For his research on memory, Dr. rer. nat. Nicolas Schuck, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, will receive a Starting Grant from the European Research Council (ERC). The grant is an endowment of approximately 1.5 million euros.

Schuck leads an independent Max Planck Research Group "Neural and Computational Basis of Decision Making and Learning" at Max Planck Institute for Human Development and is a member of the ECN.

The grant will be used by Nicolas Schuck to investigate rapid brain activation patterns during sleep and rest phases in the hippocampus. Since the hippocampus plays an important role in human memory, the research team hopes to gain insights into memory retrieval and storage processes.

Besides the research group seeks to understand how the brain extracts and combines relevant information from past experiences and current sensory input in order to make good decisions. Their research focuses on understanding (a) the use of memory and (b) the formation of computationally suitable representations during value-based and spatial decision making.

ERC Starting Grants are awarded to young researchers of any nationality who have gained two to seven years of experience since obtaining their doctorate (or equivalent) and who have a promising track record in research. Research must be carried out in a public or private research organisation established in one of the EU Member States or Associated Countries. Funding (maximum 2.5 million euros per grant, of which up to 1 million euros to cover exceptional costs) is foreseen for a period of up to five years. This year, 408 scientists will receive the coveted grant.

Dr. rer. nat. Nicolas Schuck
Max Planck Research Group NeuroCode
Max Planck Institute for Human Development
Lentzeallee 94
14195 Berlin
Email: schuck(at)mpib-berlin.mpg.de

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Max Planck Institute for Human Development

European Research Council / Starting Grants

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