Sebastian Seung

Sebastian Seung is a Professor at Princeton University, affiliated with both the Department of Computer Science and the Princeton Neuroscience Institute. His career spans Harvard University (Ph.D., 1990), Bell Laboratories, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology before joining Princeton in 2014. An External Member of the Max Planck Society and 2008 Ho-Am Prize recipient, Seung merges machine learning with neuroscience.

• Research Focus: Pioneering connectomics, Seung developed technologies for reconstructing neural circuits from high-resolution brain images, including FlyWire for collaborative brain mapping. His work explores brain function, development, and plasticity, drawing parallels between fly visual systems and convolutional networks.
• Awards & Affiliations:
  • 2008 Ho-Am Prize in Engineering
  • External Member, Max Planck Society
• Technical Contributions: Led breakthroughs in 3D connected component labeling and high-throughput EM imaging for mammalian brains, partnering with NIH’s BRAIN Initiative to scale connectomics to whole mouse brains.

Seung’s team has shifted from EM analysis to interpreting connectomes, focusing on neural circuit function and biological mechanisms in flies and mice. His lab alumni network spans institutions, advancing AI and neuroscience globally.