Jeffrey L. Krichmar

Jeffrey L. Krichmar is a Professor in the Department of Cognitive Sciences and Department of Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine. His academic journey includes a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (1983), an M.S. in Computer Science from The George Washington University (1991), and a Ph.D. in Computational Sciences and Informatics from George Mason University (1997). Prior to UCI, he served as Assistant Professor at George Mason University (1997-1999) and Senior Fellow at The Neurosciences Institute (1999-2007).

• University of California, Irvine (2007-present)
• George Mason University (1997-1999)
• The Neurosciences Institute (1999-2007)

His research focuses on neurorobotics, exploring how embodied cognition and biologically plausible neural models can enhance robotic systems. Key areas include spiking neural networks, neuromodulation, path planning, and interactive tactile robots for therapeutic applications. His work bridges neuroscience, robotics, and cognitive science, with applications in autonomous vehicles, neuroprosthetics, and AI explainability.

Recent publications emphasize spiking neural networks for navigation, neuromodulated attention, and neuromorphic hardware integration. The development of CARLsim, a GPU-accelerated spiking neural network simulator now in version 6.0, represents a major technical contribution. His team's work on socially assistive robots like CARL-SJR targets therapeutic applications for autism and ADHD.

• Scientific Awards
  • IJCNN 2020 Best Paper Award
  • Finalist for Best Student Paper at IJCNN 2018
  • Best Paper Award at IEEE IJCNN 2009

Grants include National Science Foundation funding for neural models of decision-making (2009). His lab (Cognitive Anteater Robotics Laboratory) develops systems that use large-scale brain simulations for autonomous behavior, with applications in adaptive robotics, sensorimotor learning, and neuroethology. Current projects explore neuromodulatory influences on attention systems and cognitive flexibility.