David Kappel

Dr. David Kappel leads the Sustainable Machine Learning research group at the Institute of Neuroinformatics (INI), part of the Faculty of Computer Science at Ruhr-University Bochum. Previously, he held postdoctoral positions at the University of Göttingen (with Christian Tetzlaff) and TU Dresden (with Christian Mayr). His research focuses on the intersection of computational neuroscience and machine learning, emphasizing sustainable AI and neuro-inspired systems.

Research interests include: sustainable ML, computational neuroscience, neural networks, reinforcement learning, and neuromorphic engineering. His work explores mechanisms underlying deep neural networks, synaptic working memory, and efficient recurrent architectures. Recent projects include frameworks like CoBeL-RL for neuroscience-oriented simulations and studies on transformer-based vision models.

Notable publications span topics such as memristive device applications, sparse backpropagation optimization, and behavioral modeling in reinforcement learning. He has advised master's theses on spatial working memory, reinforcement learning agents, and Monte Carlo tree search algorithms. The INI, his host institution, bridges natural cognition insights with artificial systems design, drawing from experimental psychology, machine learning, and robotics.

Lab/Team: Member of the Institute of Neuroinformatics, leading the Sustainable Machine Learning group. Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to advance AI sustainability and neurocomputational models.