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Hire Dr. Marija F.

United Kingdom

USD 150 /hr

Neuroscientist & Data analyst with 10+ years of experience in scientific research, project management and publishing

Profile Summary

Experienced neuroscientist with over a decade of expertise in human stem cell models of basal ganglia function, synaptic signalling, and molecular mechanisms in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Specialising in striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs), midbrain dopamine neurons, and cortico-striatal networks using integrated approaches including stem cell differentiation, genetic manipulation (e.g., CRISPR), transcriptomics, and functional assays. Proven track record in securing grants, leading interdisciplinary projects, and translating research into therapeutic insights. Skilled in consultancy-relevant areas such as data analysis, protocol development, scientific writing, and team mentoring. Seeking consultancy opportunities in neuroscience, biotech, pharma, or related fields to provide expert advice on disease modelling, drug target identification, data analysis and research strategy.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ★ Stem Cell Research
• ★ Neuroscience
• ★ Gene & Protein Expression Analysis
• ☆ Biostatistics
• ☆ Biochemistry
• ☆ Immunoassay
• ☆ Biochemical Assays
• ☆ Oxidative Stress & Mitochondrial Function
• ☆ Molecular Biology
• ☆ Omics
• ☆ Transcriptomics
• ☆ PCR
• ☆ Molecular Cloning
• ☆ Gene Expression Analysis
• ☆ Cell Biology
• ☆ Cell-Based Assays
• ☆ Cell Signaling Pathways
• ☆ Neuropharmacology
• ☆ Molecular Neuroscience
• ☆ Neurobiology
• ☆ Data Analysis
• ☆ Data Visualization
• ☆ Artificial Intelligence
• ☆ Statistics
• ☆ Study Design
• ☆ Bioinformatics
• ☆ Cell Culture
• ☆ Cell Line Engineering
• ☆ 3D Cell Culture
• ☆ Biomolecular Engineering
• ☆ Gene Editing/CRISPR
• ☆ Blotting
• ☆ Immunohistochemistry
• ☆ R

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Data & AI

Writing Medical Writing, Technical Writing

Research Fact Checking, Gap Analysis, Scientific and Technical Research, Systematic Literature Review

Consulting Healthcare Consulting, Scientific and Technical Consulting

Data & AI Statistical Analysis, Data Visualization, Data Mining, Data Processing

Work Experience

Lecturer/Academic

Cardiff University School of Medicine

January 2024 - Present

Lecturer in Cellular Psychiatry

Cardiff University

January 2024 - Present

Postdoctoral Researcher (Research Associate)

Cardiff University School of Medicine

January 2020 - December 2023

Post-doctoral Researcher

Cardiff University

November 2013 - December 2023

Postdoctoral Researcher (Research Associate)

Cardiff University School of Biosciences

May 2018 - April 2021

Postdoctoral Researcher (Research Associate)

Cardiff University School of Biosciences

November 2013 - April 2018

Education

PhD in Neuroscience

Cardiff University

October 2009 - September 2013

Certifications

• Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy

  Higher Education Academy

  February 2024 - Present

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Marija Fjodorova, Abrar Hakami, Sebastiano Antonio Rizzo, Oliver J.M. Bartley, Rachel Hills, Sophie V. Precious, Timothy Ostler, Majed Alghamdi, Anne E. Rosser, Emma L. Lane, et al. (2025). Graft ischemia post cell transplantation to the brain: Glucose deprivation as the primary driver of rapid cell death . Neurotherapeutics.

Marija Fjodorova, Zoe Noakes, Daniel C. De La Fuente, Adam C. Errington, Meng Li (2023). Dysfunction of cAMP–Protein Kinase A–Calcium Signaling Axis in Striatal Medium Spiny Neurons: A Role in Schizophrenia and Huntington’s Disease Neuropathology . Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science.

Marija Fjodorova, Zoe Noakes, Meng Li(2020). A role for TGFβ signalling in medium spiny neuron differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells . Neuronal Signaling. 4. (2). Portland Press Ltd.

Fjodorova, M., Louessard, M., Li, Z., De La Fuente, D.C., Dyke, E., Brooks, S.P., Perrier, A.L., Li, M.(2019). CTIP2-Regulated Reduction in PKA-Dependent DARPP32 Phosphorylation in Human Medium Spiny Neurons: Implications for Huntington Disease . Stem Cell Reports. 13. (3). p. 448-457.

Marija Fjodorova, Eduardo M Torres, Stephen B Dunnett(2017). Transplantation site influences the phenotypic differentiation of dopamine neurons in ventral mesencephalic grafts in Parkinsonian rats . Experimental Neurology. 291. p. 8--19. Elsevier {BV}

Fjodorova, M., Torres, E.M., Dunnett, S.B.(2017). Transplantation site influences the phenotypic differentiation of dopamine neurons in ventral mesencephalic grafts in Parkinsonian rats . Experimental Neurology. 291. p. 8-19.

Arber, C., Precious, S.V., Cambray, S., Risner-Janiczek, J.R., Kelly, C., Noakes, Z., Fjodorova, M., Heuer, A., Ungless, M.A., Rodríguez, T.A., et al.(2015). Activin a directs striatal projection neuron differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells . Development (Cambridge). 142. (7). p. 1375-1386.

Coulson, J.M., Murphy, K., Harris, A.D., Fjodorova, M., Cockcroft, J.R., Wise, R.G.(2015). Correlation between baseline blood pressure and the brainstem FMRI response to isometric forearm contraction in human volunteers: A pilot study . Journal of Human Hypertension. 29. (7). p. 449-455.

Noakes, Z., Fjodorova, M., Li, M.(2015). Deriving striatal projection neurons from human pluripotent stem cells with activin a . Neural Regeneration Research. 10. (12). p. 1914-1916.

Fjodorova, M., Noakes, Z., Li, M.(2015). How to make striatal projection neurons . Neurogenesis. 2. (1).

Kirov, G., Pocklington, A.J., Holmans, P., Ivanov, D., Ikeda, M., Ruderfer, D., Moran, J., Chambert, K., Toncheva, D., Georgieva, L., et al.(2012). De novo CNV analysis implicates specific abnormalities of postsynaptic signalling complexes in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia . Molecular Psychiatry. 17. (2). p. 142-153.

OTHER

Marija Fjodorova, Zoe Noakes, Daniel C. De La Fuente, Adam C. Errington, Meng Li(2021). Dysfunction of cAMP-PKA-calcium signaling axis in striatal medium spiny neurons: a role in schizophrenia and Huntington’s disease pathogenesis . Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

BOOK CHAPTER

Fjodorova, M., Li, M.(2018). Robust induction of DARPP32-expressing gabaergic striatal neurons from human pluripotent stem cells . Methods in Molecular Biology. 1780. p. 585-605.