Dr. Larry Abbott is a pioneering computational neuroscientist who has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of neural circuit function through mathematical modeling and theoretical frameworks. He currently serves as the William Bloor Professor of Theoretical Neuroscience at Columbia University's Zuckerman Mind, Brain, Behavior Institute where he co-directs the Center for Theoretical Neuroscience. After earning his PhD in physics from Brandeis University in 1977 he established himself as a theoretical particle physicist holding positions at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center CERN and eventually becoming a professor of physics at Brandeis University in 1988. His remarkable career transition began in 1989 when he shifted his focus to neuroscience joining Brandeis' Biology Department in 1993 before moving to Columbia University in 2005 to establish a dedicated theory center with Ken Miller.
Dr. Abbott's groundbreaking research has established mathematical frameworks for understanding how neural circuits process information with his work on recurrent neural networks providing foundational models for neocortical function. His co-authorship of the first comprehensive textbook on theoretical neuroscience with Peter Dayan has become the standard reference for students and researchers entering the field fundamentally shaping how theoretical neuroscience is taught and practiced worldwide. His development of computational models for neural synapses and networks has provided critical insights into sensory processing motor control and navigation with particular emphasis on the mathematical principles underlying neural computation. His collaborations with experimentalists including Nobel laureate Richard Axel on olfaction and with Mark Churchland on motor cortex have demonstrated the profound utility of theoretical approaches in guiding and interpreting experimental neuroscience.
Beyond his own research contributions Dr. Abbott has been instrumental in establishing theoretical neuroscience as a rigorous discipline through his leadership in creating collaborative bridges between theorists and experimentalists. He has mentored generations of theoretical neuroscientists and helped establish Columbia University as a global hub for computational neuroscience with his center now comprising nine faculty members and over fifty postdocs and graduate students. His ongoing research continues to explore the mathematical foundations of neural computation with recent work focusing on the navigational neural circuits of flies and the computational principles underlying olfactory processing. Dr. Abbott's unique perspective as a physicist-turned-neuroscientist continues to drive innovative approaches to understanding how large groups of neurons work together to perceive and respond to the world ensuring his lasting impact on the field for decades to come.
