Welcome!

We are a research group working at the intersection of Computational Neuroscience, Machine Learning, and AI4Neuro.

Our goal is to understand the circuit mechanisms and computational functions of organized brain dynamics, bridging investigations at multiple levels from neurobiology to cognition. In the long-term, we hope to uncover general principles of neural dynamics, as well as to create theoretical and computational tools that can inform translational research and clinical applications.

The team is led by Richard Gao, currently W1 Tenure-Track Professor in the Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics, Goethe University Frankfurt. We are embedded in a collaborative and multidisciplinary neuroscience and AI community in the Frankfurt / Mainz / Darmstadt region, with multiple universities and affiliated hospitals, Max Planck Institutes, and several other research institutions.

If our research, teaching, and science outreach interest you, drop us an email or come by!

Research Focus

We develop a wide range of computational methods, including deep learning, simulator models, signal processing, and the combination thereof, such as simulation-based inference and neural generative models. By applying these methods on real brain data—most often neural population and field potential recordings—we hope to map the organizing principles of brain dynamics and understand their circuit mechanisms and functional roles.

Teaching and Resources

We teach several advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in computational neuroscience and machine learning, as well as tutorials and workshops at conferences. Whenever possible, we make material openly available.

Team Members

Our team functions as a unit, where members come from a spectrum of academic and cultural backgrounds, with diverse identities and interests in research and beyond. That’s what I envision at least, but so far it’s just me and two potted plants…

Join Us

On that topic, we are currently hiring 2 PhD students (click this box to find out how to apply). We also welcome Master thesis and rotation projects that align with our research focus and methods.

News & Happenings

December 1, 2025

NeurIPS 2025 San Diego

Back ‘home’! I’m recruiting, networking, and catching some tacos and waves; Gabriel is representing the Sigma Nova team at the EEG Challenge Workshop on Saturday, and I’m at the Data on the Brain and Mind Workshop all day Sunday.

October 1, 2025

Richard's first day on the job.

I finally graduated from school.

Computational Neural Dynamics & AI4Neuro

We develop computational models and machine learning methods to uncover principles of organized brain dynamics: How do we describe them, where do they come from, and what are they useful for?