Download levin kuhlmann - Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems

LEVIN KUHLMANN
677 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215, U.S.A.
Ph: + 1 (617) 353-6180, E-mail: [email protected]
OBJECTIVE:
Work in academia, or industry, in a role where I can either develop my understanding of the brain, or use
my understanding of the brain and artificial intelligence and apply it to real world problems.
EDUCATION: Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University
Boston, U.S.A., 2001-present.
B.Sc. Honours, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Melbourne, Australia, 1999-2000.
Exchange student, Neuroscience, University of California, at Los Angeles, U.S.A., 1998.
B.Sc., Physiology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 1996-1997, 1999.
SKILLS:
C, C++, CADENCE, LaTeX, LINUX, Maple, MATLAB, MS-DOS, MS Excel, MS Windows XP,
Open CV, Open GL, UNIX.
LANGUAGES: Conversive German.
UNDERGRADUATE COURSES (chronological order):
Higher Mathematics; Physics; Chemistry; Evolutionary and Functional Biology; Molecules, Cells and
Genes; Introductory Anatomy; Physiology; Biochemistry; Molecular Biology; Histology; Quantum Physics
and Relativity; Electromagnetism; Thermal Physics; Biophysics; Real Analysis; Vector Analysis; Complex
Analysis; Differential Equations; Educational Psychology; Neuroanatomy; Molecular and Developmental
Neuroscience; Brain Mapping; Introduction to Computer Science; Behavioural and Cognitive
Neuroscience; Jesus of Nazareth in Historical Research; Electronics; Systems and Signals; Probability;
Game theory; Neurophysiology; Neural Networks; Logic and Computability; Information theory and
Coding; Personal Financial Planning.
GRADUATE COURSES (chronological order):
Cell Physiology and Biophysics; Neuroanatomy; Topics in Dynamics (Chaos); Principles and Methods of
Cognitive and Neural Modeling I; Principles and Methods of Cognitive and Neural Modeling II; Neural and
Computational Models of Vision; Neural and Computational Models of Adaptive Movement and Planning
Control; Neural and Computational Models of Recognition, Memory and Attention; Neural and
Computational Models of Speech Perception and Production; Neural and Computational Models of
Conditioning, Reinforcement, Motivation and Rhythm; Introduction to Computational Neuroscience; VLSI
Principles and Applications; Differential Geometry; Visual Perception; Computer Vision; Digital Image
Processing and Communications; Introduction to Computer Graphics; Topics in Computational
Neuroscience and Vision; Vision, Robotics and Planning; Teaching College for Cognitive and Neural
Systems.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University, Boston, U.S.A., 1/2003-5/2003.
Tutor for the ‘Neural and Computational Models of Vision’ class
Graded class assignments and provided advice and explanations of class material to students, typically in
a one-to-one manner.
Department of Information Systems, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 6/2001.
Grader for the ‘Tools of Analysis’ class
Graded the final exam for this first year mathematics class.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University, Boston, U.S.A., 6/2002-present.
Computational Neuroscience Ph.D. Candidate
Dissertation topic: Neural modeling of shape from texture.
Supervisors: Prof. Stephen Grossberg and Prof. Ennio Mingolla.
Shape from texture refers to the perception of 3D shape one experiences when one monocularly views a
textured surface. Essentially, light rays reflected from the 3D surface are projected onto the 2D retina of
the observer. The texture on the 3D surface is thus projected onto the 2D retina, but it is distorted by the
projection. This distortion of the texture can be used as a cue for 3D shape. The aim of the dissertation is
to develop a neural model of how visuo-cortical areas interact to convert a textured 2D image (i.e. the
retinal image of the projected surface) into a neural representation of 3D shape. The dissertation is
expected to be complete by September 2005.
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 1/2001-8/2001.
Computational Neuroscience Ph.D. Candidate
Supervisor: Dr. Anthony N. Burkitt.
Began modeling learning in networks of Cochlear Nucleus neurons which play a role in the temporal
processing of auditory signals. Was given an Australian Post-Graduate Award Scholarship, but switched
to the Ph.D. program in the Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems at Boston University starting
9/2001.
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 7/2000-12/2000.
Research Assistant
Supervisor: Dr. Anthony N. Burkitt and Dr. David Grayden.
Processed speech signals to track formants (i.e. the fundamental frequencies found in speech).
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 7/1999-6/2000.
Computational Neuroscience Honours Student
Honors thesis title: Temporal Coding in the Leaky Integrate-and-Fire Neuron Model and the Auditory
Pathway.
Supervisor: Dr. Anthony N. Burkitt.
Studied single neuron modeling of Cochlear Nucleus neurons which play a role in the temporal processing
of auditory signals. The model provided an analytical and numerical solution of how the temporal
processing efficacy of these neurons was affected by the phase of incoming Auditory Nerve fiber Action
Potentials (spikes). In particular, when Auditory Nerve fiber spikes are generated by the travelling wave of
the Basilar Membrane.
School of Physiology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 3/1999-6/1999.
Research Assistant
Supervisors: Dr. David Mahns and Prof. Mark Rowe.
Assisted in Somatosensory Neurophysiology experiments involving recordings of cerebro-cortical
responses to single joint receptor stimulation in cats.
Department of Neuroscience, University of California, at Los Angeles, U.S.A., 2/1998-10/1998.
Volunteer Assistant
Supervisors: Dr. Mark Bodner and Prof. Joaquin Fuster.
Designed a Neural Network to model the activity of neurons in the cerebral cortex associated with a shortterm active memory task.
Department of Orthopedics, University of California, at Los Angeles, U.S.A., 6/1998-9/1998
Reseach Assistant
Supervisors: Elizabeth Yi and Dr. Karen Lyons.
Genotyped mice, from a group of mice containing various BMP receptor and BMP ligand knockouts. This
involved DNA extraction, southern blotting and use of radioactive labelling via hybridisation.
Department of Physiology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 1/1997-12/1997.
Research Assistant
Supervisors: Prof. Peter H. Barry and Dr. Andrew Moorhouse.
Measured electrical conductivity and junction potentials of solutions of EGTA (a calcium chelator) at
various levels of Ph.
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE:
The Sharper Image, Melbourne, Australia, 12/1999-12/2000.
Sales Assistant
Worked as a salesperson on the floor of a novelty store. Conversed with customers and described the
products on offer, handled the cash register and cleaned and restocked the store.
University Cooperative Housing Association, Los Angeles, U.S.A., 4/1998-12/1998.
‘Members’ Committee’ member
Helped solve problems or disputes with, and/or between, residents of a student-run dormitory housing
environment. Was in charge of Elections/General Meetings. Stood as Chair. Was also in charge of work
deficiency and acted as Vice-Chair.
PUBLICATIONS:
Kuhlmann, L., Burkitt, A. N., Paolini, A., & Clark, G. M. (2002). Summation of Spatiotemporal Input
Patterns in Leaky Integrate-and-Fire Neurons: Application to Neurons in the Cochlear Nucleus Receiving
Converging Auditory Nerve Fiber Input. Journal of Computational Neuroscience, 12(1): 55-73.
Keramidas, A., Kuhlmann, L., Moorhouse, A. J., & Barry, P. H. (1999). Measurement of the limiting
equivalent conductivities and mobilities of the most prevalent ionic species of EGTA (EGTA2- and EGTA3-)
for use in electrophysiological experiments. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 89: 41-47.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS:
Mingolla, E., Kuhlmann, L., & Grossberg, S. (2004). A laminar cortical model of shape-fromtexture: spatial-scale filtering, cooperative-competitive grouping, and surface filling-in [Abstract].
Journal of Vision, 4(8), 472a. (poster)
Kuhlmann, L., Burkitt, A. N., & Clark, G. M. (2001). Peak-splitting in the response of the leaky
integrate-and-fire neuron model to low-frequency periodic inputs [Article]. Proceedings of the IEEE
Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) Conference, pp. 13-16. Monash University,
Australia. (talk)
Kuhlmann, L., Burkitt, A. N., & Clark, G. M. (2001). The relationship between the output synchrony
of cochlear nucleus neurons and the site of stimulation in the cochlea [Abstract]. Proceeedings of
the Australian Neuroscience Society, 12, 216. (poster)
Kuhlmann, L., Burkitt, A. N., & Clark, G. M. (2000). The effects of action potential propagation
delay times and an absolute refractory period upon the synchronization index in the integrate-andfire neuron model and a comparison with neurons in the auditory pathway [Abstract]. Proceeedings
of the Australian Neuroscience Society, 11, 145. (poster)
PRIZES AND AWARDS:
Boston University Cognitive and Neural Systems Doctoral Fellowship, 2001-2005.
Australian Post-Graduate Award, 2001.
First Class Honours, University of Melbourne B.Sc. Honours Thesis, 2000.
University of New South Wales Student Exchange Scholarship, 1998.
AFFILIATIONS:
Australian and German citizen
Hold Australian and German passports, Member of the Vision Sciences Society 2004-2005, New South
Wales Basketball Club member 1996-1997 and 1999, Hills Zone Representative Basketball 1995 and
Varsity Basketball 1993-1995, Lifetime member of the Youth Hostel Association.
INTERESTS:
The meaning of life, Science, Philosophy, Religion, Economics, Neuroscience, Psychology, Computer
Science, Neural Networks, Electronics, Physics, Astronomy, Mathematics, Basketball, Music, Social
issues and (the scientific study of) Consciousness.
REFEREES: (alphabetical order)
Anthony N. Burkitt, Ph.D.
(Honours Thesis Advisor)
Senior Research Fellow
The Bionic Ear Institute
384-388 Albert Street
East Melbourne VIC 3002
Australia
TEL: + 61 3 9667 7529
FAX: + 61 3 9667 7518
Email: [email protected]
Stephen Grossberg, Ph.D.
(Ph.D. Thesis Advisor)
Wang Professor of Cognitive and Neural Systems
Professor of Mathematics, Psychology and Biomedical Engineering
Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems
Boston University
677 Beacon Street
Boston MA 02215
U.S.A.
TEL: + 1 617 353 9481
FAX: + 1 617 353 7755
Email: [email protected]
Ennio Mingolla, Ph.D.
(Ph.D. Thesis Advisor)
Professor of Cognitive and Neural Systems and Psychology
Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems
Boston University
677 Beacon Street
Boston MA 02215
U.S.A.
TEL: + 1 617 353 9485
FAX: + 1 617 353 7755
Email: [email protected]