Siddharth Ramakrishnan, Neuroscientist and Former UCLA Postdoctoral Researcher

This past week we were privileged to welcome Siddharth Ramakrishnan, a fellow and former instructor of UCLA SCI ART Institute and a current neuroscientist at University of Puget Sound, as a visiting lecturer at the UCLA ArtSci Center. His research interests span the field of developmental biology, neuroendocrinology and sensory-motor integration. As a postdoctoral researcher at UCLA (2006-2009) he studied the development and physiology of reproductive neurons in the zebrafish brain. His previous research addressed pattern-generating networks in snails and how they were modulated to elicit various behaviors. As a respondent to Aaron Blaisdell's lecture at the LASER event on April 24th in the CNSI Presentation Room, Siddharth Ramakrishnan provided an array of questions and ideas for Professor Blaisdell's research on "Pigeon Art."

Siddharth Ramakrishnan, PhD., a Neuroscientist, is an Assistant Professor of Biology and the Jennie M. Caruthers Chair in Neuroscience at the University of Puget Sound. Ramakrishnan was awarded his Ph.D. in neuroscience and a Master of Science degree in computer sciences from University of Illinois at Chicago. Prior to that he received a bachelor’s degree in computer sciences from the Biria Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani, India. Ramakrishnan’s expertise spans electrophysiology, small animal models, neural cultures, bio-electronic devices, and cellular membranes. His teaching has included basic biology; cellular neuroscience laboratory; the neural foundations of animal behavior; neuroendocrinology; and the intersection of art, science, and technology. A Fellow of the UCLA Art/Sci center, his collaborations with artists have led to exhibitions and documentaries that blend the worlds of art and science highlighting topics like Hox genes, animal umwelts and biomimicry. Recent exhibits have been at the Microwave New Media festival (2011) and at Art Environment Action at the New School of Design (2012). He is developing an Art+Science collective in his current position.

MORE INFO
https://www.pugetsound.edu/directory/siddharth-ramakrishnan