Maria Lalkovičová

Application of my neuroscience knowledge and skills I have acquired over the past years working on international research projects to the innovative technology of SternTech, focusing on the development of the multimodal human behavioral analysis. Integration of the concepts and approaches of neuroscience to the AI research. Application of neurophysiological and cognitive methods to the multimodal software to estimate changes in human behavior, and also enhancement of the platform with the addition of new neurophysiological tools. My goal is to improve the understanding of the human brain using artificial intelligence and neuroscience.

Studying the effects of ionizing radiation on CNS in rodents using various sources (protons, heavy ions, other stressors). My interests focused on observing the neurophysiology and behaviour of animal models under normal conditions vs. patho-morphological changes in the neural tissue in various regions of the CNS, organ damage, blood abnormalities, general pathophysiology and other pathologies of the experimental animals caused by ionizing radiation. I gained experience in working with several model systems, including mice, rats and Drosophila, and have employed a variety of approaches, such as different staining methods and histological tissue processing protocols and also many cognitive-behavioral methods. With the continuing research of cognition and memory, behavior and stress disorders of animals - also aging groups, my knowledge of psychology has grown deeply.

Another important focus, the pre-clinical application of medicaments, radio- and neuro-protectants for the use in oncological therapy (piracetam, cerebrolysine, semaks, and natural radioprotectors), in hope of possible clinical execution. Along with the research work, as the head of the department my responsibilities involved also coordinating the radiation research of oncological and biomedical projects, pharmacological studies, and also cosmical experiments. Keeping up with ongoing joint projects and managing various international collaborations. This experience allowed me to develop my micromanagement skills and utilize my enthusiasm for foreign languages as well as understanding of human psychology. Furthermore, I was responsible for presenting the current status of experiments, providing regular updates, planning group meetings, compiling annual results and reviews for the directorate and partner institutions, delivering talks and special lectures for international scientific visitors, and mentoring both international and PhD students.