Bernd Kuhn earned a PhD in Physics from the Technical University of Munich, Germany, working at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry. In 2001, he received a prestigious fellowship by the Ernst Rudolf Schloeßmann Foundation of the Max Planck Society. This fellowship allowed him to continue his project at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg, Germany. In 2004, he joined a virology and a neuroscience laboratory as a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA. Since 2010, he is heading the Optical Neuroimaging Unit at OIST.
Bernd Kuhn's work focuses on neuroscience, more specifically, on visualizing neuronal activity during behavior. To achieve this goal he applies methods from optics, virology, physical chemistry, and molecular biology to in vivo imaging. Especially, the development of a method to visualize the electrical activity of the brain has been at the center of Bernd Kuhn's attention since his diploma in 1996. His research has been published in high-profile journals such as Nature Neuroscience, Nature Communications, PNAS, Current Biology, and Science Advances.
Experience
2001 – 2002
Fromherz Lab, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
2002 – 2004
Denk Lab, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
2004 – 2010
Wang Lab and Flint Lab, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
Awards
2001
Fellowship by the Ernst Rudolf Schloeßmann Foundation of the Max Planck Society
2009
Participant of the PENS-Hertie Winter School “Structure and Function of Neuronal Circuits”, Obergurgl, Austria
2009
Participant of the International Talent Program for Life Sciences & Health, Career Site for Bio, Chemistry, and Food, The Netherlands
2018
OIST Student’s Choice Teaching Award
Service
2013-2017
Faculty Council Member, Deputy Chair
2019-present
Faculty Council Member, Vice Chair
2011-present
Safety and Health Committee Member, Vice Chair from 2014-2016
2013-2021
Biosafety Committee Member
2014-present
Laser Safety Advisory Committee Member, Chair since 2020
2011-present
Chair of the Vivarium Operation Committee (VOC)
2014-present
Academic Manager of the Animal Support Section
2018-present
Lab 5 Vivarium Planning Group Member
2018-present
Workshop Committee Member
2019-present
Faculty-Graduate School Liaison Committee Member, Faculty Council Representative
2022-present
RIKEN External Professor Selection Committee Member
2021
Chair of the IMG Section Peer Review Committee
2012-2014
Chair of the Common Resources Advisory Committee
2019-present
Resource Allocation Committee Member
2021-2022
Steering Committee Member of the Bain & Company Project
