Current Position: Assistant Professor and Wellcome Trust DBT Fellow, Department of Electronics and
Electrical Communication Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (since 19th March 2014).
National Brain Research Centre – Manesar, HR, India
Wellcome Trust DBT Fellow, Dates: July 2012- March 2014.
University of Maryland - College Park, MD
Assistant Research Scientist (Research Track Faculty), Institute for Systems Research and Department of
Biology, Dates: July 2009- June 2012.
Our brain enables the processing of various sensory information around us, thus facilitating effortless interaction with our environment. The brain is unparalleled in its computational abilities to process sensory information in an adaptive manner. Many real-life problems to do with pattern recognition and learning in single or multiple sensory space(s) are solved or learned by the brain easily whereas artificial algorithms struggle to successfully perform even simple behaviors. Our objective is to find the underlying principles by which the brain solves such problems. Specifically, in terms of structure of cortical circuits: since precise nature of connectivity between specific types of neurons in a network determines its function - we ask what is the precise connectivity of neurons of different types (example: excitatory and inhibitory) that form local functional sensory micro-circuits or modules in the cortex; and, in terms of adaptation/learning by such circuits: how does the connectivity of such circuits change over time, at rapid or long (developmental) time scales, depending on cognitive demands or experience. Our research will not only enhance artificial computation but also allow us to understand the specific deficits underlying various learning and developmental disorders (like dyslexia and autism spectrum disorder). We use a variety of techniques to answer questions: 1) In vivo electrophysiology (single and multiple electrodes) 2) Neuroanatomical methods using retrograde and anterograde labeling and viral techniques 3) In vivo and in vitro Ca2+ Imaging 4) Mapping micro-circuitry with optical stimulation 5) Computational Modeling of Neural Computation.
