New Director at the Research Center caesar

Bonn, June 2017. As of June 1st, research center caesar has appointed a third scientific director. The American neuroscientist Dr. Kevin Briggman will build up a new department that aims at mapping nerve networks using computer models.

Dr. Kevin Briggman is an internationally acclaimed researcher in the field of systems neuroscience. He brings his background in engineering, computational neuroscience and experimental neuroscience to bear on fundamental questions of neurobiology of behavior. He has been at the forefront of a number of experimental and analytical techniques that have become standard tools in the analysis of how circuits in the nervous system control animal behavior.

Dr. Briggman was originally trained as an electrical engineer at Case Western Reserve University. As part of his curriculum, he studied artificial intelligence and, recognizing limitations in that field, developed an appreciation for the complexity of brain circuits compared to electrical circuits. He decided to pursue graduate studies in neurobiology at the University of California, San Diego and later became a postdoc at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg. In 2011, he started his own lab at the National Institutes of Health, USA.

Like the two other caesar directors, Kevin Briggman becomes a scientific member of the Max Planck Society.

“Dr. Briggman is a recognized leader in the burgeoning field of connectomics. His work shows a commitment to a multidisciplinary approach, combining his experience as an engineer, a computational neuroscientist, and experimentalist. We are delighted that he is joining our institute”, said Dr. Jason Kerr, current Managing Director of caesar and Head of the Department “Behavior and Brain Organization”.

caesar Foundation
The caesar foundation is associated with the Max Planck Society and operates a center for neuroscience research in Bonn. The scientific work is carried out according to the excellence criteria of the Max Planck Society.