Edgar Walker

Edgar Walker, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Washington School of Medicine and a faculty member of the Center for Neurobiology of Circuits and Cognition (CNC). He conducts interdisciplinary research combining experimental and computational approaches to study neural mechanisms of sensory representation and decision-making.

Walker's research focuses on how neurons in the visual cortex encode not only what is seen but also the uncertainty associated with sensory observations. He integrates electrophysiology, 2-photon imaging, and machine learning to analyze neural population activity in primates during behavioral tasks. His work aims to bridge theoretical models of perception with empirical data, particularly testing long-standing theories about probabilistic neural coding.

He previously trained at Baylor College of Medicine under Dr. Andreas Tolias and was a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Fabian Sinz’s lab at the University of Tübingen, Germany. Walker emphasizes close collaboration with experimental labs, informed by his hands-on experience with primate neurophysiology and behavioral training.

Walker was attracted to UW by the strength and focus of the CNC and the diverse academic environment that supports interdisciplinary research. He values the integration of engineering, medicine, and neuroscience in his work and looks forward to mentoring students with varied backgrounds.

He can be reached at eywalker@uw.edu.