Neuroverse 9. A Podcast by Neuroverse: Tools for Looking into the Brain - Probing at Maternal Behaviour and Finding Purpose in Science (with Dr. Silvana Valtcheva)
About the episode
In the ninth episode of Tools for Looking into the Brain, created in collaboration with Neuroverse, Clara and Carolina are joined by Dr. Silvana Valtcheva—a brilliant researcher, Scientifica customer, and group leader at the Max Planck Institute in Cologne—who investigates the neural basis of maternal behaviour. They talk about her scientific journey from studying synaptic plasticity to exploring the complexities of postpartum behaviour in living animals. The conversation also touches on navigating the stages of academia and where meaning and motivation fit into science.
Now leading her own lab, equipped with tools including the Scientifica SliceScope Pro 6000 System, Silvana shares insights into the research questions and the values that drive her work.
About Dr. Silvana Valtcheva
Dr. Silvana Valtcheva is a principal investigator at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research in Cologne, Germany. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a Master’s degree in Neuroscience, and completed her PhD with Prof. Laurent Venance in Paris, where she explored activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, the role of astrocytes, and developmental regulation of plasticity.
She then joined the lab of Prof. Robert Froemke in New York City as a postdoctoral fellow, investigating the neural pathways and synaptic mechanisms involved in maternal detection of offspring vocalisations. Since establishing her own lab in 2022, Dr. Valtcheva has been leading research into the neural circuits and plasticity mechanisms that shape sensory perception and hormonal release in the postpartum brain—key processes that drive maternal behaviour.
Dr. Silvana Valtcheva, principal investigator at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research in Cologne, Germany.
About Carolina and Clara
Carolina and Clara are both neuroscientists and curious about the world and our perception of it. Their love for exploring ideas and bridging connections across various disciplines drew them to the interdisciplinary field of neuroscience. Together, they established Neuroverse as a platform for exploring and sharing ideas within and beyond neuroscience. Their goal is to create content that is accessible and engaging for both scientists and non-scientists alike.
Neuroverse Hosts, Carolina Soares and Clara Lenherr
The podcast series
In collaboration with Neuroverse, this podcast series, "Tools for Looking into the Brain," is dedicated to creating engaging and informative content exploring various techniques used by researchers in neuroscience (with a focus on electrophysiology), as well as general advice on navigating the world or research. Throughout this series, we'll have special guest appearances, offering valuable insights and perspectives from experts in the field.
Scientifica SliceScope Pro 6000
The SliceScope Pro 6000 is a full electrophysiology rig with a static microscope that enables in vitro and in vivo studies, including advanced imaging such as two-photon and confocal.
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