Niko Komin, Science Journalist


Niko Komin, PhD, Theoretical Physicist, Science Journalist
Email: nkomin ATT snafu D0T de
Mastodon: kokemikal@sciencemastodon.com
Languages: DEU ENG ESP
Founder of and author at Laika und Freunde (German)

Water flea schematics (N. Komin Master's thesis)

Niko Komin studied theoretical physics in Berlin. He worked at the interfaces between physics and biology or medicine, with a strong take on computational methods.

Niko researched the seemingly random motion of water fleas, the circadian rhythm, drug absorption, and so-called phase transitions: big changes due to small perturbations. He also developed computer models of organ regrowth and of brain energy supply.

Since 2018, Niko he is a freelance science writer and journalist. He tells stories from all different kind of science. He creates understandable content from complex information.

We are constantly surrounded by science. Everywhere. Scientific research is an important part of the modern world. Niko is convinced that the communication between science and society is key to the prosperity of both. Knowledge is power, transparency creates trust. With this in mind, he founded the website “Laika und Freunde”. Although mainly in German, the blog is beginning to have some content in English.

Freelance Activities

science blogger & science journalist (Photonics Focus, Berliner Zeitung, Science.lu)
ghostwriting, editing, proofreading (RedSam Media GmbH, cerascreen)
data visualization (A-Mark Foundation)
since 2023: board member of the San Diego Science Writers Association (SANDSWA)

Examples

Data visualization

Screenshot of scatter plot — The search for exoplanets

Line plot showing time series of El Niño/La Niña events — El Niño/La Niña (for A-Mark Foundation)

Bar chart comparing drug overdoses — “Why Can’t the US and Mexico Halt the Drugs-to-Guns Pipeline?”

Table showing age groups and their voting behavior — “Want more youth voting? We know what works.”

Dot chart comparing voter affiliation of different US states — “Are Independent Voters Disenfranchised by Primary Election Rules?“

Infographics

Explainer: metabolic needs of human bodies. — Metabolic needs

Explainer: star brightness variation caused by a passing comet. — Exocomet revealed

Explainer: different cell types (triangular, square, hexagonal…) covering an area. — Covering of a map

Maps

Map of gun shops along the US-Mexico border. — Gun shops along the border

Academic writing

Screenshots of selected publications — Peer-reviewed papers

Science journalism

Screenshot of blog landing page — English science blog posts

Screenshot of published article — Berliner Zeitung, German

Copywriting, Editing & Proofreading

Screenshots of business clients' websites — Primetals Metals Magazine for Red Sam Media GmbH

Academic Work

researching brain energy metabolism, mitochondria, neurodegenerative diseases, image processing with Alexander Skupin at LCSB (Belval, Luxembourg), visiting scientist with Mark Ellisman at UCSD (San Diego, California)
researching tumour and organ growth, blood circulation in capillaries as scientific employee with Tobias Preusser at Fraunhofer MEVIS (Bremen, Germany)
researching phase transitions, synchronization, circadian rhythms, (quenched) noise as PhD student with Raúl Toral at IFISC/UIB & IMEDEA (Palma, Spain)
thesis “Phase transitions induced by diversity and examples in biological systems” was funded by a scholarship of the Government of the Balearic Islands
researching Brownian motion, zooplankton, noise as master student (theoretical physics) with Lutz Schimansky-Geier, thesis: “Aktive Bewegung Biologischer Agenten am Beispiel der Daphnien” (original in German, English summary slides )

Peer Reviewed Publications

Komin, Skupin: “How to address cellular heterogeneity by distribution biology” Current Opinion in Systems Biology, Volume 3, Pages 154-160 (2017), preprint: arXiv:2109.06691
Komin, Moein, Ellisman, Skupin: “Multiscale Modeling Indicates That Temperature Dependent [Ca2+]i Spiking in Astrocytes Is Quantitatively Consistent with Modulated SERCA Activity” Neural Plasticity, 2015, Article ID 683490 (Open Access)
Komin, Murza, Hernandez-García, Toral: “Synchronization and entrainment of coupled circadian oscillators” Interface Focus 1, 167-176 (2011), preprint: arXiv:1006.3446
Komin, Lacasa, Toral: “Critical behavior of a Ginzburg-Landau model with additive quenched noise” Journal of Statistical Mechanics: Theory and Experiment P12008 (2010), preprint: arXiv:1009.4631
Komin, Toral: “Order parameter expansion and finite-size scaling study of coherent dynamics induced by quenched noise in the active rotator model” Physical Review E 82, 051127 (2010), preprint: arXiv:1007.4664
Komin, Toral: “Phase transitions induced by microscopic disorder: a study based on the order parameter expansion” Physica D 239, 1827-1833 (2010), preprint: arXiv:1003.1061
Komin, Toral: “Drug absorption through a cell monolayer: A theoretical work on a non-linear three-compartment model” European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 37, 106-114 (2009), preprint: arXiv:0805.3757
Schimansky-Geier, Erdmann, Komin: “Advantages of Hopping on a Zig-zag Course” Physica A, 351:51-59, 2005, preprint: arXiv:0410035
Komin, Erdmann, Schimansky-Geier: “Random Walk Theory Applied to Daphnia Motion” Fluctuation and Noise Letters, 4(1):L151-L159, 2004. preprint: Download