Curriculum Vitae

Hello! I am Danny and currently I am a graduate student in the Institute of Neuroscience at the University of Oregon. Most recently, I completed a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics at the University of Washington with a thesis project studying intrinsic, short term synaptic plasticity in artificial neural network models. Prior to this, I worked for a number of years on manufacturing process development in the field of immunotherapeutics.

Through my academic and professional experiences thus far an excitement has grown for “systems” perspectives in biology. I enjoy that systems biology swims against the reductionist current of science and posits explanations for emergent properties of biological systems. Neurobiology in particular is replete with biomolecular, cellular, and system functions whose study could result in sweeping implications across many fields of research. Of particular interest to me is the relationship between neurobiology and computation. Specifically, what cellular and network characteristics facilitate broader cognitive phenomena such as learning and memory; and how could understanding these properties direct the design of other computational systems?

Moving to a more abstract landscape of interests, I am motivated by epistemic topics relating to how “meaning” is determined by an arbitrary cognitive system. Currently I am compelled by ideas in this space like “counterfactuals” or more generally the idea that, loosely, “meaning” is defined through contrasting descriptions. Also within this abstract region of interests, I quite frequently find myself stunned by the experience of studying properties of neural systems using the faculties of my own neural systems. I tend to regard this seeming “self-reference” as a unique trait of cognitive systems, and I am interested in the necessary conditions from which self-awareness and self-reference become relevant to cognitive experience. I am not a trained philosopher, and I would not even say I am a “trained” Neuroscientist, so I welcome any education and elaboration on these ideas from others.