Kerem Kurban

Kerem Kurban is a Machine Learning Engineer in the Simulation Neuroscience Division.

As part of the Machine Learning team at Blue Brain, he is enhancing Large Language Models (LLMs) with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), which improves their performance by integrating relevant information from scientific databases. This enhanced model is then deployed on cloud systems for broader accessibility.

Previously, Kerem played an important role in the Circuits division, making significant contributions to the hippocampus modeling project (Romani et al., 2023). His work involved investigating various aspects of hippocampal neurons, their network dynamics, and the effects of balancing excitatory and inhibitory populations on rat model simulations. Later, he transitioned with his team to focus on constructing the mouse hippocampal formation, aiming to to understand the trisynaptic loop of the hippocampus and its implications for navigation, learning, and memory. Prior to this, he demonstrated expertise in spiking neural networks, neuroimaging, and conducting molecular biology experiments in a wet lab setting.

Kerem holds a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Bogazici University, Turkey and a Master’s in Material Science and Nanotechnology from Bilkent University, Turkey with a focus on complex systems, artificial intelligence and computational neuroscience.

In his free time, he enjoys stand-up paddleboarding, playing badminton, hiking, and playing board games.

Publications

Romani, A., Antonietti, A., Bella, D., Budd, J., Giacalone, E., Kurban, K., Sáray, S., Abdellah, M., Arnaudon, A., Boci, E., Colangelo, C., Courcol, J.-D., Delemontex, T., Ecker, A., Falck, J., Favreau, C., Gevaert, M., Hernando, J. B., Herttuainen, J., … Markram, H. (2023). Community-based Reconstruction and Simulation of a Full-scale Model of Region CA1 of Rat Hippocampus. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.05.17.541167

Bernis Sutcubasi, Baris Metin, Mustafa Kerem Kurban, Zeynep Elcin Metin, Birsu Beser & Edmund Sonuga-Barke (2020) Resting-state network dysconnectivity in ADHD: A system-neuroscience-based meta-analysis. The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 21:9, 662-672, DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2020.1775889

Kurban K, Bodur E. (2018). Classification of resting-state fMRI data of patients exposed to anesthesia at an early age. 16th National Neuroscience Congress. Istanbul, Turkey.

Kurban K. (2021). Simplification of Data-driven Hippocampal CA1 Microcircuit. Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey. http://hdl.handle.net/11693/75969

Kurban, K., Romani, A., Markram H. (2023). A deep dive into CA1 network: Insights from Network Science [Poster]. Computational Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting, Leipzig, Germany.