Paolo Bonifazi

Associate Professor at the University of Bologna since 2025, he conducts research in the fields of neurobiology and computational neuroscience. His interests focus particularly on the study of functional and structural connectivity of neural circuits and brain networks, using a multi-scale approach based on complex networks, optical imaging, optogenetics, and both animal and human models. He actively collaborates with clinicians in the study of epilepsy, particularly through the analysis of intracranial data (sEEG) to identify epileptogenic nodes. His current research centers on the role of GABAergic neurons and hub cells in both physiological and pathological conditions.

• Master’s degree in Physics with honors (110/110), University of Perugia (2001) – Thesis in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry (Martinsried, Germany).

• PhD in Neuroscience from SISSA, Trieste (2005) – Thesis title: “Information processing in dissociated neuronal cultures of rat hippocampal neurons”.

• Postdoctoral researcher and scientist at international institutions, including the University of Cambridge, INSERM-INMED in Marseille, and Tel Aviv University.

• 2015–2020: Ikerbasque Fellow at Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute (Spain).

• Since 2020: Permanent Ikerbasque Research Associate.

• Since 2025: Associate Professor at the University of Bologna, Department of Physics and Astronomy.

• Has taught courses and given seminars in Italy, Spain, and Israel on neurophysiology, neural networks, neuroengineering, and computational neuroscience.

• Has supervised numerous Master’s students, PhD candidates, and postdocs involved in international research projects, particularly focused on experimental models of epilepsy.

• Participated in and coordinated research projects funded by national and international institutions (EU, Spanish Ministry of Science, ISCIII, FEDER).

• His research has led to numerous publications in high-impact journals (Science, Neuron, Brain, Nature Communications).

• Major contributions include the study of hub neurons in hippocampal development, the use of optogenetics for bio-artificial communication, and the development of multi-scale models of human brain networks.

• Coordinator of interdisciplinary research groups at the BioBizkaia Institute.

• Responsible for collaborations between international institutions, including the University of Bordeaux and the University of the Basque Country.

• Peer reviewer for international scientific journals in the fields of neurobiology, applied physics, and computational neuroscience.

• Member of national and international scientific societies (e.g., Spanish Neuroscience Society).

• Reviewer for European research grants and high-impact journals.

• Recipient of a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship (EU Horizon).

• Invited speaker at numerous international conferences on epilepsy, neural networks, and neurophysiology (including the Computational Neuroscience Society (CNS) annual meeting held in Florence, July 2025).

• Actively engaged in science communication and the organization of conferences and workshops on neuroscience, complex networks, and neuroengineering.