Big news

Finished not 1, but 2 PhDs ! (technically 2 times 1, let’s settle for 1.5)\ Went through 4.5 years of “cotutelle” journey, resulted in doctorate from both Université de Montréal and Aix-Marseille University.
Fun experience, except for nightmarish administrative BS.

Overall, challenging, fulfilling experience. Tackled simple problem: implementation of probabilistic computations in the brain. Two simultaneous angles of attack for this.

With Christian Casanova, conducted brain recordings in various setups. Goal: understand how neurons encode environmental uncertainty. With Laurent Perrinet, developed computer models of these neurons. Explained existence, necessity of these neurons.

Things I did, non-exhaustive list:

• Showed new type of response to uncertainty in cortex: https://hugoladret.github.io/publications/ladret_et_al_variance_v1/
• Developed deep learning models: https://hugoladret.github.io/publications/ladret_et_al_sparsecoding/
• Framed this under Bayesian principles: https://hugoladret.github.io/publications/cortes_et_al_review/
• Created large scale models, linked to neurobiology: https://hugoladret.github.io/publications/cortes_et_al_pulvinar/ Tremendous fun ! Equally about science and personal journey.

In 4.5 years, progressed from failing basic high school maths to writing hundreds of pages filled with equations for manuscript.
From stage fright in lab classes to performing neurosurgical procedures solo. Learned comfort in discomfort - valuable lesson.

Onward to new adventures in April!

Fun fact

^ Holding microphone to the president of the jury Elvire Vaucher during official investiture.
Very hard not to laugh - this is the moment brain chose to remember many “is there a doctor here” “im a doctor in computational neuroscience” memes.