Brent Doiron is a Professor at the University of Chicago, holding appointments in the Departments of Neurobiology and Statistics, and serving on the Committee on Computational and Applied Mathematics (CCAM). His research integrates nonlinear dynamics and statistical mechanics to study neural circuit variability, focusing on mechanisms underlying neural coding and network learning through collaborations with experimentalists in sensory systems. Education: PhD in Physics (University of Ottawa, 2004) Postdoc: Center for Neural Science at New York University (2017) Previous Roles: Mathematics Professor at University of Pittsburgh (2007-2020), Co-Director of Neural Computation Program at Carnegie Mellon Neuroscience Institute Research interests center on neuronal population dynamics, recurrent circuit mechanisms, and computational neuroscience. Current work investigates correlated variability in cortical networks, inter-areal communication, and stochastic spiking models. Recent publications emphasize cortical stability/gain modulation, asynchronous/synchronous activity balance, and Bayesian inference frameworks. Key themes include sensory processing, network plasticity, and dimensionality reduction in neural coding. Scientific Awards Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship in Neuroscience Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award (University of Pittsburgh) Active grants include NIH R01 and R90/T90 awards for neuronal dynamics research and computational neuroscience training programs.
Byron Yu is a Professor in Electrical & Computer Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, with affiliations to the Neuroscience Institute and Robotics Institute. He is a core faculty member of the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition. Research focuses on computational neuroscience , neural dynamics , and brain-machine interfaces . Key contributions include dimensionality reduction techniques and neural population activity analysis. Recent publications explore topics such as neural dynamics during motor imagery, BCI optimization, and attentional processing. His work has appeared in Nature Neuroscience , Neuron , and eLife , often as cover articles. Awardees include the Gerard G. Elia Career Development Professorship and AIMBE Fellowship . His lab has mentored numerous PhD and postdoctoral researchers, many now in academic and industry leadership roles.
Belkis Ezgi Arikan is a researcher at Justus Liebig University Giessen , affiliated with the Department of Psychology and Sports Science . Her work focuses on sensorimotor integration, tactile suppression, and neural mechanisms underlying action-outcome monitoring. She collaborates with Prof. Dr. Fiehler and Dr. Voudouris on project A4 (Predictive somatosensory processing during voluntary movements). Department: Psychology and Sports Science Collaborators: Dr. Dimitris Voudouris, Prof. Dr. Katja Fiehler Her research investigates: How the brain processes self-generated vs. externally generated sensory feedback Neural correlates of tactile suppression networks Role of cerebellum and angular gyrus in temporal recalibration Modulation of BOLD responses during action monitoring Recent publications reveal trends in predictive coding , sensorimotor recalibration , and neural suppression mechanisms across tactile, visual, and multisensory domains. Her work employs neuroimaging techniques like fMRI and behavioral paradigms to study self-motion perception and feedback processing. She contributes to understanding how the brain distinguishes self-initiated from external sensory events, with implications for motor learning and perceptual timing mechanisms.
Mayank R. Mehta is a Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), holding joint appointments in the Departments of Physics & Astronomy, Neurology, and Neurobiology. He is a member of the Brain Research Institute and the W. M. Keck Center for Neurophysics at UCLA. His research bridges experimental and theoretical neuroscience, focusing on how neuronal networks encode space-time, the role of brain rhythms in learning and memory, and the impact of sleep and virtual reality on neural dynamics. His recent publications highlight breakthroughs in understanding hippocampal spatiotemporal selectivity, dendritic activity during behavior, and the causal influence of visual cues on memory neurons. Notable findings include the discovery that dendrites generate ten times more spikes than neuronal cell bodies and the modulation of hippocampal theta rhythms in virtual reality. Research Themes: Neurophysics of spatial-temporal coding Dendritic contributions to learning Virtual reality and brain plasticity Neural oscillations in memory consolidation Key Collaborators: Bert Sakmann (Max Planck Florida Institute) Thomas Hahn (Bernstein Center Heidelberg/Mannheim) Maryam Ghorbani (UCLA) Mehta's lab at UCLA trains graduate and postdoctoral researchers in cutting-edge techniques combining hardware development, electrophysiological recordings, and biophysical modeling. His work has significant implications for treating learning and memory disorders like Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Juan Alvaro Gallego is a Senior Lecturer (equivalent to Associate Professor) in the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London's Faculty of Engineering. He leads the Behaviour and Neural Dynamics Lab (Be.Neural), a multidisciplinary team focused on understanding neural mechanisms underlying motor control and spinal cord learning, with applications in developing neural interfaces to restore movement in conditions like Parkinson’s disease and paralysis. His research integrates behavioral experiments, neural recordings, data analysis, and computational models, funded by the ERC, EPSRC, ARIA, and industry partners like InBrain Neuroelectronics and Meta Reality Labs. Research interests include motor control, neural dynamics, and clinical applications of neural engineering. The lab collaborates across systems neuroscience and biomedical engineering, aiming to translate fundamental discoveries into therapeutic technologies. Key areas of focus include neural manifolds, synaptic plasticity in motor learning, and closed-loop neuroprosthetics for tremor management. Funding sources include the European Research Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and industry collaborations. The Be.Neural Lab’s work is showcased on their dedicated website (https://beneural.ic.ac.uk).
Dr. Cassandra Sampaio Baptista is a Lecturer at the University of Glasgow's School of Psychology & Neuroscience. Her research focuses on brain plasticity in adulthood, particularly exploring how experiences like skill learning or rehabilitation influence structural and functional changes in the brain. She employs neuroimaging techniques such as fMRI neurofeedback and MRI to investigate mechanisms of myelin and white matter plasticity. Her work emphasizes translational applications, including stroke rehabilitation and promoting healthy aging. Key contributions include demonstrating myelin's role in motor learning and developing MRI protocols for white matter analysis. She collaborates on projects funded by the BIAL Foundation (2025–2026) and has supervised multiple postgraduate students. Recent publications highlight studies on oligodendrocyte dynamics, neurofeedback interventions for stroke survivors, and cross-species neuroscience approaches. While no specific awards are listed, her extensive publication record reflects her leadership in neuroplasticity research.
Jeffrey Schall is a Full Professor of Biology and Program Director of the Visual Neurophysiology Centre at York University. He holds the Canada Research Chair in Translating Neuroscience. His research focuses on neural mechanisms underlying behavior, integrating neurophysiological and computational approaches across multiple scales. Schall is a core member of the Centre for Vision Research and the Canada First Research Excellence Fund Connected Minds initiative. Education: PhD in Anatomy (University of Utah School of Medicine, 1986), postdoctoral training at MIT. Awards include the Troland Research Award, Sloan Foundation Fellowship, and AAAS Fellowship. He served as Vision Science Society President in 2019. Research interests include visual attention, executive control, error monitoring, and translational neuroscience applications in law. His work bridges basic science with applied studies in clinical populations like schizophrenia patients. Collaborative projects involve EEG/MEG analysis, cortical microcircuitry modeling, and neuromodulation techniques. Teaching: YU_NRSC 2100 Systems, Behavioral, and Cognitive Neuroscience. Active in interdisciplinary initiatives linking neuroscience with legal systems through scholarship and policy engagement.
J. Anthony Movshon is a Professor at New York University (NYU) in the Department of Psychology and a key member of NYU's Center for Neural Science (CNS). His research focuses on the primate visual system, particularly the encoding and decoding of visual information in cortical areas like V1 and MT, and its role in behavior and perception. Education: Doctorate in Visual Neurophysiology and Psychophysics from Cambridge University Research Interests: Movshon investigates the functional architecture of the visual cortex, emphasizing motion, form, and color processing. His work explores how neural activity relates to perceptual decisions and motor behavior, using electrophysiological recordings, neuroimaging, and computational models. He also studies developmental disorders like amblyopia and their impact on visual system organization. Publications: His recent work spans visual texture selectivity in V2, contextual modulation in neural responses, motion processing in MT, and decoding mechanisms in visual cortex. These studies employ interdisciplinary approaches blending neurophysiology, computational neuroscience, and cognitive modeling. Labs & Collaborations: Movshon leads the Visual Neuroscience Laboratory at NYU, collaborating with researchers such as Michael Hawken, Lynne Kiorpes, and Eero Simoncelli.
Wim Gevers is a faculty member at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and leads the CS4S – Cognitive Control & Sleep laboratory within the CRCN research centre. His work bridges cognitive psychology, neuroscience and sleep research to understand how the brain exerts control over thoughts and actions and how sleep contributes to these processes. Research Interests Cognitive Control & Metacognition: Investigating how subjective experiences such as confidence and the "urge-to-err" guide strategic adjustments in behaviour. Working Memory & Ordinal Cognition: Examining how order information is maintained and manipulated, and how these processes relate to mathematical competence. Sleep, Memory & Decision Making: Exploring how sleep-dependent consolidation influences motor learning and decision strategies. Across his 2022–2025 publications a clear trend emerges: a focus on metacognitive monitoring —how humans evaluate their own cognitive states—and the role of emotional and temporal context in shaping those evaluations. Studies range from reaction-time introspection and confidence judgements in perceptual tasks to the impact of aging and depression on metacognitive accuracy. Doctoral Supervision & Mentoring Whitney Stee (PhD 2024) – Sleep-dependent structural brain reorganization & motor learning Gaia Corlazzoli (PhD 2024) – Subjective experience in decision-making Myrtille Dewulf (PhD 2023) – Ordinal coding mechanisms in working memory Rebeca Sifuentes-Ortega (PhD 2023) – REM sleep and memory reactivation All dissertations were defended at ULB, Faculté des Sciences psychologiques et de l’éducation, with Wim Gevers formally listed as Promotor . Laboratory & Collaborative Networks As head of CS4S, Gevers coordinates a multidisciplinary team that combines behavioural experimentation, EEG/MEG, computational modelling and sleep polysomnography. The lab is embedded in the larger CRCN ecosystem, fostering collaborations with groups such as CO3 (consciousness), LCLD (language & deafness), and UR2NF (neurofunctional imaging).
Marc V Fuccillo is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, where he leads a research laboratory focused on understanding the neural circuit mechanisms underlying behavioral control. His work bridges molecular, synaptic, and behavioral approaches to investigate how striatal circuits regulate mouse behavior from simple motor patterns to complex goal-directed actions. Fuccillo holds dual appointments in the Neuroscience and Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Groups at Penn and maintains an active laboratory investigating the synaptic and circuit basis of neuropsychiatric disorders. Education: B.A. in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Music Performance (Violin) from Brown University (1998) Ph.D. in Developmental Genetics from New York University School of Medicine (2007) M.D. from New York University School of Medicine (2008) Fuccillo's research centers on the synaptic and circuit mechanisms of behavioral control, with particular emphasis on striatal circuits. His laboratory employs a range of technologies including mouse genetics, in vitro electrophysiology, in vivo imaging, and quantitative behavioral analysis to explore how neural circuits of the striatum regulate behavior and how disruptions in these circuits contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders. His work has particularly focused on autism-associated abnormalities in behavioral control, examining how synaptic adhesion molecules like neuroligins and neurexins shape circuit function and behavior, with significant findings regarding D1 dopamine receptor positive medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens. Analysis of Fuccillo's recent publications reveals a strong focus on striatal circuit function across multiple dimensions. His work spans molecular neuroscience (examining synaptic adhesion molecules), cellular physiology (studying specific neuron types in striatal circuits), systems neuroscience (mapping circuit connectivity), and behavioral neuroscience (quantifying motor learning and decision-making). A unifying theme is how disruptions in specific molecular pathways lead to circuit-level abnormalities that manifest as behavioral phenotypes relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders, with particular attention to autism, OCD, and schizophrenia models. Scientific Recognition: Publications in high-impact journals including Nature Neuroscience, Current Biology, Cell Reports, and Neuron Research supported by multiple NIH grants including NIMH F32, NIMH K01, and HHMI Gilliam Fellowship awards for lab members Fuccillo actively mentors a diverse group of trainees including postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduates. His laboratory has produced numerous successful alumni who have gone on to faculty positions, medical residencies, and graduate programs at prestigious institutions. His mentoring approach emphasizes technical skill development across multiple neuroscience disciplines while fostering independent scientific thinking. Current research in his lab is supported by NIH funding focused on understanding the molecular architecture of striatal circuits and their role in behavioral control, with three major research directions exploring molecular logic of striatal circuits, circuit mechanisms of behavioral control, and striatal dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disease models. The Fuccillo Laboratory operates within the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania, with access to state-of-the-art facilities for molecular, electrophysiological, imaging, and behavioral neuroscience research. The lab maintains active collaborations with other neuroscience research groups at Penn and beyond, creating a rich intellectual environment for studying the neural basis of behavior. Current research directions include investigating whether there is a molecular logic to striatal circuit composition, how striatal circuits shape behavioral control, and what mouse models of autism, schizophrenia, and OCD can reveal about striatal circuit dysfunction in disease pathophysiology.
Takako Fujioka is an Associate Professor of Music at Stanford University, affiliated with the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). Her research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying auditory perception, auditory-motor coupling, and music-supported therapy for neurorehabilitation. She holds a Ph.D. in Physiology from the Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Japan, and M.Sc./B.Eng. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Waseda University. Her work combines neurophysiological techniques such as MEG and EEG to study brain plasticity in development, aging, and stroke recovery. Notable contributions include investigating how music influences motor and cognitive recovery in stroke patients, as well as exploring the neural basis of musical perception through rhythmic synchronization and pitch discrimination studies. Supported by awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research during her postdoctoral work at the Rotman Research Institute, her research bridges clinical neuroscience and music cognition. Dr. Fujioka’s expertise spans auditory neuroscience, neurorehabilitation, and technology-assisted music therapy. She has pioneered studies on tactile mapping for cochlear implant users and networked music performance systems, emphasizing cross-modal perception and human-technology interaction. Her findings contribute to both theoretical understanding of auditory processing and practical applications in medical and educational settings. Awards: Canadian Institutes of Health Research Awards (postdoctoral phase) Labs/Teams: CCRMA, Stanford Music Perception Laboratory, Rotman Research Institute collaborations Key Themes: Neuroplasticity, Music-Mediated Rehabilitation, Auditory-Motor Integration, Multisensory Processing Her recent work examines aging-related changes in binaural hearing and the role of beta/gamma oscillations in rhythmic processing. She advocates for translational research that connects neural mechanisms with real-world therapeutic interventions.
Steve Chase is a Professor at Carnegie Mellon University , affiliated with the Biomedical Engineering , Electrical and Computer Engineering , Neuroscience Institute , and Robotics Institute departments. His research spans Computational Neuroscience , Neural Engineering , and Systems Neuroscience , with a focus on neural circuits, motor control, and brain-computer interfaces (BCI). Research Areas: Sensation & Perception, Methods Development, Diseases & Disorders, Physiological & Anatomical Methods. Lab Highlights: Development of the RotaWheel, memory trace studies in the motor cortex, and investigations into BCI stabilization and learning dynamics. Scientific Contributions: His lab has published extensively in journals like Neuron , Nature Computational Science , eLife , and PNAS , with notable works on neural activity patterns, dimensionality reduction in calcium imaging, and sensory constraints on motor cortex modulation. Students and postdocs in his lab have received awards, including the CNBC best paper award.
Kristofer Pister is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. He co-directs the Berkeley Sensor and Actuator Center (BSAC) and the Ubiquitous Swarm Lab. His career spans groundbreaking innovations in Micro/Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS), Control Systems, and Low-Power Circuits, with a focus on Smart Dust and synthetic insects. Education: Ph.D. and M.S. in EECS from UC Berkeley (1992, 1989); B.A. in Applied Physics from UC San Diego (1986). His research areas include MEMS , Control Systems , Robotics , and Integrated Circuits , with recent work on self-powered micro-sensors, crystal-free radios, and interplanetary swarm networks. Key awards include the ISA Albert F. Sperry Founder Award (2009) , Alexander Schwarzkopf Prize (2006) , and the NSF CAREER Award (1996) . He has authored numerous influential publications in wireless sensor networks and microrobotics. His lab, Ubiquitous Swarm Lab , explores distributed robotics and swarm intelligence. Pister emphasizes open collaboration in research, ethical conduct in academia, and efficient resource utilization for graduate students.
Owen R. White is a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology & Public Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, serving as Associate Director of the Institute for Genome Sciences and Associate Director of Research Collaboration & Development. He leads a team of 25 scientists and engineers developing genomic annotation pipelines and data analysis tools for state-of-the-art research in microbiome and multi-omic studies. His academic background includes: BS in Biotechnology from the University of Massachusetts (1985) PhD in Molecular Biology from New Mexico State University (1992) Postdoctoral Fellowship in Genome Informatics at the Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) (1994) Dr. White's research spans bioinformatics, genomics, transcriptomics, and metagenomics with emphasis on data management, metadata standards, ontologies, and cloud systems. His work has been foundational for large-scale initiatives like the Human Microbiome Project (HMP) and Integrative Human Microbiome Project (iHMP), generating over 50,000 datasets totaling 10 terabytes of multi-omic data. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward neuroscience multi-omics (BRAIN Initiative), cloud-based data infrastructure, and ethical data sharing frameworks. His work consistently bridges microbiome research with emerging fields like single-cell analysis and Alzheimer's disease biomarker discovery through integrated data platforms. Notable awards include: Benjamin Franklin Award for Open Access in the Life Sciences (2015) Kumho Science International Award in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (2001) As Principal Investigator for major NIH-funded centers, he has secured sustained support for the HMP Data Analysis and Coordination Center and iHMP Data Coordination Center. His team's work combines fee-for-service models with collaborative research funding to maintain cutting-edge genomic analysis capabilities. The Institute for Genome Sciences houses his computational team responsible for developing production annotation pipelines, database systems, and visualization tools that serve researchers across the University of Maryland School of Medicine and national consortia.
Alan Stocker is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, affiliated with the Neuroscience Graduate Group, Bioengineering Graduate Group, and Computational Neuroscience Initiative. His research focuses on understanding how prior beliefs and expectations shape visual perception, combining theoretical models with psychophysical and physiological experiments. Key areas include optimal inference frameworks, neural coding efficiency, and decision-making under uncertainty. Education: PhD in Physics (ETH Zurich, 2002); MSc in Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science (ETH Zurich, 1995). Prior appointments include postdoctoral work at New York University and ETH Zurich. Research Interests: Behavioral Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience, Sensation and Perception. Specific projects explore statistical properties of visual environments, subjective expectations from past decisions, and neural computations underlying perception. Advising: Current advisees include Cheng Qiu (Postdoc), Ansh Soni, and Mengting Fang (Graduate Students). Courses taught: Perception, Visual Neuroscience, and Probabilistic Models in Perception and Cognition. Labs/Teams: Leads the Computational Perception and Cognition (CPC) Laboratory, emphasizing theory-driven experimentation. Collaborates widely across disciplines including bioengineering and electrical systems engineering.
