On October 21, 2026, Dr. med. Phil Alexander Köster successfully defended his doctoral thesis at the Institute of Neurophysiology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital. In recognition of his achievement, he was awarded the highest distinction, summa cum laude.
The thesis is based on the scientific publication “Nociceptor sodium channels shape subthreshold phase, upstroke, and shoulder of action potentials”, published in the Journal of General Physiology. The project was conducted within the Scientific Center for Neuropathic Pain Aachen (SCNAACHEN) and supervised by Prof. Angelika Lampert from the Institute of Neurophysiology and Prof. Thomas Stiehl from the Institute for Computational Biomedicine and Disease Modelling with Focus on Phase Transitions Between Phenotypes.
In this study, Dr. Köster investigated the role of nociceptor sodium channels in the generation and shaping of neuronal action potentials. The findings provide important insights into signal processing in pain-sensing nerve fibers and establish a foundation for future research on pain-related disorders.
The team at the Institute of Neurophysiology congratulates Dr. med. Phil Alexander Köster on this achievement and wishes him success in his future scientific and professional career.
Link to publication: Nociceptor sodium channels shape subthreshold phase, upstroke, and shoulder of action potentials
