Thomas Baden

Thomas Baden is a Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Sussex's School of Life Sciences. He leads the Baden Lab, focusing on understanding how visual circuits evolve to meet sensory and behavioral demands. His research integrates systems neuroscience, computational modeling, and genetic tools, using zebrafish, mice, birds, frogs, and sharks as models.

Education highlights include postdoctoral work at the University of Tübingen (2010–2016) and the MRC-LMB in Cambridge (2008–2010). He became a Professor in 2018 and directs the Sussex Centre for Sensory Neuroscience and Computation (SNAC).

Research interests center on the evolution of neuronal computation in the retina, particularly photoreceptor diversity, spectral processing, and retinal regeneration. Key findings include defining universal photoreceptor nomenclature and uncovering ancestral retinal circuits.

Major grants include ERC Advanced Grants (2024), Wellcome Investigator Awards (2020), and Leverhulme Trust funding. His awards include the Boehringer Ingelheim/FENS Research Award and Fellowship in the Royal Society of Biology.

He advises numerous PhD students and collaborates globally. Initiatives like TReND in Africa promote open science, while Open Labware provides accessible research tools.