Detailed Profile
Dr. Henry Markram
Neural Microcircuitry Laboratory, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne, Switzerland
Neural Microcircuitry Laboratory, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne, Switzerland
Brief Biography
Henry Markram is the Founder and Co-Director of the Brain Mind Institute at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and Director of the Blue Brain Project. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Weizmann Institute of Science where he discovered a link between acetylcholine and memory mechanisms. At the Max Planck Institute of Medical Research he discovered calcium transients in dendrites evoked by sub-threshold activity and by single action potentials propagating back into dendrites. He also began studying the connectivity between neocortical neurons. Markram discovered Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity (STDP) by altering the precise millisecond relative timing of single pre- and post-synaptic action potentials, which revealed a highly precise learning mechanism operating between neurons. He moved back to the Weizmann Institute where he started his systematic reverse engineering of the neocortical microcircuitry. He discovered a number of key principles of microcircuit structure and design and a novel vie w of synaptic learning called redistribution of synaptic efficacy. Based on the emergent dynamics of the neocortical microcircuit he and Wolfgang Maass developed the theory of liquid computing to explain computing in high entropy states. In 2002, he moved to EPFL as full professor and founder/director of the Brain Mind Institute. At the BMI, Markram developed state of art technologies to obtain a detailed blueprint of the neocortical column. He launched the Blue Brain Project with the support of IBM in 2005 to rebuild and simulate the neocortical column and is expanding the BBP to simulate the whole brain of mammals. Markram has received numerous awards and published over 75 papers.
Education and Training Postdoctoral (Natural Sciences-Space Sciences)
Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, Department of Cell Biology, Germany
Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, Department of Cell Biology, Germany
1993-1994
Postdoctoral (Natural Sciences-Space Sciences)
National Institutes of Health, United States of America
National Institutes of Health, United States of America
1992-1993
PhD (Natural Sciences-Space Sciences)
The Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
The Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
1988-1991
MBCHBII and III (Mathematics And Computer Sciences-Anthropology)
University of Cape Town, South Africa
University of Cape Town, South Africa
1986-1987
BSc. (Honors) (Mathematics And Computer Sciences-Anthropology)
University of Cape Town, South Africa
University of Cape Town, South Africa
1985-1986
BSc (Mathematics And Computer Sciences-Anthropology)
University of Cape Town, South Africa
University of Cape Town, South Africa
1980-1984
Primary
Kearsney College, South Africa
Kearsney College, South Africa
1980-
Positions and ExperienceCo-director
Brain Mind Institute, EPFLSwitzerland
Brain Mind Institute, EPFLSwitzerland
2005
Founder & Director
Brain Mind Institute, EPFLSwitzerland
Brain Mind Institute, EPFLSwitzerland
2002-2002
Full Professor or similar
Brain Mind Institute, EPFLSwitzerland
Brain Mind Institute, EPFLSwitzerland
2002-2002
Visiting Professor
Keck Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California San FranciscoUnited States of America
Keck Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California San FranciscoUnited States of America
1999-2000
Associate Professor or similar
Department of Neurobiology, The Weizmann Institute for ScienceIsrael
Department of Neurobiology, The Weizmann Institute for ScienceIsrael
1998-2001
Senior Scientist
The Weizmann Institute for ScienceIsrael
The Weizmann Institute for ScienceIsrael
1995-1997
Minerva Post Doctoral Fellow
Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, Department of Cell BiologyGermany
Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, Department of Cell BiologyGermany
1993-1994
Senior Fulbright Fellow and NIH Visiting Scientist
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeUnited States of America
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeUnited States of America
1992-1993
Honours and AwardsEbner Science Prize 750,000$
Natural Sciences
Weizmann Institute
Natural Sciences
Weizmann Institute
2001
James Heinemann Award
Mathematics And Computer Sciences
Germany
Mathematics And Computer Sciences
Germany
2000
Abramson Research Prize
Natural Sciences
Weizmann Institute for Science
Natural Sciences
Weizmann Institute for Science
1999
Excellent Young Investigator Award
Mathematics And Computer Sciences
European Society for Neurochemistry
Mathematics And Computer Sciences
European Society for Neurochemistry
1998
Levinson Biology Prize
Mathematics And Computer Sciences
Scientific Council of the Weizmann Institute
Mathematics And Computer Sciences
Scientific Council of the Weizmann Institute
1997
BSc degree awarded with distinction in Physiology
Mathematics And Computer Sciences - Anthropology
University of Cape Town, South Africa
Mathematics And Computer Sciences - Anthropology
University of Cape Town, South Africa
1994
Elhana Bondi Memorial Prize
Mathematics And Computer Sciences
Steering Committee of the Feinberg Graduate School
Mathematics And Computer Sciences
Steering Committee of the Feinberg Graduate School
1991
Senior Fulbright Scholar
Mathematics And Computer Sciences
J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, USA and United States-Israel Educational Foundation
Mathematics And Computer Sciences
J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, USA and United States-Israel Educational Foundation
1991
BSc (Honors) degree awarded with distinction
Mathematics And Computer Sciences - Anthropology
University of Cape Town, Faculty of Science, Department of Physiology, South Africa
Mathematics And Computer Sciences - Anthropology
University of Cape Town, Faculty of Science, Department of Physiology, South Africa
1985
BSc (Honors) Thesis awarded with distinction
Mathematics And Computer Sciences - Anthropology
University of Cape Town, Faculty of Science, Department of Physiology, South Africa
Mathematics And Computer Sciences - Anthropology
University of Cape Town, Faculty of Science, Department of Physiology, South Africa
1985
C.F. Wyndham Science Prize
Mathematics And Computer Sciences - Anthropology
Physiological and Pharmacological Societies of South Africa
Mathematics And Computer Sciences - Anthropology
Physiological and Pharmacological Societies of South Africa
1985
Class medalist in Physiology
Mathematics And Computer Sciences - Anthropology
University of Cape Town, Faculty of Science,Department of Physiology, South Africa
Mathematics And Computer Sciences - Anthropology
University of Cape Town, Faculty of Science,Department of Physiology, South Africa
1984
AffiliationNeural Microcircuitry Laboratory, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne
Switzerland, 1015
Switzerland, 1015
