My main field of research is simulation technology for large-scale brain models. I have played a key role in the development of the NEST simulator for nearly two decades. With NEST, we set a world record for large-scale neuronal network simulation on the Japanse K supercomputer, simulating a network of 1.86 billion neurons connected by over 10 trillion synapses. With the NEST developer community, we are now pushing the boundaries of simulations towards whole-brain models on exascale computers.
For a decade, these efforts were deeply integrated into and partially funded by the Human Brain Project (HBP), one of three ICT flagship projects funded by the European Commission. Together with more than 100 partner institutions, we contributed to establish EBRAINS as a long-term brain research research infrastructure in Europe. Together with many excellent colleagues from the Human Brain Project led by my NMBU colleague Gaute Einevoll, we explained our motiviation in The scientific case for brain simulation.
As head of the Research Committee at the Faculty of Science and Technology, I contribute to further develop NMBU as a research institution.
In addition to my position at NMBU I hold a Visiting Researcher position at the Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6) at Research Centre Jülich and lead the NEST User and Developer Community as president of the NEST Initiative.
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Misc and CV