Principal Investigator

I am Lecturer (roughly equivalent to a tenured Assistant Professor) in Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sheffield and visiting professor (Gastprofessor) at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp. I also serve as Academic Editor for the scientific journal PLOS One.

Dr Eleni Vasilaki

Selected Publications

  1. •Clopath, C., Buesing, L., Vasilaki, E., and Gerstner, W. (2010), Connectivity reflects Coding: A Model of Voltage-based Spike-Timing-Dependant-Plasticity with Homeostasis. Nature Neuroscience (published on line, link to journal, link to nature precedings).

  2. •Vasilaki, E., Fremaux, N.,Urbanczik, R., Senn, W, and Gerstner, W. (2009), Spike-based reinforcement learning in continuous State and Action Space: when policy gradient methods fail. PLOS Computational Biology, Vol.5(12):e1000586 doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000586.

  3. •Schaefer, R., Vasilaki, E., Senn, W. (2009), Adaptive gain modulation in V1 explains contextual modifications during bisection learning. PLOS Computational Biology, Vol. 5(12): e1000617. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000617.

  4. •Clopath, C., Ziegler L., Vasilaki E., Buesing L., Gerstner W. (2008) Tag-Trigger-Consolidation: A Model of Early and Late Long-Term-Potentiation and Depression. PLOS Computational Biology, Vol. 4(12): e1000248 doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000248.

  5. •Vasilaki, E., Fusi, S., Wang, X.-J., Senn, W.(2009), Flexible Sensori-motor mapping in a Complex Network. Biological Cybernetics, Vol. 100(2), pp. 147 - 158 (link to journal)

Grants

  1. •EPSRC, Green Brain Project, collaboration with the Univ. of Sussex (Oct 2012 - Sep 2015). Co-I.

  2. •EPSRC scheme e-futures, collaboration with the Imperial College (May 2012 - Jan 2013). PI.

  3. •EU FP7 Marie Curie International Training Network NAMASEN (Oct 2011 - Sep 2015). PI.

  4. •University Research Fund - Divisional Directors Award (Jul 2010 - Feb 2011). PI.

  5. •Royal Society International joint collaboration with the Univ. of Antwerp (Jun 2010 - May 2012). PI.

Eleni Vasilaki

Research Focus

We develop computational models aiming to advance our understanding of the brain learning mechanisms. Our target is to unveil the principles that govern the modifications of the neuronal connections when acquiring information, with emphasis to unsupervised and reinforcement learning. We further aim to employ this knowledge to address specific questions related to animal and human behaviour as well as to design bio-inspired, intelligent agents. 

Honours

Exceptional Contribution Award, Faculty of Engineering (Dec 2012).

Faculty of Engineering newsletter profile.