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Photo Kanaka Rajan

Kanaka Rajan

Appointment

CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2023-2025

Brain, Mind & Consciousness

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About

Kanaka Rajan is a computational neuroscientist bridging the gap between biology and artificial intelligence. Her lab uses mathematical and computational models to understand how the brain learns and makes decisions. Her research seeks to understand how important cognitive functions — such as learning, remembering, and deciding — emerge from the cooperative activity of multi-scale neural processes. Using data from neuroscience experiments, Rajan applies computational frameworks derived from machine learning and statistical physics to uncover integrative theories about the brain that bridge neurobiology and artificial intelligence. Leveraging her unique expertise in the fields of engineering, biophysics, and neuroscience, Rajan has pioneered computational approaches for understanding how the brain processes information, and how these processes become disrupted by neuropsychiatric diseases.

Awards

  • McKnight Scholar Award, McKnight Foundation, 2022
  • Next Generation Leader, Allen Institute, 2021
  • CAREER Award, National Science Foundation (NSF), 2021
  • Harold and Golden Lamport Basic Science Research Award, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 2021

Relevant Publications

  • Perich, M.G. & Rajan, K. (2020) Rethinking brain-wide interactions through multi-region “network of networks” models. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 65:146–151. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2020.11.003
  • Pinto, L., Rajan, K., DePasquale, B., Thiberge, S.Y., Tank, D.W. & Brody, C.D., (2019) Task-dependent changes in the large-scale dynamics and necessity of cortical regions. Neuron, 2019 Nov 20;104(4):810-824.e9. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.08.025
  • Rajan, K., Harvey, C.D. & Tank, D.W., (2016) Recurrent network models of sequence generation and memory. Neuron, 90(1): 128-142. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.02.00900463

Institution

Harvard University

Department

Department of Neurobiology, Kempner Institute

Education

  • PhD (Neuroscience) Columbia University
  • MS, Brandeis University
  • BTech (Industrial Biotechnology), Anna University, India

Country

United States

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The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) is a globally influential research organization proudly based in Canada. We mobilize the world’s most brilliant people across disciplines and at all career stages to advance transformative knowledge and solve humanity’s biggest problems, together. We are supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta and Québec, as well as Canadian and international foundations, individuals, corporations and partner organizations.

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