Sandra Siegert

Professor Sandra Siegert is a tenured faculty member at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), leading the Neuroscience Lab since her promotion in 2023. She joined ISTA as an ERC-funded Assistant Professor in 2015 after postdoctoral training at MIT, focusing on microglia-neuron interactions and therapeutic innovation for mental health disorders.

Her academic foundation includes:

• Diplom in Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main (2005)
• Ph.D. in Neurobiology, Friedrich Miescher Institute (FMI), Basel (2010)

Siegelert's research pioneers the discovery that 60-Hz light reduces perineuronal nets, enabling novel noninvasive therapies for mental health conditions. Her lab integrates neuroimmunology, technology development, and translational medicine, resulting in patent applications and the spin-off company Syntropic Medical GmbH. This work bridges fundamental neuroscience with clinical applications through ERC-funded initiatives.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• HFSP and SNSF Postdoctoral Fellowships
• ERC Starting Grant (2015)
• ERC Proof of Concept Award (2023)

As a group leader since 2015, Siegert has developed a mentorship philosophy centered on transparency, individualized career development, and conflict resolution. Her leadership evolved through formal training and practical experience transitioning from bench researcher to PI, emphasizing team motivation and scientific excellence. The Neuroscience Lab maintains strong industry-academia connections through Syntropic Medical GmbH, accelerating therapeutic translation while sustaining fundamental research.

The lab operates at ISTA's Klosterneuburg campus with resources from competitive grants, supporting interdisciplinary work on brain-immune interactions and light-based neuromodulation therapies.