GRACE (high-resolution imaging of the barrel cortex through VSD and LFP recordings) project aims to develop an innovative and advanced dual approach to study the barrel cortex in mice, combining Voltage Sensitive Dye (VSD) imaging and high-resolution electrical recordings. Research will be carried out between Japan and Italy: at OIST (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology) in Okinawa, Japan, during the initial outgoing phase, and at the Department of Biomedical Sciences (DSB) of the University of Padua during the returning phase. The results of research will have a strong impact on basic neuroscience, providing novel insights on the propagation of sensory information within the barrel cortex.

Why did you choose to apply for a MSCA-IF? What do you think a MSCA-IF represents in the career of a researcher?

I chose to apply for a MSCA-IF Global Fellowship to have the chance to spend a period doing research at OIST, in Japan, and then to transfer my newly acquired skills and knowledge to the lab where I have previously carried out my PhD work, in Padua, under the supervision of professor Stefano Vassanelli.

Why did you choose to apply with University of Padua as Host Institution and what tips would you share with a researcher who is thinking of applying for a MSCA-IF?

Padua is a great environment to conduct research, and I think that funding opportunities like MSCA are essential to improve the quality and the level of scientific projects.
I strongly recommend to future researchers willing to apply for a MSCA-IF to participate in the MSCA MaRaThoN, it’s a good opportunity to meet experts and experienced MSC evaluators and to use their tips and advice when writing your project proposal.