Niko Komin, Theoretical Physicist, Science Journalist Email: nkomin ATT snafu D0T de Twitter: kokemikal Founder and author of Laika und Freunde (German)
Niko Komin studied theoretical physics in Berlin and worked at the interface of physics with biology and medicine, always with a strong take on computational methods. Science is an important part of the modern world. Niko is convinced that the communication between science and society is a key to prosperity of both. Knowledge is power, transparency creates trust. With this in mind he founded the website “Laika und Freunde” in 2017.
His master thesis looked at the seemingly random motion of water fleas, his PhD thesis investigated the circadian rhythm, drug absorption mechanisms and so-called phase transitions: big changes due to small perturbations. As a postdoctoral researcher Niko modelled organ regrowth and the details of brain energy supply.
2013 – 2017
- research associate with Alexander Skupin at LCSB (Belval, Luxembourg)
- visiting scientist with Mark Ellisman at UCSD (San Diego, California)
- research topics: brain energy metabolism, mitochondrial dynamics, neurodegenerative diseases
2011 – 2012
- scientific employee with Tobias Preusser at Fraunhofer MEVIS (Bremen, Germany)
- research topics: tumour and organ growth, blood circulation in capillaries
2005 – 2010
- PhD student with Raúl Toral at IFISC/UIB (until 2007 IMEDEA), in Palma, Spain
- thesis: “Phase transitions induced by diversity and examples in biological systems”
- funded by a scholarship of the Government of the Balearic Islands
- research topics: phase transitions, synchronization, circadian rhythms, diversity
1997 – 2004
- theoretical physics studies at Humboldt University (Berlin, Germany)
- master thesis with Lutz Schimansky-Geier, thesis: “Aktive Bewegung Biologischer Agenten am Beispiel der Daphnien“ (German, download English summary slides )
- research topics: Brownian motion, noise, zooplankton
peer reviewed publications
- Komin, Skupin: “How to address cellular heterogeneity by distribution biology” Current Opinion in Systems Biology, Volume 3, Pages 154-160 (2017)
- 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
- 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.