Manuel Rico Fernández San Silvestre, MD
Incoming Systems Neuroscience PhD Student, University of Oxford
manuel.sansilvestre@outlook.com
Bio
I'm an MSc student in Neuroscience at the University of Oxford, supported by a "la Caixa" Fellowship, and I'll be staying on for a PhD in Systems Neuroscience as a Clarendon Scholar and "la Caixa" Fellow. My aim is to understand how brain dynamics support movement and cognition, with a particular focus on the cerebellum. I take a translational view of this work: I want to help improve the quality of life of people with neuropsychiatric conditions while uncovering the fundamental computations the brain performs. I'm also committed to bridging the gap between academia and industry.
During my PhD, I'll investigate cerebro-cerebellar dynamics in cognition and movement using the cutting-edge OPM-MEG technology recently installed at the Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, supervised by Caroline Nettekoven, Mark Woolrich, and Laurence Hunt.
Before Oxford, I trained in medicine at the University of Santiago de Compostela. My long-term goal is to become a physician–scientist and to lead my own research group.
Beyond science, I love spending time in Galicia — my home — surrounded by family and friends. I find calm in observing nature and in practising sport.
Experience
-
University of Oxford 2026 - 2029PhD in Systems Neuroscience
Clarendon Scholar
Supervised by Mark Woolrich, Laurence Hunt and Caroline Nettekoven -
University of Oxford 2025 - 2026MSc in Neuroscience
"la Caixa" Foundation Postgraduate Fellow -
University of Santiago de Compostela 2019 - 2025MD, Medicine
Six-year degree in MedicineMassachusetts General Hospital 2025Clinical Training, Movement Disorders Unit
Trained by Dr. Schmahmann, Dr. Changizi, Dr. Videnovic and Dr. BlackstoneJiménez Díaz Foundation University Hospital 2024 - 2025Final Clinical Rotation in Medicine
With the Autonomous University of MadridPuerta de Hierro University Hospital 2024 - 2025Clinical Research Fellow, Movement Disorders Unit
Ministry of Education Collaboration Fellow
Supervised by Pilar Sánchez, MDCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin 2022 - 2023Fourth Year of Medicine
Top academic record, selected for the Erasmus+ programmeClinical Training, Movement Disorders Unit
Supervised by Patricia Krause, MDCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin 2023Research Fellow in Molecular Neuroscience
Department of Experimental Neurology
Supervised by Josef Priller, MDHarvard Stem Cell Institute 2022Research Intern in Molecular Neuroscience
Only European student in the 2022 cohort
Supervised by Amar Sahay, PhDLSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport 2021Research Fellow
Barrié Foundation Fellow
Supervised by Mónica Gestal, PhD -
IES Rosalía de Castro 2017 - 2019International Baccalaureate (43/45)
Spanish Baccalaureate with Distinction (13.54/14)
Awards
Clarendon Scholarship £180,000
University of Oxford
Covers the fees and living costs of my PhD in Neuroscience
Postgraduate Fellowship £150,000
"la Caixa" Foundation
Covers the fees and living costs of my MSc in Neuroscience and my PhD
Nova 111 student list — Top 10 student in Biosciences in Spain
Top 10 most talented young people in Spain
Celera & Rafael del Pino Foundation
Three-year funded programme to develop my talent
Ministry of Education Scholarship €2,000
Supported my medical school final thesis
Leader of the Future €500
Rotary Club Ferrol
Undergraduate Fellowship €10,000
Barrié Foundation
Supported my research at Louisiana State University and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute
Science and Technology National Award, and Cum Laude Awards (Finalist)
Saint Louis University and Francisco de Vitoria University, Madrid
Formation of inclusion complexes of β-cyclodextrin with different drugs
Publications
Nature Neuroscience, 2026 In press
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 2023
A full and up-to-date list is available on Google Scholar.