Peter Jonas

Peter Jonas is a Professor and the Magdalena Walz Professor for Life Sciences at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA). His research focuses on synaptic physiology, cellular neuroscience, and neural circuit dynamics, particularly in the hippocampus and cortex. He leads the Jonas Group, which investigates how synaptic properties shape higher network functions through advanced techniques like patch-clamp recording, two-photon imaging, optogenetics, and electron microscopy.

• MD, University of Giessen, Germany (1987)

His research interests include synaptic transmission, plasticity, biophysics of ion channels, neural coding, and network modeling. The lab combines experimental and computational approaches to understand how synaptic mechanisms support memory and cognition. Recent work emphasizes nanoscale synaptic architecture, presynaptic function, and multiscale brain imaging.

Recent publications highlight innovations in synaptic physiology, including mechanisms of vesicle release, synaptic nanotopography, and functional connectivity in memory networks. Trends include the integration of molecular, cellular, and systems-level analyses, with a strong emphasis on quantitative and interdisciplinary neuroscience.

• Magdalena Walz Professor for Life Sciences
• Peter Seeburg Integrative Neuroscience Prize of the Society of Neuroscience (100,000 $)
• Member, EMBO
• Erwin Schrödinger Prize, Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW)
• FWF Wittgenstein Award
• ERC Advanced Grant GIANTSYN
• Elected Member Editorial Board, Neuron
• Member, Academia Europaea
• ERC Advanced Grant NANOPHYS
• Adolf Fick Award, Physical-Medical Society, Würzburg, Germany
• Member, Academy of Sciences, Heidelberg, Germany
• Member of the Board of Reviewing Editors, Science
• Tsungming Tu Award, National Science Council Taiwan
• DFG Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Award
• Member, German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
• Max Planck Research Award
• Medinfar European Prize in Physiology, President of Portugal
• BMBF Heinz Maier Leibnitz Award
• DFG Heisenberg Fellowship

Peter Jonas has advised several PhD students, including Silvia Jamrichova, Peipeng Lin, Rebecca Morse Mora, and Priyansha Verma. His research has been supported by major grants, including two ERC Advanced Grants (NANOPHYS and GIANTSYN), reflecting sustained excellence and innovation in fundamental neuroscience research.

The Jonas Group is an active interdisciplinary team comprising postdocs, PhD students, research technicians, and software developers, working on synaptic mechanisms, neural coding, and brain-wide imaging technologies.