Dr. Maschi, a neurobiologist, combines his passion for understanding synaptic transmission with advanced biophysical techniques. His research primarily focuses on the mechanisms of synaptic function and dysfunction in healthy and diseased states, spanning molecular, cellular, and circuit levels.
Dr. Maschi completed his B.S. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Buenos Aires, supported by a National Council for Scientific and Technological Research fellowship. His doctoral work focused on RNA-binding proteins and their role in synaptic plasticity. He used Deconvolution Microscopy for 3D reconstruction of dendritic spines and developed computational tools for their analysis.
Dr. Maschi joined WashU Medicine for his postdoctoral training, supported by a McDonnell Center for Cellular & Molecular Neurobiology fellowship. He developed a computationally intensive nanoscale microscopy technique that precisely locates single vesicle fusion events at synaptic active zones. This technique has enabled groundbreaking insights into synaptic transmission mechanisms, revealing the complex dynamics of neurotransmitter release. In addition, Dr. Maschi applies custom-trained deep learning models to study the structural aspects of neurons through electron microscopy, contributing to the structural recognition and classification of data sets.
Currently, as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Dr. Maschi remains committed to advancing our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and leads innovative research in synaptic physiology to explore early synaptic changes that could trigger neuropathologies, including Alzheimer’s disease.