Tolga Soykan, PhD

soykantolga@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/tolgasoykan


ACADEMIC PROFILE

Scientist with more than 15 years of research experience in molecular neurobiology, cell biology, biochemistry, microscopy and quantitative bioimage analysis.

Experienced lecturer and instructor in bioimage analysis, microscopy and biostatistics, with responsibility for designing and delivering theoretical lectures, practical workshops and hands-on training for MSc students, PhD researchers and senior scientists.

Extensive supervision and mentoring experience, including direct supervision or co-supervision of three PhD researchers and more than six MSc and BSc students in research projects lasting 3–12 months.

Author of first- and senior-author publications in journals including Neuron, The EMBO Journal and eLife, with broad expertise in neuronal cell biology, synaptic transmission and quantitative microscopy.


CURRENT POSITION AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Image Analysis Staff Scientist

Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Berlin | May 2023 – present

·   Provide scientific consultation and training in microscopy, quantitative image analysis and experimental design to researchers from multiple disciplines.

·   Develop and maintain automated image analysis pipelines and scripts for quantitative microscopy.

·   Design and deliver lectures, workshops and hands-on courses in image processing, quantitative image analysis and biostatistics.

·   Advise students and researchers on statistical analysis, data interpretation and reproducible quantitative workflows.

 
Postdoctoral Researcher

Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Berlin | July 2014 – April 2023

·   Co-supervised two PhD projects investigating neuronal endosomes, the actin cytoskeleton and synaptic transmission; resulting work was published in The EMBO Journal and eLife as last author.

·   Developed microscopy-based cellular assays to study ultrafast synaptic vesicle endocytosis and performed quantitative pharmacological screening in cultured neurons; published in Neuron.


Postdoctoral Researcher

Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen | June 2011 – May 2014

·    Conducted interdisciplinary research combining cell biology, biochemistry and structural biology to investigate synaptic proteins.


PhD Researcher

Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine / University of Göttingen | October 2007 – May 2011

·    Designed and conducted an independent research project on inhibitory synapse formation using cell-based assays and confocal microscopy.


EDUCATION

PhD, Molecular Biology: University of Göttingen, 2007–2011

MSc/PhD Program, Molecular Biology: University of Göttingen, 2006–2007

BSc, Biological Sciences and Bioengineering; Minor in Chemistry: Sabancı University, 2002–2006


TEACHING AND ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION

As a staff scientist at the FMP, I regularly act as a lecturer and instructor in microscopy, bioimage analysis and biostatistics. I independently develop course concepts and teaching materials, deliver theoretical lectures, design practical exercises and datasets, and lead hands-on training and discussion sessions. Participants primarily include MSc students, doctoral researchers and postdoctoral scientists. My recent teaching activities include:

Introduction to Image Analysis with FIJI (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
Course lecturer and hands-on instructor for a full-day workshop covering fundamental concepts in microscopy images, image processing, segmentation and quantitative analysis.

Introduction to Biostatistics, FMP Graduate School (2024, 2025, 2026)
Lecturer and instructor for a full-day course covering fundamental statistical concepts, experimental data analysis and practical exercises.

Advanced Biostatistics Workshop, FMP Graduate School (2024, 2025)
Lecturer and instructor for a full-day course on advanced statistical concepts and their practical application to experimental datasets

Biostatistics Workshop, MDC Graduate School (May 2026)
Lecturer and instructor for a two-day course combining statistical theory with guided practical exercises and data analysis.

Microscopy Course for Group Leaders (July 2025)
Lecturer for a half-day course for FMP group leaders and laboratory heads on microscopy principles, experimental design and quantitative imaging.

Introduction to Colocalization Analysis in Microscopy (December 2024)
Lecturer for a focused course on the principles, interpretation and quantitative assessment of fluorescence colocalization. 30 participants.

CytoData Hackathon (November 2025)
Instructor and scientific mentor supporting participants in quantitative bioimage analysis and
computational workflow development.


LANGUAGES

Turkish (Native) – English (Fluent) – German (Advanced)