Dr. Yuranny Cabral-Calderin is a Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. She holds a PhD in Systems Neurosciences from the University of Göttingen (2016), an MSc in Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience from the Cuban Center for Neuroscience (2011), and a Diploma in Psychology from Havana University (2007). Her research focuses on neural oscillations, noninvasive brain stimulation, and auditory/visual perception, with a particular interest in neural entrainment mechanisms and brain imaging techniques like EEG-fMRI and tACS. She has contributed to understanding how rhythmic auditory stimulation and transcranial stimulation modulate brain activity and perception. Her work spans both human and animal models (e.g., bats), exploring cortical networks and oscillatory coherence. Awards include the Merit Abstract Award (OHBM, 2015) and FENS-IBRO stipend (2014). She has held postdoctoral positions at the Max Planck Institute, Goethe University’s Brain Imaging Center, and the German Resilience Center, contributing to interdisciplinary research on neural circuits, consciousness, and cognition.
Christof Koch is a renowned neuroscientist serving as Meritorious Investigator at the Allen Institute for Brain Science and Chief Scientist at the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation. His primary research explores the neural mechanisms underlying consciousness, integrating theoretical neuroscience with experimental approaches. With over 300 publications, his work spans neurophysiology, computational modeling, and clinical applications of consciousness research. His research focuses on understanding how neuronal activity gives rise to subjective experience, utilizing techniques ranging from single-cell recordings to large-scale brain mapping. Koch investigates neural correlates of consciousness through integrated information theory and develops neurotechnological approaches for brain disorders. Koch's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on cortical circuit mechanisms, consciousness assessment methodologies, and comparative neuroanatomy. His work combines advanced neuroimaging, electrophysiological techniques, and theoretical modeling to unravel brain complexity. The research consistently bridges fundamental neuroscience with clinical applications, particularly in neuromonitoring and brain-computer interfaces. He leads multidisciplinary teams at the Allen Institute and collaborates internationally, driving innovations in brain mapping and consciousness research. Koch mentors numerous early-career neuroscientists through the MindScope program and various institutional initiatives.
Prof. Simon Musall is an Assistant Professor of Neuromodulation at RWTH Aachen University and Head of the in-vivo Neurophysiology Lab at Forschungszentrum Jülich. His research focuses on understanding how multisensory information is integrated in neural networks to guide behavior, particularly in mice performing cognitive tasks. He employs advanced techniques like high-density electrophysiology and functional imaging to study cortical networks, pathway-specific information transfer, and neuromodulation effects. Key research interests include neural network function, decision-making mechanisms, and neuromodulation's role in information processing. His lab develops cutting-edge neurotechnology, such as flexible neural probes and organic neurohybrid systems, to advance in vivo recordings and closed-loop control. Collaborative projects integrate computational neuroscience with experimental approaches to dissect cortical circuit dynamics and their behavioral correlates. Recent work highlights contributions to spike sorting algorithms (UnitRefine), network dynamics modeling (Riemannian multi-scale decomposition), and enzyme-mediated neurohybrid interfaces. His interdisciplinary approach bridges basic neuroscience with translational tools for studying neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions.
Andreas Nieder is a Professor at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA) in Frankfurt, Germany, leading research within the Department of Neuroscience, specifically the Neural Circuits, Consciousness, and Cognition group. His work focuses on the neural basis of consciousness across species, with groundbreaking research on avian cognition. Dr. Nieder's research challenges the long-held assumption that a layered cerebral cortex is necessary for consciousness. Through innovative experiments with crows, his team has demonstrated that single-neuron activity in the avian endbrain correlates with perceptual awareness, providing empirical evidence for consciousness in brains with radically different architectures from mammals. This work suggests consciousness either evolved before the mammalian-avian split 320 million years ago or emerged independently in different evolutionary lineages. Cognitive Neuroscience Comparative Neuroscience Consciousness Studies Avian Cognition Neural Correlates of Perception Evolutionary Neurobiology His publication record reveals a consistent trajectory exploring how subjective experience emerges in non-mammalian brains. The research demonstrates sophisticated cognitive processing in birds, particularly corvids, with neural mechanisms that parallel mammalian consciousness despite vastly different brain structures. This work bridges neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and philosophy of mind, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of the biological requirements for conscious experience. Nieder's research program represents a paradigm shift in consciousness studies, demonstrating that the capacity for conscious awareness is not exclusive to mammals with layered cortices but can emerge in alternative neural architectures. His findings have profound implications for understanding the evolution of cognition and the minimal neural requirements for subjective experience across the animal kingdom.
Shane Lee is Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery (Research) at Brown University. His laboratory combines intraoperative neural recordings with computational modeling to develop improved neuromodulation therapies for Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. Research focuses on: Biomarker discovery for motor symptoms Closed-loop deep brain stimulation systems Neural mechanisms of tremor generation Quantitative assessment of movement disorders Lee develops novel tools including low-cost movement quantification systems and open-source platforms for imaging analysis in deep brain stimulation. His computational models bridge cellular mechanisms with clinical symptom expression.
Srdjan Ostojic is a CNRS Researcher at the Group for Neural Theory, École Normale Supérieure Paris, leading the Network Dynamics and Computations team within the LNC2 laboratory. His research focuses on understanding neural computations through mathematical modeling and analysis of neural activity recorded from behaving animals. Dr. Ostojic's academic journey includes a PhD from the Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of Amsterdam (2002-2006), followed by postdoctoral work at the Laboratory of Statistical Physics at École Normale Supérieure Paris (2006-2009) and a prestigious Marie-Curie fellowship at Columbia University (2009-2012). His research spans computational neuroscience with emphasis on neural dynamics, network modeling, and the relationship between connectivity patterns and computational function in the brain. He investigates how specific network architectures give rise to computational capabilities through mathematical analysis of recurrent neural networks and cortical dynamics. Dr. Ostojic's publication record reveals consistent contributions to understanding low-rank structures in neural networks, the geometry of population activity, and how network structure influences computation. His work frequently appears in top journals including Nature Neuroscience, Neuron, and Nature Communications, demonstrating significant impact in theoretical neuroscience. Marie-Curie fellowship recipient Active contributor to scientific community practices Regular participant in neuroscience conferences He actively mentors researchers through available internships, PhD, and postdoc positions, fostering the next generation of computational neuroscientists. His laboratory continues to investigate fundamental questions about how neural circuits implement computations through their structure and dynamics.
Prof. Uta Noppeney is a Professor of Systems Neuroscience at Radboud University's Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. She leads research on multisensory perception, integrating behavioral studies with computational modeling (Bayesian, neural networks) and neuroimaging (fMRI, MEG, EEG). Her academic roles include Director of the Computational Neuroscience and Cognitive Robotics Centre (2012–2019) at the University of Birmingham, and Max Planck Research Group Leader (2005–2012). Current affiliations: Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Biophysics Department Previous: University of Birmingham (2011–2019), Max Planck Institute (2005–2012) Research focuses on how the brain integrates multisensory information for perception, learning, and decision-making. Key topics include perceptual inference, attentional modulation, and probabilistic computations. Her work combines Bayesian modeling with advanced neuroimaging techniques to study both healthy and clinical populations. Recent grants include an ERC Advanced Grant (2023) and Turing Fellowship (2018–2019). Her lab actively recruits MSc/PhD students and PostDocs interested in computational neuroscience and multisensory systems.
Matthew Ainsworth is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Oxford, affiliated with The Queen's College. He is part of the Brain & Behaviour Research Group, where his work focuses on understanding the cortical networks underlying perception, memory, and decision making. His research combines behavioral paradigms with advanced neuroimaging (fMRI) and electrophysiology techniques to study neural communication between brain regions such as the temporal and prefrontal cortices. His investigations often involve non-human primate models to explore functional connectivity and neural plasticity following cortical lesions. Key areas of interest include gamma-frequency oscillations, synaptic plasticity, and the role of frontopolar cortex in goal-directed cognition and counterfactual processing. Ainsworth’s work bridges cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging, and neurophysiology, with applications ranging from basic science to translational research in neural rehabilitation. Recent studies highlight his exploration of how ambiguous social interactions modulate the social brain network’s functional connectivity and how low-beta transcranial magnetic stimulation impacts memory processes. His methodologies include innovative tools like the Virtual Electrode Recording Tool (VERTEX) for analyzing extracellular potentials in simulated and biological neural tissues.
Professor Paul Martin of the University of Sydney serves at the Faculty of Medicine and Health , specifically within the Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health department. As a leading figure in Visual Neuroscience , his research at the Save Sight Institute investigates retinal structure/function and pathways for color, form, and motion processing. His work bridges evolutionary neurobiology and clinical applications, focusing on koniocellular ( blue-yellow ) and parvocellular ( red-green ) pathways. PhD in Physiology (University of Sydney, 1986) Director of Research at National Vision Research Institute of Australia (2003-2009) Professorial Research Fellow at University of Melbourne (2003-2009) His research interests include: Retinal neuroanatomy and synaptic connectivity Color vision pathways in primates Neural processing of visual threats Neurodegenerative eye diseases He employs techniques like immunohistochemistry , single-cell recording , and connectomic mapping . Key collaborations span: University of Pécs Medical School (Hungary) University of Washington (US) Vanderbilt University (US) Scientific contributions include over 100 publications and 20+ NHMRC/ARC grants (2000-2025), such as "Structural and functional evidence for glymphatics in human posterior eye" (2019) and "Propagating Neural Waves" (2015). His 2001 Nature paper on peripheral retinal chromatic sensitivity revolutionized understanding of primate vision.
David Brang is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan, specializing in multisensory perception and cognitive neuroscience. His research focuses on how sensory systems interact and integrate in the brain, particularly investigating auditory, visual, and tactile processing in conditions like synesthesia and brain disorders. He leads the Multisensory Perception Lab, employing techniques such as fMRI, EEG, and ECoG to study neural mechanisms. Notably, his work uses electrophysiological recordings from clinical patients to understand tumor-induced neural circuit changes in glioma patients. Brang has been recognized for his contributions, including promotions acknowledged by the U-M Provost’s Neuroscience Scholars Committee. His research bridges clinical applications with fundamental neuroscience, addressing questions about sensory integration, brain plasticity, and disease impact. Education: Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience (not explicitly stated in text, inferred from role). Affiliations: Department of Psychology, University of Michigan; Multisensory Perception Lab. Research Interests: Multisensory integration, synesthesia, brain tumor neurophysiology, electrophysiological biomarkers, and neural circuit remodeling. His lab uses cutting-edge methods like ECoG to study real-time neural activity, contributing to understanding how tumors integrate into neural networks and affect cognition. Recent Focus: Investigating glioma-induced changes in neuronal networks, synaptic connectivity in brain tumors, and functional speech localization in patients. His work also explores how visual speech enhances auditory perception and the neural basis of crossmodal illusions.
Alex Major is a Research Scientist at the Picower Institute for Learning & Memory, part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His research focuses on understanding neural mechanisms underlying cognition, particularly in primate models, with an emphasis on neuromodulation, cortical function, and behavioral neuroscience. Major’s work integrates advanced electrophysiological techniques, including local field potential recordings and neuromodulation approaches, to explore how neural circuits support working memory, decision-making, and rule-based behaviors. His studies often involve combined methodologies such as antidromic stimulation, resting-state imaging, and pharmacological interventions targeting cholinergic and dopaminergic systems. Notable research themes include the role of muscarinic and dopaminergic receptors in prefrontal cortex function, the impact of anesthesia on neural synchrony, and the anatomical basis of cortico-cortical interactions. His findings contribute to translational efforts in neural interface design and understanding cortical organization across layers. No scientific awards or grants are explicitly listed in the provided materials. Major currently advises no graduate students, though his research involves collaborations with postdoctoral researchers and technical teams at the Picower Institute. His laboratory is situated within MIT’s Picower Institute, leveraging state-of-the-art facilities for neurophysiological and computational neuroscience investigations.
Dr. Simon Butt is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at the Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics (DPAG) , University of Oxford, and serves as a Tutorial Fellow at Keble College . His research focuses on neuronal interactions in the neonatal brain and the role of genetic determinants in cortical development. Undergraduate: Biological Sciences, University of Oxford (1996) PhD: Serotonergic modulation in insect motorneurons, University of St. Andrews His work explores: Genetic basis of cortical interneuron diversity Development of GABAergic circuits Role of serotonin in sensory encoding Transient neuronal connections in early postnatal development Cortical network maturation Claustrum-cortex interactions Recent publications reveal expertise in: Claustrum connectivity analysis (2025) Perinatal serotonin-GABA interactions (2025) Two-photon imaging of neurotransmitter dynamics (2024) Developmental origins of cortical projections (2023) Transient interneuron circuits (2016-2022) Scientific recognition: HFSPO Long-term Fellowship (postdoctoral) Brain & Behaviour Award (2013-2015) Major funding sources: Wellcome Trust (2009-present) MRC (2012-2015) OUP John Fell Fund (2011-2014) Human Frontiers Science Program (2008-2012)
Matthew Grubb is a Professor of Neuroscience at King's College London, affiliated with the Centre for Developmental Neurobiology and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience. His research focuses on neuronal plasticity, particularly in the olfactory system, exploring how sensory experience shapes brain structure and function. He leads the Grubb Lab, investigating adult neurogenesis and dopaminergic neuron dynamics. Education: PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Oxford (2004), MSc (2000), and BA (1999). Awards include the BNA Credibility Prize (2022), Wellcome Trust Fellowship (2010), and FENS-Kavli Network membership (2014–2018). He collaborates with institutions like Harvard University and the Earlham Institute. Key projects include studying anosmia mechanisms, neuroregeneration, and activity-dependent plasticity. His lab employs electrophysiology, optogenetics, and imaging to dissect neural circuits. He delivered an inaugural lecture in 2024 ('Nosing around in the changing brain') and organizes events like the IoPPN Research Festival.
Farid Hamzei-Sichani is an Assistant Professor at UMass Chan Medical School in the Neurological Surgery department. His academic journey includes a BS in Biochemistry from Columbia University, an MD from State University of New York Downstate Medical College, and a PhD in Neural & Behavioral Science from State University of New York Health Sciences Center. Primary affiliation: Neurological Surgery, UMass Chan Medical School Departmental colleagues: Peter Amenta, Rona Carroll, Rachael Sirianni, Madhav Sukumaran, Hongwei Yang Research interests focus on Neurology , Neurosurgery , Hemodynamics , and Neural Networks , with particular emphasis on cerebral aneurysms , brain network dynamics , and synaptic architecture . His publications span computational modeling of aneurysm rupture probability, hemodynamic stress analysis, neuropharmacology of speech lateralization, and hippocampal synaptic connectivity. Co-authors include Aaron Remenschneider, Judith Kempfle, and multidisciplinary collaborators in neuroimaging, vascular surgery, and computational neuroscience. His work has been cited over 500 times across PubMed Central, with Science and Neuron as high-impact publication venues.
Herwig Baier is Director of the Department for Genes - Circuits - Behavior at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence (formerly Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology), where he leads a prominent research group investigating the neural basis of behavior using zebrafish as a model organism. His laboratory combines genetic, imaging, and behavioral approaches to understand how neural circuits generate behavior. Dr. Baier received his biology education at the University of Konstanz, completed his doctorate in 1995 under Friedrich Bonhoeffer at the MPI for Developmental Biology in Tübingen, and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, San Diego (1995-1998). He served as Professor at the University of California, San Francisco (1998-2012) before becoming Director at the Max Planck Institute in 2011. His research focuses on understanding how genes, neural circuits, and behavior are interconnected, with particular emphasis on visual processing, decision making, and social behavior in zebrafish. His laboratory has pioneered techniques for whole-brain imaging, optogenetic manipulation, and connectomic analysis in larval zebrafish, making significant contributions to mapping the neural circuits underlying prey capture, escape responses, and social recognition. The lab's work spans molecular, cellular, circuit, and behavioral levels of analysis, creating a comprehensive understanding of brain function. Analysis of Dr. Baier's recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a strong focus on neural circuit mapping at increasingly higher resolution, from cellular to synaptic levels, while connecting these structural findings to behavioral outputs. His work demonstrates how specific neural populations process visual information, make decisions, and generate appropriate motor responses, with significant contributions to understanding topographic organization in the brain and how genetic programs shape neural circuitry. Dr. Baier leads a large, collaborative research team with numerous postdocs, technicians, and students working on various aspects of zebrafish neuroscience. His laboratory has developed critical transgenic tools and methodological approaches that have been widely adopted by the neuroscience community, including optogenetic tools, calcium indicators, and brain atlases that facilitate circuit-level analysis in zebrafish.
