Summary
Joseph Monaco is a Scientific Program Manager at NIH/NINDS and a computational neuroscientist with 13+ years translating theory-driven models of hippocampal circuits into actionable research strategies for the BRAIN Initiative. He holds a Ph.D. in Theoretical Neuroscience from Columbia and spent two decades developing models of spatial navigation, memory formation, oscillatory phase coding, and dynamical neural trajectories across species and embodied behaviors. At Johns Hopkins he connected movement and memory with statistical rigor and helped steer interdisciplinary work that applied neuroscience theories to robotic control, and he now evaluates the scientific impact of data, theory, and computational tools at NIH. He also co-leads SelfMotion Labs as Chief Scientist, bridging academic theory and practical neuro-inspired engineering. Based in Baltimore, Joe combines deep theoretical rigor with hands-on collaboration across experiments, modeling, and applied systems—often pursuing the “inductive valleys” that clarify large noisy datasets. Outside work he reads widely on consciousness and practices Chopin, reflecting a temperament that blends analytical depth with creative curiosity.
12 years of coding experience
7 years of employment as a software developer
B.A., Cognitive science, Mathematics, Philosophy, B.A., Cognitive science, Mathematics, Philosophy at University of Virginia
Ph.D., Theoretical Neuroscience, Ph.D., Theoretical Neuroscience at Columbia University
Ph.D. (coursework), Neuroscience, Ph.D. (coursework), Neuroscience at Brandeis University