We welcome physicist Dr. Andrej Bicanski as a new associated member at ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig! Dr. Bicanski is currently the head of the Neural Computation research group at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences. His research history spans models of motor control as well as computational cognitive neuroscience of memory and navigation, combined with related interests in robotics, NeuroAI, and large-scale brain models. As an associated member of ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig, Dr. Bicanski will contribute research on NeuroAI – e.g., inspired by the mammalian entorhinal-hippocampal system – (neural) data analysis, reinforcement learning, and agent-based simulations leveraging neuromorphic hardware such as SpiNNaker 2.

About Dr. Andrej Bicanski

Dr. Bicanski’s scientific background builds on a master in physics (Heidelberg University) and a PhD at the intersection of robotics and neuroscience (EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne). He has authored computational models of spatial memory, navigation, and visual memory. These include biologically plausible large-scale models of spatial cognition and the first computational account of grid cells outside the spatial domain. He subsequently joined the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London as (Senior) Research Fellow. This was followed by a period at Newcastle University as Assistant Professor (UK ‘Lecturer’) in Psychology. Dr. Bicanski taught on various other topics, before founding the Neural Computation Group at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in 2024.

Associated member of ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig

ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig awards the title of associated members to selected PhD scientists and professors with a close connection to the research focus of the center. The prerequisite is an international research activity, a high interest in cooperation as well as the willingness to contribute own research work to our center. ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig supports its associated members in networking and in the development of joint projects. The status also allows participation in internal general meetings, lectures and conferences.