since 4/2023 – Postdoctoral researcher at Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg (Oldenburg, Germany), Animal Navigation Group, funded by ERC Synergy grant ‘QuantumBirds’

11/2022 – 4/2023 – Researcher at Orbeli Institute of Physiology NAS RA (Yerevan, Armenia), Laboratory of Toxinology and Molecular Systematics

11/2017 – 2/2023 – Doctoral Researcher in Biological Sciences (Physiology),
Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry RAS (St.Petersburg, Russia), Laboratory of Evolution of Sense Organs

Thesis “Sensitivity and kinetics of rods and cones: an evolutionary aspect” (defense in progress)
Supervisor: Dr. Michael Firsov, Head of Laboratory of Evolution of Sense Organs

7/2015 – 11/2017 – Laboratory Trainee/Laboratory Assistant at Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry RAS (St.Petersburg, Russia), Laboratory of Evolution of Sense Organs

10/2013 – 6/2015 – Laboratory Trainee at the Institute of Experimental Medicine (St.Petersburg, Russia), Laboratory of Neurobiology of Integrative Brain Functions

9/2015 – 7/2017 – Master’s student in Physics (Biophysics), Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University (St.Petersburg, Russia)

Thesis: “Origins of the photoresponse delay in vertebrate rods and cones”

9/2011 – 6/2015 – Bachelor’s student in Physics (Biochemical physics), Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University (St.Petersburg, Russia)

Thesis: “NMDA and AMPA receptors in the brain after neonatal pathology”

20 publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Selected publications:

Nikolaeva DA, Nekrasova MA, Rotov AY, Astakhova LA. Adaptation memory in photoreceptors: different mechanisms in rods and cones // Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. 2023. 16:1135088.

Rotov A.Yu., Goriachenkov A.A., Cherbunin R.V., Firsov M.L., Chernetsov N., Astakhova, L.A. Magnetoreceptory Function of European Robin Retina: Electrophysiological and Morphological Non-Homogeneity // Cells. 2022. V.11(19), P.3056

Astakhova L.A., Novoselov A.D., Ermolaeva M.E., Firsov M.L., Rotov A.Yu. Phototransduction in Anuran Green Rods: Origins of Extra-Sensitivity // International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021. V.22(24), P.13400

Astakhova L.A., Rotov A.Y., Cherbunin R.V., Goriachenkov A.A., Kavokin K.V., Firsov M.L., Chernetsov N.  Electroretinographic study of the magnetic compass in European robins // Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 2020. V.287(1940), P.20202507

Zubareva O.E., Postnikova T.Y., Grifluk A.V., Schwarz A.P., Smolensky I.V., Karepanov A.A., Vasilev D.S., Veniaminova E.A., Rotov A.Yu., Kalemenev S.V., Zaitsev A.V. Exposure to bacterial lipopolysaccharide in early life affects the expression of ionotropic glutamate receptor genes and is accompanied by disturbances in long-term potentiation and cognitive functions in young rats // Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2020. V.90, P.3-15

Rotov A.Y., Cherbunin R.V., Anashina A.D., Kavokin K.V., Chernetsov N., Firsov M.L., Astakhova L.A. Searсhing for magnetic compass mechanism in pigeon retinal photoreceptors // PLoS ONE. 2020. V.15(3), e0229142

Govardovskii V.I., Rotov A.Y., Astakhova L.A., Nikolaeva D.A., Firsov M.L. Visual cells and visual pigments of the river lamprey revisited // Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology. 2020. V.206(1), P.71-84

Govardovskii V.I., Astakhova L.A., Rotov A.Y., Firsov M.L. Rejection of the biophoton hypothesis on the origin of photoreceptor dark noise // The Journal of general physiology. 2019. V.151(7), P.887-897

Rotov A.Y., Astakhova L.A., Firsov M.L., Govardovskii V.I. Origins of the phototransduction delay as inferred from stochastic and deterministic simulation of the amplification cascade // Molecular vision. 2017. V.23, P. 416

10/2022 – “Visionarium XX” Symposium, Tvarminne, Finland

9/2022 – Conference “Processing and integration of information in sensory systems: from an external signal to a complex image”, Moscow, Russia (online)

12/2021 – “Integrative Physiology” Conference with International Participation, St.Petersburg, Russia (online)

11/2021 – Young Researchers Symposium “Magnetoreception & Navigation”, Oldenburg, Germany (online)

5/2021 – International Conference “Receptors and Intracellular Signaling”, Pushchino, Russia

10/2019 – 2nd Scientific Conference "Orientation and navigation of animals", Moscow, Russia

9/2019 – “Visionarium XVIII” Symposium, Tvarminne, Finland

9/2018 – “Visionarium XVII” Symposium, Tvarminne, Finland

4/2018 – “Optogenetics & Optopharmacology” Conference, St.Petersburg, Russia

9/2017 – “Visionarium XVI” Symposium, Tvarminne, Finland

2021, 2022 – I.M. Sechenov scholarship contest of young researchers’ studies at Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry RAS – Scholarship holder

2018, 2019, 2021 – Grants competition for students and graduate students of Universities, Industry and Academic Institutions of St. Petersburg – Scholarship holder

2016, 2017 – L.A. Orbeli scholarship contest of students’ projects at Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry RAS – Scholarship holder