Gokul Rajan

Profile

I am a postdoctoral scientist at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown. I'm interested in the brainwide representation of long-term memory traces. I had carried out my PhD in Neuroscience at Institut Curie and Sorbonne University in Paris where I investigated the neuronal mechanisms underlying the differences in the navigational strategy employed by two related vertebrate species. Before this, I earned a Masters in Biotechnology from IIT Bombay and worked on various other projects involving microbiology, genetic engineering, bioinformatics and neurophysiology.

A wide range of questions interests me. Of these, I'm most passionate about neuronal circuits and behavior: how is the seemingly stoichastic brain activity interspersed with useful information, and more interestingly, how is this neuronal information translated to fine meaningful behaviors? Some of my research works can be found here on my Google Scholar profile.

Expertise

My expertise ranges from genetic engineering to building custom imaging systems to data analytics. As part of my PhD work, I have: created transgenic animals (yes, the scintillating brain activity in the background is recorded from one such animal!), built automated high-speed acquisition systems, used state-of-the-art 2-photon and 1-photon scanning and light-sheet microscopes, and developed custom pipelines to analyse big datasets.

I care about public understanding of science. I have authored many popular science articles in magazines and newspapers.

Hobbies

I’m passionate about exploring the world — whether it’s trekking through nature, immersing myself in vibrant cultures, or delving into the stories of historical landmarks. My curiosity extends to literature and cinema, with a particular fondness for thrillers and thought-provoking non-fiction. Stand-up comedy, especially sharp observational humor, is another source of joy for me. I also enjoy learning and tinkering, and have built a few useful digital tools.

History is a friend — I love delving into everything from ancient civilizations to modern events. Reflecting on the past that has shaped our present world is an enriching experience to me. You might even catch me leading the unique science history walk in Paris, where I share my passion for the stories behind our scientific milestones.

Contact

You can reach out to me here: gokulrajan[at]outlook[dot]com

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Elements

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