About
I am a passionate researcher specializing in neural dynamics and computation, with a distinct focus on unraveling the intricate mathematical and computational underpinnings of distributed compositional representations in message-passed systems. This encompasses a wide spectrum, ranging from computations transpiring within cortical regions to the behavior exhibited by swarms, locally distributed computing scenarios, and the profound workings of neural networks.
My research is centered on the captivating themes of emergence, self-organization, self-construction, plasticity, and collective behavior. I delve into the realm of non-linear dynamics to unearth how these elements interplay to yield stable computations and memory engrams. My ultimate aim is to uncover the foundational algorithms and data structures that not only elucidate these complex attributes but also derive from fundamental first-order principles, characterized by a minimalist parameter approach.
Presently, my emphasis lies in uncovering the emergence of spatio-temporal languages and hierarchies within distributed message-passed systems. I also research sequential information processing within cortical regions and investigate the optimality, self-organization, and recursive self-construction of (scale-free) cortical data structures intertwined with spatial navigation.
Bio
I am a researcher in Yasser Roudi's SPINOr Group at the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience (KISN) in beautiful Trondheim, Norway. Before, I spent almost three years as research scientist at the Bosch Center for Artificial Intelligence, and worked as a postdoc and obtained a PhD in Computer Science in the Neuroscientific System Theory (NST) group at TU Munich, Germany.
In my career, I've thrived at the crossroads of computational neuroscience, computer science, and neuromorphic computing. My focus has honed in on neural computations crucial for spatial navigation and perception. Beyond theory, I worked on practical robotics, leading a team to devise an innovative perception framework for manipulation robotics. My dedication to education lead to the development of a novel mentoring program, that encompasses reverse mentoring for higher management.
Please contact me if you are interested in a detailed bio.
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External links
List of Publications
2023- Preprint: R. Dietrich, N. Waniek, M. Stemmler, A. Knoll. Grid Codes versus Multi-Scale, Multi-Field Place Codes for Space. 2023. DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.18.545252
- Preprint: N. Waniek. An introduction to the Transition Scale-Space model for grid cells. 2023.
- A. Kupcsik, M. Spies, A. Klein, M. Todescato, N. Waniek, P. Schillinger, M. Buerger. Supervised Training of Dense Object Nets Using Optimal Descriptors for Industrial Robotic Applications. AAAI 2021.
- L. Rozo , M. Guo , A. G. Kupcsik , M. Todescato, P. Schillinger, M. Giftthaler, M. Ochs, M. Spies, N. Waniek, P. Kesper, M. Burger. Learning and Sequencing of Object-Centric Manipulation Skills for Industrial Tasks. IROS'2020.
- N. Waniek. Transition scale-spaces: A computational theory for the discretized entorhinal cortex. Neural Computation 32(2):330-394, Feb 2020,. MIT Press. DOI: 10.1162/neco_a_01255.
- Leonel Rozo, Andras Kupcsik, Meng Guo, Marco Todescato, Philipp Schillinger, Nicolai Waniek, Markus Giftthaler, Mathias Bürger. Fast Learning and Sequencing of Object-centric Manipulation Skills. R:SS 2019, June 22 2019, Freiburg.
- M. Spies, M. Todescato, H. Becker, P. Kesper, N. Waniek, M. Guo. Bounded Suboptimal Search with Learned Heuristics for Multi-Agent Systems. Proceedings of the AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Volume 33, pages 2387-2394, 2019. DOI: 10.1609/aaai.v33i01.33012387
- N. Waniek. Locally distributed spatial navigation in a scale-space model for grid cells. PhD thesis, 2018.
- N. Waniek. Hexagonal Grid Fields Optimally Encode Transitions in Spatiotemporal Sequences. Neural Compututation 30(10):2691-2725, Oct 2018. MIT Press. DOI: 10.1162/neco_a_01122.
- Z. Tayeb, N. Waniek, J. Fedjaev, L. Rychly, N. Ghaboosi, C. Widderich, C. Richter, J. Braun, M. Saveriano, G. Cheng, and J. Conradt. gumpy: A Python Toolbox Suitable for Hybrid Brain-Computer Interfaces. Journal of Neural Engineering, 15(6), pp-065003, 2018. DOI: 0.1088/1741-2552/aae186.
- N. Waniek, and J. Conradt. Grid Cells as Transition Encoders. Poster presented at Bernstein Conference on Computational Neuroscience, Göttingen, 2017.
- Preprint: N. Waniek. Multi-Transition Systems: A theory for neural spatial navigation. 2017.
- Preprint: N. Waniek, J. von Stetten, and J. Conradt. Graph cuts for asynchronous event-based vision sensors. 2017.
- M. Mulas, N. Waniek, and J. Conradt. Hebbian plasticity realigns grid cell activity with external sensory cues in continuous attractor models. Front Comput Neurosci, 10:13, Feb 2016.
- Preprint: N. Waniek, E. Berzs, and J. Conradt. Data Structures for Locally Distributed Routing. 2016.
- N. Waniek, J. von Stetten, and J. Conradt. Event-based graph cuts, 2016. Poster presented at Neurocomputing Systems Workshop, Frauenwörth, 2016.
- N. Waniek, J. Biedermann, and J. Conradt. Cooperative SLAM on small mobile robots. In 2015 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Biomimetics (ROBIO), pages 1810–1815, Dec 2015.
- M. Mulas, N. Waniek, and J. Conradt. Exploiting grid cell properties for robotic spatial navigation. Poster presented at BCCN Retreat, Tutzing, 2015.
- N. Waniek, M. Mulas, and J. Conradt. Self-organization of grid cell networks. Poster presented at Bernstein Conference on Computational Neuroscience, Heidelberg, 2015.
- N. Waniek, S. Bremer, and J. Conradt. Real-time anomaly detection with a growing neural gas. In Artificial Neural Networks and Machine Learning – ICANN 2014, volume 8681 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science, pages 97–104. Springer International Publishing, 2014.
- R. Araújo, N. Waniek, and J. Conradt. Development of a dynamically extendable spinnaker chip computing module. In Artificial Neural Networks and Machine Learning – ICANN 2014, volume 8681 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science, pages 821–828. Springer International Publishing, 2014.
- M. Mulas, N. Waniek, and J. Conradt. Neuromorphic architecture for robotic spatial navigation. Poster presented at Bernstein Conference on Computational Neuroscience, Göttingen, 2014.
- N. Waniek, M. Mulas, and J. Conradt. Grid cell realignment based on idiothetic head direction cues. Poster presented at Bernstein Conference on Computational Neuroscience, Göttingen, 2014.
- N. Waniek, C. Denk, and J. Conradt. GRIDMAP – from brains to technical implementations. Poster presented at Bernstein Conference on Computational Neuroscience, Tübingen, 2013.
- N. Waniek, C. Denk, and J. Conradt. GRIDMAP – from brains to technical implementations. Poster presented at Bernstein Conference on Computational Neuroscience, Tübingen, 2013.
- N. Waniek and J. Conradt. From brains to technical implementations. 2013. Poster presented at BCCN Sparks Workshop, Tutzing, 2013.
- N. Waniek. Biologically Inspired Model for Visually Driven Navigation. Diploma Thesis, 2012.
