Neuroengineering Laboratory ‐ EPFL

Neuroengineering Laboratory

Welcome to the Ramdya Lab, Firmenich Next Generation Chair of Neuroengineering

We are part of the Brain Mind Institute and Institute of Bioengineering in the School of Life Sciences. We use the fly, Drosophila melanogaster, microscopy, machine vision, genetics, and computational models to identify how biological neural circuits control behavior. We aim to better understand the mind and to build more versatile robotic controllers. We use flies because they produce complex behaviors, have small nervous systems with stereotyped connectivity, and are genetically tractable.

Some of the tools we use

Recording neural activity during behavior

We combine genetics, 2-photon microscopy, and computational image analysis to uncover links between neural activity and behavior. Relevant publication: Chen, Hermans et al., Nature Communications 2018

Drawing causal links between neuronal activity and behavior

We use deep-learning based pose estimation to quantify the outcome of optogenetic neuronal activation and silencing. Relevant publication: Günel et al. Elife 2019

Robotic experimental automation

We build robotic systems and computational data analysis pipelines to automate and increase the throughput of biological experimentation. Relevant publications: Ramdya et al., Nature 2015 & Maesani, Ramdya et al., PLoS Computational Biology 2015

Building computational models of Drosophila

We develop computational simulations intending to the capture the principles whereby neuronal circuits and biomechanics orchestrate behavior. These allow us to synthesize our biological data, generate predictions for future experiments, and inspire the development of bioinspired robotic controllers. Relevant publication: Ramdya, Thandiackal et al., Nature Communications, 2017