Fekrije Selimi

Fekrije Selimi is a Researcher and team leader at the Interdisciplinary Center for Research in Biology (CIRB) within the Collège de France, where she has directed the Molecular Regulation of Synaptogenesis in Mice (RMSS) research group since January 2011. Her work bridges molecular neuroscience and neurodevelopmental disorder research through innovative approaches to studying synaptic mechanisms.

Her academic training includes:

• Advanced studies at École normale supérieure
• PhD in neuroscience from University Pierre and Marie Curie (Sorbonne University) under Prof. Jean Mariani, focusing on neurodegeneration in Lurcher mutant mice
• Postdoctoral fellowship at Rockefeller University with Prof. Nathaniel Heintz, funded by a Human Frontier Science Program fellowship

Research Focus:
Dr. Selimi's laboratory specializes in deciphering the molecular architecture of synapses, with particular emphasis on mechanisms governing synapse diversity, formation, and plasticity. Her team pioneered techniques for purifying specific synapse types from mammalian brain tissue, enabling unprecedented molecular characterization. This work has revealed novel pathways with direct relevance to understanding neurodevelopmental disorders and establishing foundational knowledge about synaptic organization in healthy and diseased states.

Her major scientific recognitions include:

• Boehringer Ingelheim FENS Award (2010)
• ATIP-AVENIR grant for independent research leadership (2011)
• ERC Consolidator Grant for advanced research (2016)

She maintains active research funding through competitive European and national grants that support her team's investigation of synaptic mechanisms. Beyond her laboratory work, she contributes significantly to the neuroscience community as an ambassador for the ALBA network promoting equity in brain sciences and as president of the France Cerebellum Club fostering specialized research collaboration.

The RMSS team operates within CIRB, a premier interdisciplinary research center at the Collège de France that provides state-of-the-art facilities for cutting-edge neuroscience investigations using advanced molecular and cellular approaches.