Date and Time: Monday, February 24th, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, BJT
Zoom ID: 442 682 1255
Speaker:
Dr. Po-Chen Kuo 郭柏辰
Physician-scientist, Ph.D. Candidate in Computational Neuroscience at the University of Washington
Visiting Scientist at the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics
Abstract:
How do biological and artificial systems learn and adapt in uncertain and ever-changing environments? The ability to flexibly adjust behavior based on past experience and new information is a hallmark of intelligence, yet the underlying neural mechanisms remain elusive. My research investigates how the brain integrates prior knowledge with dynamic sensory and reward information to guide adaptive decision-making. Leveraging the latest development in neural network modeling, deep reinforcement learning, and meta-learning, I examine the neural representations and network dynamics that support learning under uncertainty. This interdisciplinary approach not only deepens our understanding of brain function but also provides key insights for developing AI systems with greater adaptability and robustness. In this talk, I will present recent findings from my work, discuss their implications for neuroscience and AI, and explore how bridging these fields can lead to transformative advancements in intelligent systems.
Bio:
Dr. Po-Chen Kuo (郭柏辰) is a physician-scientist, Ph.D. Candidate in Computational Neuroscience at the University of Washington, and a Visiting Scientist at the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics. He received M.D and B.Sc. in Physics from National Taiwan University in 2020. With a background in biomedicine, physics, and artificial intelligence, his research focuses on how biological and artificial intelligence learn and adapt under uncertainty, leveraging reinforcement learning, Bayesian inference, and meta-learning approaches. His work bridges neuroscience and AI, aiming to advance our understanding of brain computation and its applications. Dr. Kuo has published in leading journals and conferences such as JAMA Network Open, NeurIPS, ICML, and Cosyne, and has received multiple academic awards, including the University of Washington Neuroscience Top-Off Award, Presenter Travel Award for Cosyne, and the Janelia Travel Scholarship.
