Doorn, Nina PhD
Dr. Nina Doorn
Inst. f. Biomedizinische Technik
Gloriastrasse 37/ 39
8092
Zürich
Switzerland
Student opportunities
I have always been fascinated by questions that sit between disciplines.
To understand the brain, I often find myself thinking like an engineer, a biologist, a computer scientist, and occasionally a clinician. My research brings these perspectives together to study how cellular changes give rise to brain dysfunction in neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders.
I enjoy working with students who are curious, enthusiastic, and not afraid to cross disciplinary boundaries. Whether your interests lie in experiments, computation, or somewhere in between, I'd be happy to explore possible project opportunities together. If you're interested, send me your CV and a short motivation letter outlining where your interests lie, and we can figure out what project will fit your curiosity best!
Background
I obtained my BSc in Technical Medicine and MSc in Biomedical Engineering (both cum laude) at the University of Twente. Throughout my education, I became increasingly interested in the challenge of connecting biology, medicine, engineering, and mathematics to better understand the brain and brain disorders.
During my PhD at the University of Twente, I studied human stem-cell-derived neuronal networks and developed computational models that can infer cellular and synaptic disease mechanisms directly from electrophysiological recordings. My work focused on neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders, including Dravet syndrome and other genetic brain diseases.
A recurring theme throughout my research has been the idea that brain disorders are fundamentally multiscale: molecular changes affect neurons, neurons form circuits, and circuits shape behavior. Understanding these links requires both experiments and computational models, and much of my work has focused on bringing these approaches together.
My research has been carried out in close collaboration with neurobiologists, clinicians, mathematicians, and engineers, and I strongly believe that scientific progress happens when different disciplines meet.
Research interests
My research aims to understand how changes at the level of cells and synapses affect neural circuits and, ultimately, brain disease.
As a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zürich, I am developing human brain microcircuits-on-chip to study genetic neurological disorders. By combining stem-cell-derived neurons, electrophysiology, bioengineering, and computational modeling, I aim to build experimental systems that are simple enough to understand, yet complex enough to capture meaningful aspects of brain function.
More broadly, I am interested in computational neuroscience, neuroengineering, disease modeling, machine learning, and developing more predictive human models of brain disorders.
Publications
Doorn, N., Hassink, G. C., Frega, M., & van Putten, M. J. A. M. (2012). Burst suppression: a default brain state associated with loss of network complexity. Brain, 139(4), 16–17. external page https://doi.org/10.1093/BRAIN/AWAG163
Doorn, N., van Putten, M. J. A. M., & Frega, M. (2025). Automated inference of disease mechanisms in patient-hiPSC-derived neuronal networks. Communications Biology, 8(1), 1–13. external page https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08209-2
Hommersom, M. P., Doorn, N., Puvogel, S., Lewerissa, E. I., Mordelt, A., Ciptasari, U., Kampshoff, F., Dillen, L., van Beusekom, E., Oudakker, A., Kogo, N., Dolga, A. M., Frega, M., Schubert, D., van de Warrenburg, B. P. C., Nadif Kasri, N., & van Bokhoven, H. (2024). CACNA1A haploinsufficiency leads to reduced synaptic function and increased intrinsic excitability. Brain, 139(4), 16–17. external page https://doi.org/10.1093/BRAIN/AWAE330
Voogd, E., Doorn, N., Levers, M., Hofmeijer, J., & Frega, M. (2024). Degree of
differentiation impacts neurobiological signature and resistance to hypoxia of SH-SY5Y cells. Journal of Neural Engineering, 20(6), 066038. external page https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/AD17F3
Doorn, N., Voogd, E. J. H. F., Levers, M. R., van Putten, M. J. A. M., & Frega, M.
(2024). Breaking the burst: Unveiling mechanisms behind fragmented network bursts in patient-derived neurons. Stem Cell Reports. external page https://doi.org/10.1016/J.STEMCR.2024.09.001
Doorn, N. (2024). Unraveling Dravet Syndrome: Exploring the complex
effects of sodium channel mutations on neuronal networks. Science Progress, 107(1). external page https://doi.org/10.1177/00368504231225076
Doorn, N., van Hugte, E. J. H., Ciptasari, U., Mordelt, A., Meijer, H. G. E., Schubert, D., Frega, M., Nadif Kasri, N., & van Putten, M. J. A. M. (2023). An in silico and in vitro human neuronal network model reveals cellular mechanisms beyond NaV1.1 underlying Dravet syndrome. Stem Cell Reports, 18(8), 1686–1700. external page https://doi.org/10.1016/J.STEMCR.2023.06.003
Cabrera-Álvarez, J., Doorn, N., Maestú, F., & Susi, G. (2023). Modeling the role of the thalamus in resting-state functional connectivity: Nature or structure. PLOS Computational Biology, 19(8), e1011007. external page https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PCBI.1011007
Dam-Vervloet, A. J., van Erk, M. D., Doorn, N., Lip, S. G. J., Timmermans, N. A., Vanwinsen, L., de Boer, F. A., van Straaten, H. L. M., & Bosschaart, N. (2020). Inter-device reproducibility of transcutaneous bilirubin meters. Pediatric Research 2020 89:4, 89(4), 770–775. external page https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-01118-6