Kanaka Rajan, Ph.D. is a Computational Neuroscientist and Associate Professor at the Friedman Brain Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. Her research seeks to understand how important cognitive functions — such as learning, remembering, and deciding — emerge from the cooperative activity of multi-scale neural processes. Using data from neuroscience experiments, Kanaka applies computational frameworks derived from machine learning and statistical physics to uncover integrative theories about the brain that bridge neurobiology and artificial intelligence.
Before joining the faculty at Mount Sinai, Kanaka completed her postdoctoral work at Princeton University, where she made significant contributions to the modeling of important neural processes, including feature selectivity with Dr William Bialek and neural network models inspired by biology with Dr David Tank. She received her Ph.D. at Columbia University with Dr. Larry Abbott.
In the News: Dr. Rajan discusses the benefit of using recurrent neural networks to model and study the brain in “To Be Energy-Efficient, Brains Predict Their Perceptions” in Quanta Magazine. View the article: https://www.quantamagazine.org/to-be-energy-efficient-brains-predict-their-perceptions-20211115/
Multi-Disciplinary Training Area
Neuroscience [NEU]-
2022
McKnight Foundation Scholar Award -
2021
Allen Institute Next Generation Leaders Council (NGL) -
2021
National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award -
2021
Harold and Golden Lamport Basic Science Research Award -
2020
Co-Lead for the Computational Neuroscience Working Group within Interagency Modeling and Analysis Group (IMAG) -
2020
Friedman Brain Institute Research Scholars Award from the Dyal Foundation -
2020
Subject Matter Expert for Multi-Scale Neural Network Models -
2019
Friedman Brain Institute Research Scholars Award from the DiSabato Family -
2019
Sloan Research Fellowship in Neuroscience -
2019
BRAIN Initiative R01, Theories, Models, and Methods pathway, National Institutes of Biomedical Engineering and Bioimaging -
2019
FOUNDATIONS Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) -
2018
Mindlin Foundation 1Tweet1P Award, Neuroscience meets Graphic Novel -
2016
Understanding Human Cognition Scholar Award from the James McDonnell -
2016
Visiting Research Fellowship, Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute -
2015
Brain and Behavior Foundation (formerly, NARSAD) Young Investigator Award -
2011
Lectureship, Department of Molecular Biology and the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University for Methods and Logic in Quantitative Biology -
2011
Grant from the Organization for Computational Neurosciences (OCNS) -
2010
Sloan-Swartz Theoretical Neuroscience Postdoctoral Fellowship -
2004
Pulin Sampat Memorial Teaching Award, Brandeis University -
2001
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Junior Research Fellowship
RESEARCH
The Rajan Lab brings together the fields of brain research and AI to figure out how the brain works. We use mathematical and computational models based on data collected from neuroscience experiments to design an artificial system that can perform realistic behaviors using only the machinery the biological nervous system has access to (i.e., neurons and synapses operating at a fast timescale). After building these systems, we can then ‘reverse engineer’ them to reveal the operating principles of the real brain.
The resulting integrative theories and models have the potential to transform the way we study the brain, by making specific, quantifiable predictions that lead to new hypotheses about how the brain works. We are currently applying this approach to both healthy brains and to those affected by neuropsychiatric diseases. For more information about the Rajan Lab, please visit www.rajanlab.com.
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Below are financial relationships with industry reported by Dr. Rajan during 2022 and/or 2023. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Industry-Sponsored Lectures: MSSM faculty occasionally give lectures at events sponsored by industry, but only if the events are free of any marketing purpose.
- Brown University; Columbia University; University of Chicago
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.