Markus Meister

Markus Meister is the Anne P. and Benjamin F. Biaggini Professor of Biological Sciences at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), within the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering. He holds a Dipl. from Technische Universität München (1980) and a Ph.D. from Caltech (1987). His academic roles include Moore Distinguished Scholar (2004), Hanson Professor (2013–15), and Biaggini Professor (2015–present). As Executive Officer (2017–20), he led the Biological Sciences department.

His research focuses on understanding neural circuits’ functional mechanisms, particularly in the visual system (retina, superior colliculus) and olfactory systems. Current projects explore rapid learning mechanisms, task control dynamics, and the computational principles underlying sensory processing. Techniques include electrophysiology, optogenetics, molecular genetics, and computational modeling.

Key achievements include identifying functional cell types in the mouse superior colliculus, elucidating color vision circuits, and developing neuromorphic algorithms for navigation. His lab’s work bridges basic neuroscience with engineering applications, such as neural recording technologies and prosthetics.

Notable awards include the Moore Distinguished Scholar appointment. He chairs a pan-European COST Action on LGBTI+ social inequalities and leads the SIGN project’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion workstream in screen industries. His lab’s website highlights ongoing studies on visual circuit function and behavioral neuroscience.