Remembering Alessandro Coatti

The Max Planck Institute for Brain Research mourns the tragic loss of former graduate student Alessandro Coatti, who was recently murdered in Colombia.

Alessandro - affectionately known as Ale - joined the International Max Planck Research School for Neural Circuits, the institute’s international PhD program in neuroscience, in 2014. After completing lab rotations, he became part of the Neural Systems Department led by Prof. Gilles Laurent in early 2015. His research project required him to master techniques that were entirely new to him. “He did so with amazing enthusiasm and the kind of naïve excitement and curiosity that science requires,” recalls Laurent. “After a year and a half, however, Ale realized that the often solitary and intensely focused life of a lab scientist did not offer the kind of social and human interaction that was deeply important to him.”

Ale had already shown a strong interest in science outreach, particularly through his involvement in the institute’s programs designed to introduce local schoolchildren to science - using visual illusions, for instance, to explore perception. Seeking a career that combined his passion for science with a more public-facing role, he applied for a position at the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) in London. He was hired - and quickly thrived.

“Though we were sad to see him leave, I was delighted that he had found a path that truly suited his remarkable skills and vibrant personality - most importantly, one that made him happy,” says Laurent. Ale went on to work at the RSB for eight years, first as a Science Policy Officer, later as a Senior Science Policy Officer. He left the organization at the end of 2024 to volunteer in Ecuador and travel through South America.

“We learned of his tragic death yesterday and are still in shock,” says Laurent. “It goes without saying that no one deserves such a monstrous fate—but it is particularly impossible to comprehend how this could happen to someone as friendly, open-minded, optimistic, positive, enthusiastic, and kind as Ale. We are heartbroken for his parents and family, and we can only offer our deepest condolences and sorrow. We will carry his memory with us—his smile, his curiosity, his warmth. This is a profoundly tragic end to a beautiful life.”

This tribute is shared on behalf of the board of directors and colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research.