Dr. Marcelo Mattar | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor at New York University | United States

Dr. Marcelo Mattar is a distinguished cognitive and computational neuroscientist whose work bridges psychology, neuroscience and artificial intelligence. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at New York University, where he also holds affiliate roles with the Center for Neural Science, the Center for Data Science, and the NYU-KAIST partnership. His career reflects a global trajectory, with academic appointments across leading institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom, including the University of California, San Diego; the University of Cambridge; and Princeton University. Dr. Mattar’s research integrates theoretical modeling, machine learning, and experimental neuroscience to understand the neural and computational principles underlying learning, decision-making, and memory. He has contributed extensively to the academic community through teaching, mentoring, peer review, and editorial service for top-tier journals. Widely recognized for his academic leadership, he has delivered invited talks at world-renowned research centers, summer schools, and international conferences. His dedication to cross-disciplinary collaboration has positioned him at the forefront of computational neuroscience, making significant contributions to both fundamental science and its applications in understanding human cognition. Dr. Mattar’s career is marked by intellectual breadth, methodological rigor, and a commitment to advancing scientific knowledge.

Publication Profile

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Education

Dr. Mattar’s educational background reflects a strong foundation in both engineering and the cognitive sciences. He began his academic journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering from the Aeronautics Institute of Technology in Brazil, where he developed a robust understanding of systems analysis, problem-solving, and computational modeling. His interdisciplinary curiosity led him to the University of Pennsylvania, where he pursued advanced studies in psychology, statistics, and neuroscience. He earned a Master’s degree in Psychology, a Master’s degree in Statistics, and ultimately a Ph.D. in Psychology under the guidance of a distinguished team of advisors with expertise in cognitive neuroscience, brain imaging, and network science. His doctoral work combined behavioral experimentation with advanced data analysis and network-based modeling to investigate cognitive processes such as decision-making and memory retrieval. Throughout his training, Dr. Mattar cultivated expertise in statistical inference, computational simulations, and the integration of complex datasets from neuroimaging and behavioral studies. This diverse academic preparation provided him with the quantitative and theoretical skills necessary to explore the brain’s computational architecture. His educational trajectory exemplifies a unique blend of technical precision and psychological insight, forming the basis for his later contributions to computational and cognitive neuroscience.

Professional Experience

Dr. Mattar’s professional career is characterized by a seamless integration of teaching, research, and collaborative leadership across top-tier institutions. At New York University, he plays a central role in shaping the academic curriculum in cognitive and computational neuroscience, while fostering interdisciplinary collaborations through his affiliations with neuroscience and data science centers. Prior to his NYU appointment, he served as an Assistant Professor in Cognitive Science at the University of California, San Diego, with concurrent roles in computer science and neuroscience graduate training. His international research experience includes serving as a Newton International Fellow in the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge and as a postdoctoral affiliate of Trinity College. Earlier, at Princeton University’s Neuroscience Institute, he contributed to groundbreaking research in computational modeling of cognition. In addition to his institutional roles, Dr. Mattar is a sought-after speaker, having delivered invited lectures at globally recognized research organizations. His professional experience extends beyond academia through service as a reviewer and guest editor for leading scientific journals, demonstrating his commitment to advancing the rigor and visibility of research in his field. His career path illustrates a balance between scientific discovery, academic mentorship, and global scientific engagement.

Research Interest

Dr. Mattar’s research interests lie at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and machine learning, with a particular emphasis on understanding the neural and computational mechanisms of learning, decision-making, and memory. He seeks to uncover how the brain represents, processes, and utilizes information to guide adaptive behavior in dynamic environments. His work often involves building and testing computational models that mimic human cognitive processes, allowing him to explore the principles underlying mental functions such as planning, exploration, and reward-based learning. He is deeply interested in the role of reinforcement learning algorithms in shaping behavior and how these computational frameworks can be aligned with neural activity patterns observed through neuroimaging and electrophysiological methods. Another central theme in his research is the integration of network neuroscience approaches to investigate the brain as a complex, interconnected system. By combining statistical modeling, data science techniques, and cognitive theory, Dr. Mattar addresses questions that are relevant not only for basic science but also for applications in artificial intelligence (AI) and clinical neuroscience. His interdisciplinary research agenda reflects a commitment to bridging theoretical models with empirical data, thereby advancing a mechanistic understanding of human cognition.

Research Skills

Dr. Mattar possesses a comprehensive set of research skills that span experimental design, computational modeling, and advanced statistical analysis. He is proficient in constructing and validating reinforcement learning models, neural network architectures, and probabilistic frameworks for cognitive processes. His expertise includes the use of network neuroscience tools to examine brain connectivity and the application of machine learning algorithms for pattern recognition in high-dimensional datasets. Skilled in programming languages such as Python and MATLAB, he develops custom analytical pipelines for integrating behavioral, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological data. His statistical expertise allows him to conduct rigorous hypothesis testing, model comparison, and cross-validation to ensure the robustness of his findings. Dr. Mattar is also experienced in designing behavioral experiments that probe decision-making and memory processes, often employing virtual environments and computational simulations. In addition to his technical competencies, he has demonstrated strong scientific communication skills through teaching, mentoring, and presenting at international conferences. His ability to bridge quantitative methods with theoretical insights enables him to address complex research questions in cognitive neuroscience with precision and creativity, making him a versatile and impactful researcher in his field.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Mattar’s academic excellence has been recognized through multiple prestigious awards and honors from international institutions and scientific organizations. Among these is the Newton International Fellowship in the United Kingdom, which supported his research and facilitated collaborations with leading experts in computational neuroscience and engineering. He has been the recipient of competitive travel grants, including one from the Computational and Systems Neuroscience Conference, enabling him to share his research with global peers. His early career achievements were further recognized with a fellowship from the Summer Institute in Cognitive Neuroscience and a best poster award at the Repetition Suppression Summer School. In Brazil, his academic promise was acknowledged with the Fundação Estudar award, which supported his studies during his formative research years. These honors reflect not only his scholarly contributions but also his active engagement in advancing the frontiers of cognitive and computational neuroscience. His awards underscore his dedication to excellence, international collaboration, and interdisciplinary research. Collectively, these recognitions affirm his standing as a leading researcher whose work continues to influence the academic and scientific communities at both national and international levels.

Author Metrics

• Total Citations: 2,620+

• h-index: 23

• i10-index: 29

These metrics reflect Dr. Marcelo Mattar’s scholarly impact and contributions to the fields of cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and computational modeling. An h-index of 23 indicates that at least 23 of his publications have received 23 or more citations each, while the i10-index of 29 shows a substantial number of works with over ten citations—demonstrating consistent and growing influence across his research portfolio.

Publications Top Notes

1. Prioritized memory access explains planning and hippocampal replay
Citations: 420
Year: 2018

2. Optimal trajectories of brain state transitions
Citations: 209
Year: 2017

3. Functional network dynamics of the language system
Citations: 189
Year: 2016

4. A functional cartography of cognitive systems
Citations: 188
Year: 2015

5. Experience replay is associated with efficient nonlocal learning
Citations: 175
Year: 2021

6. Planning in the brain
Citations: 137
Year: 2022

7. A network neuroscience of human learning: Potential to inform quantitative theories of brain and behavior
Citations: 136
Year: 2017

8. The temporal dynamics of opportunity costs: A normative account of cognitive fatigue and boredom
Citations: 114
Year: 2022

9. de Bruijn cycles for neural decoding
Citations: 103
Year: 2011

10. Simultaneous perceptual and response biases on sequential face attractiveness judgments
Citations: 80
Year: 2015

Conclusion

Dr. Marcelo Mattar exemplifies the modern interdisciplinary scientist, blending the quantitative rigor of engineering with the conceptual depth of cognitive neuroscience. His career trajectory—from engineering studies in Brazil to faculty leadership at a premier U.S. institution—demonstrates both intellectual versatility and a sustained commitment to advancing scientific understanding. His research, centered on the computational principles of learning, decision-making, and memory, contributes to bridging the gap between neuroscience and artificial intelligence. As an educator, he brings complex concepts to life for undergraduate and graduate students, fostering analytical skills and inspiring the next generation of scientists. His service to the scientific community as an editor, reviewer, and invited speaker reflects his leadership and influence in the field. Dr. Mattar’s body of work underscores the value of interdisciplinary collaboration, methodological innovation, and scientific curiosity. With a career marked by international engagement, academic excellence, and impactful scholarship, he continues to make significant contributions to both theoretical knowledge and practical applications in cognitive science and computational neuroscience. His ongoing work promises to shape the future of brain research, artificial intelligence and the development of intelligent systems.