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RESEARCH INTERESTS: biologically inspired neural models of whole-brain circuits, neuromorphic technologies and their industrial applications.

WORK EXPERIENCE
Director, Neuromorphics Lab, Boston University (current). The lab designs large scale, multi-system neural models to be embedded in high-density, low-power neuromorphic hardware, and robots capable of interacting and learning in real time in complex natural environments. In his, he is supervising several projects involving more than twelve among graduate students, technical staff, postdocs, research scientists, and research assistant professors. The Lab, founded in July 2010, has been featured on the cover page of IEEE Spectrum (2010) and IEEE Computer (2011), New Scientist (August 2011) as well as in several printed and online media outlet, including MSNBC, CNN, Popular Science, Slashdot, Robotics news, Tech News Daily, BU Today, Nanotechnology, Boston Innovation, and Il Sole 24 Ore (the major Italian business newspaper), and many others. Since its funding, the lab has produced more than thirty among peer-reviewed articles, magazine articles, conference papers, conference presentations, and invited talks in academic institutions, companies, and national labs. The Lab will be also featured in the 2011 edition of Research at Boston University.

Co-coordinator of the CELEST Technology Catalyst (current). Facilitating efforts within CELEST to ensure a continuation of technology transfer of the models and knowledge developed within the Center. Responsibilities include building industrial partnerships, marketing CELEST models and technologies on the internet, promoting internships for students in partner companies, and creating computing infrastructure for technology development.

Co-PI, Senior Investigator, Boston University and HP DARPA SyNAPSE Project team (2009-2011). The main goal of the HP DARPA SyNAPSE project is to develop a new generation of neuromorphic hardware at the nanoscale that adheres to strict requirements in terms of neural density and power consumption. This job involves day-to-day coordination of a team of eight students, postdocs, and research assistant professors to ensure timely execution of deliverable milestones, maintain clear lines of communication between BU and HP SyNAPSE groups, and prepare progress, quarterly, and payable milestones reports. Other major responsibilities include leading research teams for key projects pertaining to the mathematical equations that lay the foundation for the desired functional competences embodied in the neuromorphic hardware, and the basic research to discover and develop biological neural networks that can achieve self-stabilizing adaptive intelligent behaviors in real-world environments.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, BOSTON UNIVERSITY, Boston, MA (2007-2009)

Computational modeling of the cerebral cortex.

Currently investigating how large-scale databases can be learned with networks of spiking neurons. The outcome of this research will propose clear design principles that can be embodied in the next generation of brain-based chips to be used to learn massive, real-world databases and solve challenging technological problems.
Currently co-supervising three graduate students in four research areas. The first project is an extension of the SMART model (Grossberg and Versace, 2008) in the domains of perceptual grouping. The second pertains to motion perception in laminar circuits of primary and secondary visual areas. The third is targeted at mechanistically characterizing the transfer signal function of networks of spiking neurons. Finally, the fourth concerns applications of machine learning techniques to financial time series modeling.

Hi-Tech software development project (2006-2009). Led a research team of graduate students and postdocs in developing an innovative software platform for advanced neural modeling. The software, the KDE Integrated NeuroSimulation Software (KinNeSS, www.kinness.org), has become the primary tool in many departmental research projects in designing and testing complex neural systems.

Leadership and student outreach.

Chairman of the organizing committee of the first CELEST/CNS Career Day event at the Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems at Boston University (24 October 2007) which brought together about 50 students from selected BU Departments and five representatives from local hi-tech companies (http://cns-web.bu.edu/celest/events/careerday07.htm). Responsibilities involved planning and organizing the event and coordinating the invitations for attendees and speakers.

Member of the organizing committee of the 9th MIT European Career Fair. The event, which took place in January 2005, brought together 34 companies, 9 non-profit organizations, and over 3000 registered candidates. Participating companies included, among others, BBVA, Lufthansa, Goldman Sachs, Barilla, Shell, Schlumberger, Boston Consulting Group, GE, Siemens (https://www.euro-career.com/).

Chair of the organizing committee of the postdoc and student-organized workshops that took place at the Twelfth and Thirteenth International Conference on Cognitive and Neural Systems (ICCNS, May 2008, 2009). Invited leading researchers in the fields of neural prosthetics and computational modeling of mental disorders and coordinated the organization of the event.

Leadership role in the organizing committee of the 2010 NSF sponsored Inter-Science of Learning Centers (iSLC) workshop for approximately 100 postdocs and graduate students in the NSF sponsored Science of Learning Centers from around the country. Responsibilities included review of submissions for scientific symposia sessions, inviting speakers, organizing hands on workshops, and general administrative duties.

Self-employed Consultant, Trieste, Italy (September 1998 – August 2001)
Full-time private consulting work. Projects were related to information technology applications of machine learning, team leadership in web development, and statistical analysis of psychometric tests. Contracted by

Insiel, Trieste, Italy (September 2000 – July 2001)

Implemented artificial intelligence-based software components aimed at helping Italian public functionaries to quickly obtain pertinent documentation in large databases for private citizens and business owners during the interview process.

Progetto Impresa, Padova, Italy (February 2001)

Conceived and implemented curriculum for Web Development awarded winning entry for the 2001 Euro Fund competition.

Italian Ministry of Health, Verona, Italy (April 2000 – January 2001)

Developed and published nationwide website (www.dronet.org) for drug prevention and treatment for professionals. Coordinated a team of more than ten members in defining the structure, gathering contents, beta testing and publishing. The website is currently used by the Ministry of Health to provide key support for thousands of professionals in the field of drug prevention and treatment. The website made use of web design and database software components that combine multimedia contents with functional database access containing sensitive medical information.

Veneto Region, Venezia, Italy (March 2000 – January 2001)

Contracted by the Italian Veneto region to perform statistical analysis on the results of a study regarding the impact of alcohol abuse prevention policies.

LED, Trieste, Italy (June 2000 – September 2000)

Contracted by LED (www.ledfvg.it) to implement curriculum and teach Web Development.

Web Designer (September 1998 – January 2000)
In collaboration with a team of psychologists, led the development and implementation of the first websites in Italy that would provide, along with informative material on psychology and psychotherapy, a database of psychologists, psychotherapists and public services, as well as online psychological consulting (www.psiconet.it).

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

CN810: Topics in Adaptive Mobile Robotics, Boston University (Fall 2010; 2011; Lecturer)
CN510: Introduction to Computational Modeling, Boston University (Fall 2002; Teaching Fellow)
Perceptual Psychology, University of Trieste (Fall, 1999; 2000; Lecturer)

ACADEMIC SUPERVISION

PhD co-advisees

Byron Galbraith (Boston University)
Chris Johnson (Boston University)
Jasmin Leveille (Boston University, 2010)
            Jesse Palma      (Boston University)
            Sean Patrick (Boston University)
          Charles Wong   (Boston University, 2011)

MA co-advisees

Fei He (Boston University)
Andrea Vassallo (University of Udine, Italy, 2007)

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Cognitive and Neural Systems, April 2007
BOSTON UNIVERSITY, Boston, MA
Concentration: Biologically-inspired pattern recognition.
PhD advisor: Stephen Grossberg.

Research Projects

Cerebral Cortex Modeling: This research proposed how the brain coordinates multiple levels of thalamocortical and corticocortical processing for learning and paying attention to important information about the world. The neural model developed links attentive learning requirements to detailed brain circuits, notably the layered organization of cells in neocortical circuits and how they interact with subcortical structures to allow stable learning. This model is the first of its kind to transcend the boundaries of cognitive modeling by incorporating realistic neural dynamics (i.e., neural spikes) into its structure.
Pattern Recognition in Finance: Conceived, developed and led a multidisciplinary research team in applying pattern recognition techniques to forecast financial time series. Results presented at Financial Engineering and Application conference in November 2004. More information available at: http://www.neurogest.com.

B.A. in Experimental Psychology (Summa cum Laude), July 1998
UNIVERSITY of TRIESTE, Trieste, Italy
Concentration: Biologically-inspired artificial visual systems

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Educational Module Developer (August 2005 – September 2006)

Developed and supervised the implementation of software modules, for high school, undergraduate and graduate-level curricula as part of the NSF sponsored CELEST (Center of Excellence for Learning in Education, Science, and Technology) Science of Learning Center. These modules were based on recent advances in modeling how the brain learns to control behavior. One of the major challenges in their design and implementation was to translate software realized in the context of academic research and reconcile them with the need of users with different levels of expertise and background knowledge in the classroom.

AWARDS RECEIVED

Outstanding Research Award, Global Conference on Business and Finance, Las Vegas, Nevada, Institute for Business and Finance Research, (2011).
Top Cited Article 2008-2010, Brain Research ("Spikes, Synchrony, and attentive learning by laminar thalamocortical circuits")
CELEST Award for Computational Modeling of Brain and Behavior (awarded, Boston University Science and Engineering Day, March 2009).
Invited Participant and Fellowship to NSF Sponsored Telluride Workshop on Neuromorphic Engineering (awarded, Telluride, Colorado, April 2008).
Coherent Behavior in Neural Networks (CoBeNN) Workshop travel award (awarded, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, May 2007).
Fulbright Fellowship (awarded, Rome, Italy, September 2001).
Winning entry for the Euro Fund competition (awarded, Padova, Italy, February 2001).
Post-B.A. Fellowship (awarded, University of Trieste, Italy, January 1999)
Erasmus Fellowship (awarded, University College of London, United Kingdom, February 1996).

RELATED COURSEWORK

Principles and Methods of Cognitive and Neural Modeling I
Neural and Computational Models of Vision
Neural and Computational Models of Adaptive Movement Planning and Control
Neural and Computational Models of Recognition, Memory and Attention
Neural and Computational Models of Conditioning, Reinforcement, Motivation and Rhythm
Introduction to Computational Neuroscience
Neural and Computational Models of Planning and Temporal Structure in Behavior
Topics in Computational Neuroscience

MEMBERSHIPS

IEEE
International Neural Network Society
Society for Neuroscience

SPECIAL SKILLS

Computer Skills:

Programming Languages: Matlab, C++, Java, LISP.
Web design: HTML, Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Dreamweaver,
Microsoft Front Page
Operating systems: MS Windows XP and lower, Linux, Mac OS.

Language:

Mother tongue: Italian
Fluent: English, Spanish, Portuguese
Proficient: French

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS

Patents
Gorchetchnikov, A., Ames, H.M., Versace, M., and Santini, F. (2007). Graphic Processor Based Accelerator System and Method. U.S. Utility Patent filed on September 24, 2007 (Application Number 11860254).

Gorchetchnikov, A., Ames, H.M., Versace, M., and Santini, F. (2006). Hardware, system, and methods for acceleration of massively parallel computations. U.S. Provisional Patent filed on September 25, 2006 (Application Number 60/826,892).

Cover-page featured articles

Snider, G., Amerson, R., Carter, D., Abdalla, H., Qureshi, S., Laveille, J., Versace, M., Ames, H., Patrick, S., Chandler, B., Gorchetchnikov, A., and Mingolla, E. (2010) Adaptive Computation with Memristive Memory. IEEE Computer, Volume 44(2).

Versace, M., and Chandler, B. (2010). MoNETA: A Mind Made from Memristors. IEEE Spectrum, December 2010.

Journal articles

Wong, C., and Versace, M. (2012) CARTMAP: a neural network method for automated feature selection in financial time series forecasting. Neural Computing and Applications, DOI 10.1007/s00521-012-0830-8

Palma, J., Versace, M., and Grossberg, S. (2011). After-hyperpolarization currents and acetylcholine control sigmoid transfer functions in a spiking cortical model. Journal of Computational Neuroscience, DOI: 10.1007/s10827-011-0354-8.

Livitz, G., Versace, M., Gorchetchnikov, A., Vasilkoski, Z., Ames, H., Chandler, B., Leveille, J., and Mingolla, E. (2011) Scalable adaptive brain-like systems. The Neuromorphic Engineer, DOI: 10.2417/1201101.003500 February 2011.

Leveille, J., Versace, M., and Grossberg, S. (2010). How do object reference frames and motion vector decomposition emerge in laminar cortical circuits. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, Vol. 73, No. 4, 1147-1170.

Wong, C., and Versace, M. (2011) Context Sensitivity with Neural Models in Financial Decision Processes. In Press, Global Journal of Business Research.

Wong, C. and Versace, M. (2011). Modeling financial time series with artificial neural networks. Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis. Global Journal of Business Research, Vol. 5, No. 5, pp. 27-43, 2011

Versace, M., and Zorzi, M. (2010). The role of dopamine in the maintenance of working memory in prefrontal cortex neurons: input-driven versus internally-driven networks. In press, International Journals of Neural Systems.

Leveille, J., Versace, M., and Grossberg, S. (2010). Running as fast as it can: How spikes form object groupings in the laminar circuits of visual cortex? .Journal of Computational Neuroscience, 28(2):323-46.

Grossberg, S., and Versace, M. (2008). Spikes, synchrony, and attentive learning by laminar thalamocortical circuits. Brain Research, 1218C, 278-312 [Authors listed alphabetically].

Versace, M., Ames, H., Leveille, J., Fortenberry, B., and Gorchetchnikov, A. (2008)KInNeSS: A modular framework for computational neuroscience. Neuroinformatics, 2008 Winter; 6(4):291-309. Epub 2008 Aug 10.

Gorchetchnikov, A., Versace, M., and Hasselmo, M.E. (2005). A model of STDP based on spatially and temporally local information: Derivation and combination with gated decay. Neural Networks 18, 458–466.

Versace, M., Bhatt, R., Hinds, O., and Shiffer, M. (2004). Predicting the exchange traded fund DIA with a combination of Genetic Algorithms and Neural Networks. Expert Systems with Applications. 27, 417–425.

Popular press and major media coverage

IEEE Spectrum (12/2/2010), New Scientist (8/20/2011), Slate.com (8/26/2011), CNN (7/25/2011), Il Sole 24 Ore (3/3/2011), AZoRobotics (7/19/2011), Il Piccolo (7/11/2011), Live Science (6/5/2011), BU ECE News (4/19/2011), Popular Science (1/2/2011), Slashdot (12/3/2010), Popular Science (12/3/2010), Robotics News (11/30/2010), Boston Innovation (11/29/2010), BU Arts&Science Magazine (10/31/2011)

Book chapters
Versace, M., (2010) Open-source software for computational neuroscience: Bridging the gap between models and behavior. In Horizons in Computer Science Research, Volume 3.

Tech reports and academic publications
Leveille, J., Versace, M., Grossberg, S. (2009) Spiking dynamics of perceptual grouping in the laminar circuits of visual cortex. CAS/CNS-TR-09-004.

Versace, M., Lorenz, S., St. Clair, T., Panko, M., and Carpenter, G. (2008).CNSTechnology Lab Website: Administrative Guide. CAS/CNS-TR-08.

Versace, M. (2007). Laminar circuits for synchronous thalamocortical information processing and attentive stable learning by spiking neurons. PhD Thesis, Boston University.

Versace, M., Ames, H., Leveille, J., Fortenberry, B., and Gorchetchnikov, A. (2007)KInNeSS: A modular framework for computational neuroscience. CAS/CNS-TR-07-007.

Grossberg, S., and Versace, M. (2006). From synapse to self: Spikes, synchrony, and attentive learning by laminar thalamocortical circuits. Technical Report CAS/CNS-TR-06-012 [Authors are listed alphabetically].

Conference papers
Gorchetchnikov, A., Versace, M., Ames, H., Chandler, B., Laveille, J., Livitz, G., Mingolla, E., Snider, G., Amerson, R., Carter, D., Abdalla, H., and Qureshi, S. (2011). A Unified Learning Framework for Memristive Neuromorphic Hardware. Submitted to IJCNN 2011, San Jose, CA, USA.

Vasilkoski , Z., Versace, M., Ames, H., Chandler, B., Leveille, J., Gorchetchnikov, A., Livitz, G., and Mingolla, E. (2011) Stability analysis of neural plasticity rules for implementation on memristive neuromorphic hardware. IJCNN 2011, San Jose, CA, USA.

Livitz, G., Versace, M., Gorchetchnikov, A., Vasilkoski, Z., Ames, H., Chandler, B., Leveille, J., Mingolla, E., Snider, G., Amerson, R., Carter, D., Abdalla, H., and Qureshi, S. (2011). Visually-Guided Adaptive Robot (ViGuAR). IJCNN 2011, San Jose, CA, USA.

Wong, C., and Versace, M. (2011). Re-thinking financial neural network studies: Seven cardinal confounds, Global Conference on Business and Finance, Las Vegas, Nevada

Wong, C., and Versace, M. (2011). Echo ARTMAP: Context sensitivity with neural networks in financial decision-making, Global Conference on Business and Finance, Las Vegas, Nevada

Leveille, J., Ames, H., Chandler, B., Gorchetchnikov, A., Mingolla, E., Patrick, S., and Versace, M. (2010) Learning in a distributed software architecture for large-scale neural modeling. BIONETICS10, Boston, MA, USA.

Lorenz, S., Ames, H., and Versace, M. (2010). Consciousness and neuromorphic chips: A case for embodiment. BU Interdisciplinary Graduate Conference on Consciousness, Boston, MA.

Gorchetchnikov, A., Versace, M., and Hasselmo, M.E. (2005). Spatially and temporally local spike-timing-dependent plasticity rule. Proceedings of the International Joint Conference on Neural Networks, Montreal, QC, Canada. 1568, 390–396.

Versace, M., Bhatt, R., Hinds, O. and Shiffer, M. (2004). Optimizing financial applications through biologically-inspired methods. Proceedings of the International Conference on Financial Engineering and Application, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Abstracts
Raudies, F., Eldridge, S., Joshi, A., Versace, M. (2011). Reinforcement learning for visual navigation. NSF SLC PI meeting, Washington DC, November 2011.

Eldridge, S., Joshi, A., Raudies, F., Versace, M. (2011). A Neuromorphic Hardware that Learns to Navigate Based on Optic Flow. Mark Motter NASA visit, Boston, MA March 31, 2011

Raudies, F., Joshi, A., Versace, M., Ericson vist, Boston, MA, May 3, 2011.

Raudies, F., Joshi, A., Versace, M. (2011). Neuromorphic Hardware for the Computation of Optic Flow. NSF site visit, June 13, 2011.
Eldridge, S., Joshi, A., Raudies, F., Versace, M. (2011). Optic Flow FPGA Demonstration. Jay Myung USAF AFMC visit, Boston, MA, October 27, 2011.

Eldridge, S., Joshi, A. (2011). Autonomous Robotics. EK131/132 Freshman Presentation, Boston, MA, September 28, 2011 and November, 2011.

Raudies, F., Eldridge, S., Joshi, A., Versace, M. (2001). Reinforcement Learning for Visual Navigation. NSF PI meeting in December, 6, 2011 (talk).

Chandler, B., Gorchetchnikov, A., Leveille, J., Livitz, G., Eldridge, S., Raudies, F., Galbraith, B., Michalka, S., Joshi, A., Ames, H., Mingolla, E., and Versace, M. (2011). Designing autonomous adaptive agents. NSF CELEST site visit, Boston, MA, June 2011.

Leveille, J., Hayashi, I., Fukushima, K. and Versace, M. (2011). Online competitive incremental-decremental clustering with the Winner-Kill-Loser rule. Neuroinformatics 2011, Boston, MA.

Leveille, J., Livitz, G., Ames, H., Chandler, B., Gorchetchnikov, A., Versace, M., Mingolla, E. and Snider, G. (2011). Learning to see in a virtual world. Neuroinformatics 2011, Boston, MA.

Leveille, J., Ames, H., Chandler, B., Gorchetchnikov, A., Livitz, G., Versace, M., and Mingolla, E. (2011). Object recognition and localization in a virtual animat: large-scale implementation in dense memristive memory devices. IJCNN 2011, San Jose, CA, USA.

Leveille, J., Ames, H., Chandler, B., Gorchetchnikov, A., Livitz, G., Versace, M., and Mingolla, E. (2011). Invariant object recognition and localization in a virtual animat. ICCNS 2011, Boston, MA, USA.

Livitz, G., Ames, H., Chandler, B., Gorchetchnikov, A., Leveille, J., Versace, M., and Mingolla, E. (2011). Visually-Guided Adaptive Robotic Agent (ViGuAR). ICCNS 2011, Boston, MA, USA.

Galbraith, B., Versace, M., and Chandler, B. (2011). Asimov: Middleware for Modeling the Brain on the iRobot Create. PyCon, Atlanta, March 11-13th 2011.

Gorchetchnikov, A., Ames, H., Chandler, B., Leveille, J., Livitz, G., Mingolla, E., and Versace, M. (2011) General Form of Learning Algorithms for Neuromorphic Hardware. Computational Neuroscience Annual Meeting, July 27, San Antonio, TX, USA.

Gorchetchnikov, A., Ames, H., Chandler, B., Leveille, J., Livitz, G., Mingolla, E., and Versace, M. (2010). General form of learning algorithms for neuromorphic hardware implementation. CELEST Neural Plasticity Workshop, July 13, Boston, MA, USA.

Gorchetchnikov, A., Ames, H., Chandler, B., Leveille, J., Livitz, G., Mingolla, E., and Versace, M. (2010) MoNETA: Modular Neural Exploring Traveling Agent. Functional Connections workshop, CELEST, Boston, October 2010.

Gorchetchnikov, A., Versace, M., Ames, H., Leveille, J., Yazdanbakhsh, A., Chandler, B., Mingolla, E., Snider, G. (2010) General form of learning algorithms for neuromorphic hardware implementation. The international Computational Neuroscience meeting (CNS), San Antonio, TX, July 2010.

Versace, M., Gorchetichnikov, A., Chandler, B., Kozma, R.T., Ames, H.M., and Mingolla, E. (2010) How to build a brain on a nanochip. iSLC 2010, Boston, MA, May 2010.

Versace, M., Gorchetichnikov, A., Chandler, B., Kozma, R.T., Ames, H.M., and Mingolla, E. (2010) How to build a brain on a nanochip. NSF CELEST site visit, Boston, MA, March 2010.

Versace, M., Gorchetchnikov, A., Chandler, B., Kozma, R.T., Ames, H.M., and Mingolla, E. (2010) Neural design for nanochip applications. DARPA SyNAPSE site visit, Palo Alto, MA, March 2010.

Ames, H.M., and Versace, M. (2010). Institutionalizing translational research practices with the CELEST Catalyst. NSF CELEST site visit, Boston, MA, March 2010.

Leveille, J., Versace, M., and Grossberg, S. (2010). How do object reference frames and motion vector decomposition emerge in laminar cortical circuits? ICCNS 2010, Boston, MA, USA.

Versace, M., Ames, H., Chandler, B., and Lorenz, S. (2010). Applied brain-based learning models. ICCNS 2010, Boston, MA, USA.

Wong, C., and Versace, M. (2010). Putting the Dollars and Sense Back into Financial Forecasting with Neural Networks. ICCNS 2010, Boston, MA, USA.

Leveille, J., Versace, M., Grossberg, S. (2010). From motion to object: How Visual Cortex Does Motion Vector Decomposition to Create Object-Centered Reference Frames? Vision Science Society (VSS 2010), Naples, USA.

Leveille, J., Versace, M., and Grossberg, S. (2009). How do object reference frames and motion vector decomposition emerge in laminar cortical circuits? Society for Neuroscience (SFN 2009), Chicago, USA.

Leveille, J., Versace, M., and Grossberg, S. (2009). How laminar visual cortical circuits create object reference frames using motion vector decomposition. Conference on Computational Cognitive Neuroscience (CCNC 2009), Boston, USA.

Leveille, J., Versace, M., and Grossberg, S. (2009). How do object reference frames and motion vector decompositions emerge from multiple moving targets? ECVP 2009, Germany.

Leveille, J., Versace, M., and Grossberg, S. (2009). Spiking dynamics during perceptual grouping in the laminar circuits of visual cortex. Boston University Science and Engineering Day, 2009, Boston, MA, USA.

Ames, H., Versace, M., and Gorchetchnikov, M. (2009). How can computational neuroscience benefit real world technological applications. iSLC 2009, Seattle, WA, USA

Palma, J., Versace, M., and Grossberg, S. (2009). After-hyperpolarization Currents Control Sigmoid Transfer Functions in a Spiking Cortical Model. ICCNS 2009, Boston, MA, USA.

Leveille, J., Grossberg, S., Mingolla, E., and Versace, M. (2008). Perceptual grouping in a spiking laminar cortical model. VSS 2008, Naples, FL, USA.

Ames, H., Versace, M., and Gorchetchnikov, M. (2008). Learning technologies: embedding CELEST models in real world application. NSF SLC PI meeting abstract, Washington, DC (NSF SLC 2008)

Leveille, J., Grossberg, S., Mingolla, E., and Versace, M. (2008). Spiking dynamics of perceptual grouping in the laminar circuits of visual cortex. ICCNS 2008, Boston, MA, USA.

Gorchetchnikov, M., Ames, H. and Versace, M. (2008). Simulating Biologically Realistic Neural Models on Graphic Processing Units. ICCNS 2008, Boston, MA, USA.

Versace, M, Ames, A., Leveille, J., Fortenberry, B., and Gorchetchnikov, A. (2008) KInNeSS: A modular framework for computational neuroscience. ICCNS 2008, Boston, MA, USA.

Versace, M. and Grossberg, S. (2008). From spikes to objects: How multiple levels of thalamic and cortical interactions control visual learning, attenion and recognition. Boston University Science and Engineering Research Symposium: Science Day 2008, Boston, MA, USA.

Versace, M. and Grossberg, S. (2008). Spikes, synchrony, and attentive learning by laminar thalamocortical circuits. NSF inter-Science of Learning Center (iSLC) Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Versace, M., and Grossberg, S. (2007). Spikes, synchrony, and attentive learning by laminar thalamocortical circuits. 3rd Annual Conference on Computational Cognitive Neuroscience (CCNC 2007), San Diego, CA, USA.

Versace, M., and Grossberg, S. (2007). Spikes, synchrony, and attentive learning by laminar thalamocortical circuits. Coherent Behavior in Neuronal Networks Workshop (CoBeNN 2007), Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Versace, M., and Grossberg, S. (2006). From spikes to interareal synchrony: how attentive matching and resonance control learning and information processing by laminar thalamocortical circuits. NSF Science of Learning Centers PI Meeting, Washington, DC, USA.

Versace, M., and Grossberg, S. (2006). From spikes to interareal synchrony: how attentive matching and resonance control learning and information processing by laminar thalamocortical circuits. Society for Neuroscience Abstract (SfN 2006), Atlanta, GA, USA.

Versace, M., and Grossberg, S. (2006). Learning and Cognitive Information Processing in ThalamocorticalAssemblies:Unifying Spikes, Synchronous Oscillations, and Resonance.International Conference on Cognitive and Neural Systems Abstract (ICCNS 2006), Boston, MA, USA.

Versace, M., and Grossberg, S. (2006). From Spikes to Objects: How Multiple Levels of Thalamic and Cortical Interactions Control Visual Learning, Attention and Recognition. Vision Science Society Abstract (VSS 2006), Sarasota, FL, USA.

Versace, M., and Grossberg, S. (2005). Temporal binding and resonance in thalamocortical assemblies: learning and cognitive information processing in a spiking neuron model.Society for Neuroscience Abstract (SfN 2005), Washington, DC, USA.

Versace, M., Gorchetchnikov, A., and Grossberg, S.(2005). Applying the Methods of Experimental Data Visualization to Neuronal Simulations. International Conference on Cognitive and Neural Systems Abstract (ICCNS 2005), Boston, MA.

Bhatt, R., and Versace, M. (2004). Default ARTMAP with self-adjusting learning rate. International Conference on Cognitive and Neural Systems Abstract (ICCNS 2004), Boston, MA, USA.

Gorchetchnikov, A., and Versace, M.(2004). KInNeSS: A new software environment for simulations of neuronal activity. International Conference on Cognitive and Neural Systems Abstract (ICCNS 2004), Boston, MA, USA.

Oral presentations

Versace, M. (2011). Intelligent machine or bust. Invited plenary talk, CLION 2011, Memphis, TN, USA.

Versace, M. (2011). Brain-inspired computing. Invited talk, The Krasnow Institute, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA.

Versace, M. (2011) Brain-inspired computing. Invited talk, The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa,Italy.

Versace, M. (2011) Brain-inspired computing. Invited talk, MITRE, MA, USA.

Versace, M. (2011) Brain-inspired computing. Invited talk, IS&T Mini Symposium on Neural Computation, Los Alamos National Lab, Los Alamos, NM, USA.

Versace, M., Chandler, B. (2011) Brain-inspired computing. Invited Talk, Mitsubishi Electric BAE Systems, Burlington, MA, USA.

Versace, M. (2010) Brain-inspired computing. Invited talk, iRobot Corporation, Bedford, MA, USA.

Versace, M. (2010) Brain-inspired computing. Invited keynote address, Bionetics 2010, Boston, MA, USA.

Versace, M. (2010) Brain-inspired computing. NSF SLC PI meeting, Washington DC, USA.

Versace, M. (2010) Brain-inspired computing. DARPA NEST, November 2010, San Diego, USA.

Versace, M. (2010) Neural design for nanochip applications. DARPA SyNAPSE site visit, Palo Alto, MA, August 2010.

Versace, M. (2010) Brain-inspired computing. iSLC meeting, Boston, MA, USA.

Versace, M. (2010) The Darpa SyNAPSE project at Boston University. DARPA SyNAPSE site visit, Palo Alto, MA, March 2010.

Versace, M. (2010). Brain-inspired computing. NSF CELEST site visit, Boston, MA, March 2010.

Versace, M. (2010) The BU/HP Darpa SyNAPSE team. DARPA SyNAPSE site visit, Palo Alto, MA, March 2010.

Versace, M. (2010). Plastic synapses in a stable brain. Invited talk, Qualcomm, CA, USA.

Versace, M. (2009). Modeling the visual system with spiking neurons. Oral presentation, CN530, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston, MA, USA.

Versace, M. (2007). Careers outside of academia: An introduction to industry. Oral presentation and meeting chairman, First Annual CELEST Career Day, Boston, MA, USA.

Versace, M., Ames, H., and Gorechetchnikov, A. (2006). Neural network applications in home automation. Invited talk, McPerson, Cordenons, Italy, August 22, 2006.

Versace, M., and Grossberg, S.(2006).Learning and cognitive information processing in thalamocortical assemblies: unifying spikes, synchronous oscillations, and resonance. Oral presentation, International Conference on Cognitive and Neural Systems Abstract (ICCNS 2006), Boston, MA, USA.

Versace, M.(2005).KInNeSS: A software environment for simulations of neuronal activity. Invited talk, Department of Psychology, University of Padova, Italy, 14 June 2005.

Versace, M. (2005). Learning, recognition, attention and resonance: from biology to applications. Invited talk, Accenture, Sophia Antipolis, France, 10 June 2005.

Versace, M.(2005).Learning, recognition, attention and resonance: from biology to applications. Invited talk, Accenture, Chicago, USA, 19 May 2005.

Versace, M., Bhatt, R., Hinds, O., and Shiffer, M. (2004). Optimizing Financial Applications through Biologically-inspired Methods. Oral presentation, International Conference on Financial Engineering and Application (FEA 2004), Cambridge, MA, USA.

Versace, M.(2001).A feedback neural network model for brightness perception: some preliminary results. Invited talk, Department of Psychology, University of Padova, Italy, 19 March 2001.

Online publications

Versace, M. (2011). Silicon brains. AZoRobotics, July 2011
(http://www.azorobotics.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=2)

Zorzi, M., and Versace, M. (2005). L’ Intelligenza Artificiale Adattiva nell’Ingegneria Finanziaria. Published on Italian the finance portal Finanzacomportamentale.it
(http://www.finanzacomportamentale.it/retineurali.html).

Press releases

Boston University scientists unveil roadmap to build intelligent machines with silicon synapses (http://cns.bu.edu/nl/IEEE_spectrum_2010_press_release.html)

AMD Stream Processor First to Break 1 Teraflop Barrier. (June 16, 2008).
(http://www.amd.com/us-en/Corporate/VirtualPressRoom/0,,51_104_543~126593,00.html).

Neurala Harnesses the Power of AMD’s Close to Metal Technology in Brain-Based Applications. (April 8, 2008).
(http://www.neurala.com/neurala_amd_press_release_4_8_2008.html).

First Annual CNS/CELEST Student/Postdoc Career Day (October 2007).
(http://cns-web.bu.edu/CELEST/events/events.html).

SATA HTS, “Nuova luce in montagna” (“There is a new light in the mountains”, referring to the development of solar panels in an area of Italy close to the Alpes. The solar panels use a machine learning technology to maximizing the power output of the panel), Udine Economia (Italian), October 2007
(http://www.sataenergy.com/stampa_07_11.php).

Corrieredelweb.it (2007) "Sata HI-TECH Services da Udine garantisce anche la Camera dei Deputati." (“Sata HI-TECH Services from Udine protects the house of representatives”, referring to the development of a software platform for data storage and encryption that uses neural network technology), March 21, 2007. (http://corrieredelweb.wordpress.com/2007/05/21/sicurezza-informatica-soluzioni-allavanguardia/).

From neuronal spikes to cognitive learning and performance: Unifying multiple levels of brain dynamics in
thalamocortical interactions (2006). NSF highlights. (http://cns-web.bu.edu/CELEST/events/highlights.html).

SATA HTS. (2006) "L'Intelligenza artificiale contro i furti ai bancomat", (“Artificial Intelligence against ATM thefts”, referring to the development of a software platform that tracks ATM usage with the goad of fraud prevention) Messaggero Veneto, December 15, 2006.

Editor

Psychology (http://www.scirp.org/journal/psych/)

Peer Reviewer for Publications

IEEE International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN 2010)
IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks
Neural Networks
Neural Networks, “Brain Disorders” special issue
IEEE Transactions on Image Processing
International Journal of Neural Systems
Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management

Spatial Vision, Special Issue on Vision Science and Art

Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine

Handbook of Applied Spatial Analysis (Springer, Edited by Manfred M. Fischer and Arthur Getis)
NSF-sponsored Inter Science of Learning Centers Workshop (iSLC 2008)
IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS)
International Conference on Financial Engineering and Application (FEA 2004)

Invited Panelist

Reviewer for the Netherlands Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter, FOM, for research projects in the area of Neural Networks and Memory (2009).

Reviewer for the Pennsylvania Department of Health on health related research projects in the area of Integrative Computational Modeling of the Primate Visual System (2008).

Panel discussion with leading neuroscientists and developer of Palm Pilot and Treo Smartphone, Jeff Hawkins, during Society for Neuroscience (SfN 2007), San Diego, CA.

Sponsored Research Activity

CELEST: A Center of Excellence for Learning in Education, Science, and Technology. NSF: #SBE-0354378, S. Grossberg, Principle Investigator. $24,430,006 10/1/2004.

A MURI Center for Intelligent Biomimietic Image Processing and Classification. ONR: N00014-01-1-0624, S. Grossberg, Principal Investigator. $3,500,000 5/1/2001.

A Unified Brain Architecture for Perception and Cognition with Applications to Information Processing Technology. AFOSR: F49620-01-1-0397, G. Carpenter and S. Grossberg, co Principal Investigators. $834,814.

SyNAPSE: Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics. DARPA. E. Mingolla, Principle Investigator on sub-contract to Hewlett-Packard Company (G. Snider, prime PI). $5,425,010.

Collaborators (past and current)

Heather Ames, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University
Rushi Bhatt, Yahoo Inc., Bangalore, India
Gail Carpenter, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University
Alvise Casella, SATA HTS, Udine, Italy
Ben Chandler, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University
Bret Fortenberry, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University
Byron Galbraith, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University
Suchi Gopal, Department of Geography, Boston University
Anatoli Gorchetchnikov, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University
Stephen Grossberg, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University
Michael Hasselmo, Department of Psychology, Boston University
Oliver Hinds, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ajay Joshi, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University
Jasmin Leveille, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University
Sean Lorenz, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University
Ennio Mingolla, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University
Jesse Palma, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University
Sean Patrick, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University
Florian Raudies, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University
Fabrizio Santini, Kiva Systems, Woburn, MA
Greg Snider, Hewlett-Packard, Palo Alto, CA
Charles Wong, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University
Donald Wunch, Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Missouri University
Marco Zorzi, University of Padova, Italy