Profile Details

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Hire Olena D.

United Kingdom

USD 65 /hr

PhD Neuroscientist & Biotech Consultant | Experimental Design, Therapeutics, Research Strategy & Data Analysis

Profile Summary

I am a PhD candidate in Medical Sciences at UCL with 7+ years of hands-on research experience across leading international institutions, including the University of Oxford (UK), University of Alberta (Canada), Max Planck Institute (Germany), KIST (South Korea), and now UCL. My work focuses on developing therapeutic strategies for chronic pain conditions, combining molecular, cellular, and systems neuroscience approaches. I bring deep experimental expertise across multiple biological and translational modalities, including: • CRISPR-based gene editing • Immunohistochemistry and advanced microscopy • Calcium imaging and two-photon imaging • Electrophysiology (patch-clamp & neuronal recordings) • Rodent behavioural models • Surgical procedures in mice • Preclinical therapeutic evaluation • Experimental design and protocol optimisation In addition to my academic work, I contribute to a clinical-stage immuno-oncology biotech and have experience in translational strategy, scientific due diligence, and investor-facing materials. I am highly comfortable evaluating early-stage therapeutic platforms across neuroscience, oncology, molecular biology, and drug development. I can support clients with: – Experimental design & troubleshooting – Data analysis (Python, R, MATLAB) – Scientific & medical writing (manuscripts, grants, reports) – Literature reviews & evidence synthesis – Translational feasibility assessments – Biotech landscape and competitive analysis I combine rigorous scientific thinking with commercial awareness and clear communication. I am detail-oriented, structured, and committed to delivering high-quality work.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ☆ Biochemistry
• ☆ Immunoassay
• ☆ Molecular Biology
• ☆ PCR
• ☆ Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
• ☆ Neuroscience
• ☆ Neurophysiology
• ☆ Behavioral Neuroscience
• ☆ Computational Neuroscience
• ☆ Neuropsychology
• ☆ Molecular Neuroscience
• ☆ Systems Neuroscience
• ☆ Basic Immunology
• ☆ Adjuvant & Antigen Research
• ☆ Microscopy
• ☆ Cryosectioning
• ☆ Light Microscopy
• ☆ Fluorescence Microscopy
• ☆ Statistics
• ☆ Health Data Analysis
• ☆ Immunohistochemistry
• ☆ Python
• ☆ Clinical Trials
• ☆ Clinical Trial Design
• ☆ Clinical Trials Data Analysis
• ☆ Human Biology
• ☆ Neurology
• ☆ Clinical Neurophysiology
• ☆ Parkinson's Disease
• ☆ Precision Medicine
• ☆ Business Strategy
• ☆ Entrepreneurship
• ☆ Branding
• ☆ Marketing Strategy

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Data & AI

Writing Medical Writing, Non-Medical Regulatory Writing, Technical Writing, Copywriting, Creative Writing, General Proofreading & Editing, Translation

Research Market Research, User Research, Meta-Research, Feasibility Study, Technology Scouting, Fact Checking, Gap Analysis, Scientific and Technical Research, Systematic Literature Review

Consulting Business Strategy Consulting, Go-to-Market Strategy Consulting, Digital Strategy Consulting, Healthcare Consulting, Scientific and Technical Consulting

Data & AI Statistical Analysis, Image Analysis

Work Experience

Associate business analyst

Infinitopes

April 2025 - Present

Communications & Marketing Coordinator

Nucleate UK

October 2024 - Present

PhD Student

University College London

September 2024 - Present

Research Assistant

University of Oxford

September 2023 - September 2024

Research Assistant

Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior

May 2022 - September 2022

Research Assistant

Korea Institute of Science and Technology

August 2021 - February 2022

Internship student

Mitacs Globalink Research Internship

June 2021 - August 2021

Research Intern

National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

January 2020 - June 2021

Education

PhD | Neuroscience

University College London, University of London - United Kingdom

October 2024 - Present

PhD in Medical Science (Wolfson Inst for Biomedical Research)

University College, London

October 2024 - October 2028

MSc Neuroscience

University of Oxford

October 2022 - October 2023

MSc in Neuroscience (Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics)

University of Oxford

September 2022 - September 2023

BSc Biology

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

September 2018 - June 2022

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

PREPRINT

Olena Didenko, Matthias Fritsche, Chiara Toschi, Yuliia Shevchuk, Rathi Puliyadi, Antara Majumdar, Rafal Bogacz, Armin Lak (2026). Dorsal striatal dopamine integrates sensory and reward prediction errors to guide perceptual decisions .

Olena Didenko, Marianne Roca, Güniz Göze Eren, Leonard Böger, Wen-sui Lo, Monika Scholz, James W. Lightfoot (2025). Evolution of sensory systems underlies the emergence of predatory feeding behaviours in nematodes .

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Olena Didenko, John N. Wood (2025). Arrestins and opioid-independent analgesia . Cell.