Jan Zerfowski

Neuroscientist, research assistant, student and dancing teacher
Investigating Optically Pumped Magnetometers (OPMs) for BCI control

Personal details

Email info@janzerfowski.de
github github.com/jzerfowski/
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/jan-zerfowski/

10/2020 - present Master's Student Clinical Neurotechnology Lab at Charité Berlin (Germany) Master's thesis project researching the use of optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) for exoskeleton hand brain-computer interfaces (BCI)
09/2019 - present M.Sc. Cognitive Neuroscience Radboud University Nijmegen (Netherlands) Master's specialization in Neural Computation and Neurotechnology (Track 4)
06/2016 - 08/2019 B.Sc. Cognitive Science Osnabrück University Osnabrück (Germany) Degree Grade: 1.2 Basic courses in Computational Linguistics, Neurobiology, Psychology Advanced courses in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Mathematics, Neuroinformatics, Philosophy of Cognition Awarded Bachelor's degree for the thesis on: The Role of Feedback in Inter-Areal Communication Mediated by Synchronized Neural Oscillations Studied Using Spiking Model Neurons with Hodgkin-Huxley Ionic Channels (on github)
10/2014 - 09/2016 B.Sc. Computer Science FH Münster - University of Applied Sciences Münster (Germany) Preliminary Grade: 1.1 Dual study program Computer Science, successfully completed 2 years of coursework before switching to Cognitive Science in Osnabrück Attended courses in Computer Engineering, Mathematics for Computer Scientists, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, Theoretical Computer Science, Object-oriented Programming, Operating Systems and Infrastructures
08/2013 - 01/2016 Apprenticeship as Computer Science Expert: System Integration IHK Nord Westfalen Münster (Germany) Grade: 1.1 Awarded with training qualification as Computer Science Expert: System Integration (Fachinformatiker: Systemintegration). The apprenticeship included in the dual study program contains an educational and a practical part and is completed by a project assignment and a presentation.
2013 Abitur (Certificate of general qualification for university entrance) Pascal Gymnasium Münster Münster (Germany) Grade: 1.6
1The German grading system ranges from 1 (best) to 6 (worst)

01/2021 - present Research Assistant Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Berlin (Germany) Scientific characterization and implementation of a real-time pipeline for the use of OPMs from FieldLine Inc.
02/2020 - 04/2020 Teaching Assistant Radboud University Nijmegen (Netherlands) Teaching Assistant for 1st year Artificial Intelligence B.Sc. course "Brain" Organizing regular practice sessions
06/2017 - present Research Assistant Institute of Cognitive Science Osnabrück (Germany) Migration, technical maintenance and support of institute's website Development of a lecture and exam administration system (internal)
09/2018 - 12/2018 Intern CEDETi UC Santiago (Chile) Development of a search engine and updating the inclusive sign language-teaching software Sueñaletras 3.5 Financed through the DAAD RISE program
08/2013 - 08/2016 Apprentice LVM Versicherung Münster Münster (Germany) Administration of Linux Servers (RHEL) Insight into all relevant IT structures and processes of a large insurance company
10/2014 - 03/2015 Teaching Assistant FH Münster - University of Applied Sciences Münster (Germany) Tutor for lecture Mathematics I Organizing and holding weekly tutorial sessions

01/2019 LACONEU - Latin-American Summer School in Computational Neuroscience Valparaíso (Chile) 3 weeks, Special Topic: Complex Systems and Network Connectivity Lectures and Tutorials on Complexity, Criticality, Brain Dynamics Student Project: Training and Evaluating Restricted Boltzmann Machines on Retinal Neuronal Output
11/2017 Conference on Machine Learning Tübingen (Germany) Four-day students’ and junior researchers’ conference, supported by ev. Studienwerk Villigst Talks on theory and applications of machine learning Visit to Max-Planck-Institut Tübingen

2017 - present ev. Studienwerk Villigst Villigst (Germany) Monthly scholarship granted for bachelor’s and master’s studies, comprising financial and ideational support
01/2019 Instituto de Sistemas Complejos Valparaíso (Chile) Financial support for participation in LACONEU summer school 2019
09/2018 - 10/2018 DAAD RISE Bonn (Germany) Financial scholarship granted for internship in Santiago (Chile)

Programming Languages Python, C, C++, Java
Frameworks scipy/numpy, Python Django, Android Application Development
Web Development HTML, CSS, JavaScript, php, Typo3, Wordpress
Other tools Git, LATEX, Linux Terminal, Microsoft Office, LibreOffice

Languages German (mother tongue) English (fluent, C1) Spanish (intermediate, B2)
Communication Skills Experience in holding presentations gained during my apprenticeship and works as a research assistant Personal communication skills gained as a dance instructor
Organizational Skills Organization and realization of various dancing courses and academic tutorials
Hobbies Lindy Hop dancing since 2014, working as a dance instructor since 2017 Bouldering and Climbing, regularly since 2015 Woodworking