Enrico Schiewer

Postdoctoral Researcher
enrico.schiewer@unimi.it

MSc Biochemistry, PhD Biophysics

Department of Biosciences
Università degli Studi di Milano
Via Celoria, 26
4th Floor, Building C
20133 Milan, Italy

I obtained broad expertise in both experimental and theoretical investigation of membrane proteins, making use of light spectroscopy, electrophysiology as well as molecular dynamics and quantum chemistry simulations. Starting in the engineering of optogenetic tools from microbial rhodopsins, I shifted my focus on sonogenetics for my postdoctoral studies, using ultrasound to stimulate mechanosensitive channels (MSCs). By designing and combining acoustic technologies and sonication protocols, my work aims to deliver highly reproducable and robust protocols for ultrasound electrophysiology that will speed up the engineering of sonogenetic tools. Specifically, MSCs such as the mammalian K2P channels TREK and TRAAK are potent candidates to design depolarizing or hyperpolarizing variants for remote control of neurons in neuroscience.