1. technology and computing

René DOURSAT, PhD, Habil.
[email protected]
Research Scientist, BioEmergences Lab, CNRS (USR3695), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Research Scientist & Fmr. Director, Complex Systems Institute, Paris Ile-de-France (ISC-PIF), CNRS (UPS3611), Paris
Co-Founder & Guest Lecturer, Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Complex Systems Science, Ecole Polytechnique, Paris
Research Associate Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems, Drexel University, US
Board of Directors, International Society for Artificial Life – General Chair, European Conference on Artificial Life 2011
CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
Academic Period 2
14. CNRS: BioEmergences Lab (UPS3695), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
 Research Scientist (“Chercheur”), 8/2014–Present
+ Ecole Polytechnique: MSc in Complex Systems & Neuroscience Seminars, Paris, France
 Guest Lecturer (“Chargé d’enseignement”), 9/2009Present
13. The Catholic University of America: School of Engineering, Washington, DC
 Adjunct Faculty, 8/20137/2014
12. Drexel University: School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems, Philadelphia, PA
 Research Associate Professor, 1/20137/2014
11. Universidad de Málaga (UMA): Research Group in Biomimetics (GEB), Dept. of Computer Science, Málaga, Spain
 Visiting Research Scientist, 9/20118/2012
10. CNRS: Complex Systems Institute (ISC-PIF) / Ecole Polytechnique: CREA Lab (UMR7656), Paris, France
 Research Scientist (“Chercheur”), 11/2006Present
 Director, ISC-PIF, 1/200912/2010
9. University of Nevada, Reno (UNR): Brain Computation Lab, Department of Computer Science, Reno, NV
 Visiting Assistant Professor, 7/20056/2006
 Research Assistant Professor, 8/20046/2005
Industry Period
8. Akheron Technologies, Palo Alto, CA
 Chief Engineer, 3/20028/2004
7. BIOwulf Genomics, Berkeley, CA
 Senior Software Architect, 11/20002/2002
6. RedCart.com, San Francisco, CA
 Senior Software Engineer & Architect, 7/199911/2000
5. Neuron Data, Mountain View, CA and Paris, France
 (Senior) Software Engineer, Research & Development, 4/19957/1999
Academic Period 1
4. Ecole Polytechnique & CNRS: CREA Laboratory (UMR 7656), Paris, France
 Research Associate (“Chargé de recherche”), 10/19969/1997 (in parallel with 5.)
 elected Associate Member, 1995-98; Foreign Associate, 1998-06; Full Member, 2006-11 (in parallel with 5.-10.)
3. Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB): Institute for Neural Computation, Bochum, Germany
 Postdoctoral Assistant (“Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter”), 10/199112/1994
2. School of Industrial Physics and Chemistry (ESPCI): Electronics Laboratory, Paris, France (work place)
Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris 6), Paris, France (enrollment)
 Doctoral Fellow, 10/19879/1991 (aged 21-25)
1. Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS): Department of Physics, Paris, France, 10/19859/1989
 PhD, 1987-1991 (located at 2.) – MSc (“DEA”), 1986-1987 – Senior (“Licence-Maîtrise”), 1985-1986
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EDUCATION & DEGREES
Professor Qualification (eligibility to senior faculty posts), French National Council of Universities, 1/2011-12/2015
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Level: Professor (PR) – Section: CNU #27 Computer Science (“Informatique”) – Reference: #11127199531
Habilitation (to be a principal PhD supervisor), Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris 6), France, 4/2010
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Title: From the Simulation of Complex Biological Systems to the Design of Artificial Morphogenetic Systems, and Back
Fields: artificial life (biological modeling & bio-inspired engineering), neural dynamics (large-scale spiking
neural networks, complex systems)
Jury: Wolfgang Banzhaf (Memorial U. of Newfoundland), Yves Frégnac (CNRS Gif-sur-Yvette), Jean-Louis
Giavitto (IBISC, CNRS / Université d’Evry), Guillaume Beslon (LIRIS, INSA Lyon / IXXI), Yves Burnod
(Inserm), Amal El Fallah (LIP6, UPMC), Jean Petitot (CREA, Ecole Polytechnique / EHESS)
PhD, applied maths /computational physics, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris 6), 5/1991 (aged 25)
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Title: A Contribution to the Study of Representations in the Nervous System and in Artificial Neural Networks
Fields: computational neuroscience, neural networks, machine learning, computer vision, biological modeling,
complex systems, cognitive science
Advisor: Elie Bienenstock, CNRS (today Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience and Division of
Applied Mathematics, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island)
MSc, theoretical physics, Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS), Paris, France, 9/1987
ENS and Ecole Polytechnique are the two most selective French “Grandes Ecoles”.
Lead graduate candidate, French “Grandes Ecoles” (graduate schools), Paris, France, 7/1985 (aged 19)
Single-digit ranks at several competitive entrance exams to the best science & engineering graduate schools:
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Ranked 1st of 2,818 candidates at the Ecole Centrale league examination (group of four schools)
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Ranked 5th of 2,239 candidates at the Ecole des Mines league examination (group of eight schools)
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Ranked 9th of 222 candidates (physics section) at the Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS), Paris
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Ranked 7th at the written examination (physics section) of the Ecole Normale Supérieure de St-Cloud
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
I am a researcher and lecturer at the interface between computer science and biomedical engineering, focusing on
computational biology and bio-inspired computing. After a detour through the software industry following my PhD
and postdoc period, I returned to academia in 2004, first as a Visiting Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno,
then as a Research Scientist at the Complex Systems Institute, Paris Ile-de-France (under the CNRS) and a Guest
Lecturer at Ecole Polytechnique, Paris. I was also Director of the institute for two years, but preferred handing over
this management responsibility to dedicate myself again to research. Later, I lived in the Washington DC area, where
I was formally affiliated with Drexel University and taught at The Catholic University of America. In August 2014, I
moved back to France to take up a new research position at CNRS.
14. Research Scientist (“Chercheur”), BioEmergences Lab, CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, 8/2014Present
The BioEmergences Lab, founded by Nadine Peyriéras within the Neurobiology & Development (N&D) unit at the
CNRS campus in Gif, develops original methodologies and tools for the in vivo multiscale and multimodal
observation, quantification and multilevel theoretical modeling of biological processes. Its strategies are the basis
for a predictive understanding of the morphogenesis of living organisms in normal and pathological conditions,
opening the way to new kind of pharmacology and toxicology screening schemes.
13. Adjunct Faculty, School of Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, 8/20137/2014
The engineering program was established in 1896, soon after the founding of The Catholic University of America.
The School of Engineering was formally established in 1930. Later, research activities and graduate offerings
have increased at a steady rate. Today, the school offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in five areas:
biomedical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering & computer science, materials science &
engineering, and mechanical engineering.
12. Research Associate Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering, Drexel University, 1/20137/2014
The School of Bioengineering, Science and Health Systems (BIOMED) hosts 39 core faculty and 20 research
groups (such as bionanotechnology, integrated bioinformatics, optical brain imaging, or tissue enginering). It has
launched many research initiatives and formed alliances with partner institutions and industry. It promotes merging
physical sciences, computational sciences, and technology with life sciences and medicine toward a new era of
biomedical engineering and health systems.
11. Visiting Research Scientist, Dept. of Computer Science, Univ de Málaga (UMA), Spain, 9/2011-8/2012
The Research Group in Biomimetics (GEB), is headed by Francisco J. Vico at UMA’s Dept. of Computer Science.
Its research topics in computational biology and artificial life aim at explaining how complex patterns and novel
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behavior emerge from living matter. GEB also has a track record of technology transfer, having applied bioinspired methodologies to a wide spectrum of projects in partnership with companies.
10. Research Scientist & Engineer, Complex Systems Institute, Paris / CREA, CNRS, 11/20068/2011
Guest Lecturer (“Chargé d’enseignement”), Ecole Polytechnique, Paris, 9/2009-Present (see Teaching)
The Complex Systems Institute, Paris Ile-de-France (ISC-PIF), founded by Paul Bourgine, a former director of
CREA, is a multidisciplinary research center and network (GIS: “Groupement d’Intérêt Scientifique”)
administratively attached to CREA and sponsored by the Paris Region Ile-de-France as part of its research
program (DIM: “Domaine d’Intérêt Majeur”). It is co-financed by 15 top-rank French academic partners—graduate
schools, universities, and national institutions (Ecole Polytechnique, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Université Pierre
et Marie Curie, CNRS, INRIA, CEA, Inserm, etc.). Its mission is to build a community of research in complex
systems (large sets of locally interacting elements creating a collective behavior), to study common “questions”
(self-organization, emergence, autonomy, adaptation, etc.) across many “objects” (molecular, cellular, cognitive,
social, economic, technological, environmental).
Beside my research activities, I co-managed during my first year, and contributed to, the EU Embryomics and
BioEmergences projects (FP6-NEST, 6 partners, €3.15M, 2005-2009), launched by Paul Bourgine and Nadine
Peyriéras, whose goal was the spatiotemporal reconstruction of the full cell lineage tree underlying biological
development, by image processing, visualization, and agent-based simulation. I also directed a PhD thesis on this
topic (MECAGEN project, by Julien Delile; see below).
Director, Complex Systems Institute, Paris (ISC-PIF), 1/200912/2010 (in parallel with above)
I was also in charge of leading and managing the institute during two full years, in collaboration with a Steering
Committee (“Comité directeur”) of 15 external advisors, senior researchers and professors. In particular, I led the
yearly renewal of ISC’s mandate and funding. I reported twice a year to an Executive Board (“Conseil
d’administration”) composed of our supporting partners about the institute’s program, activities and budget use.
The capital budget (‘investissement”) and operating budget (“fonctionnement”) totalled about €1M/year. Scientific
orientations were overseen by an external Scientific Council of foreign scholars. Capital budget was used to create
ISC “branches” hosted by its different academic partners, i.e., build/renovate and equip office space to become
complex systems research labs. Another part was invested in a large computing cluster (1600 cores) dedicated
to complex systems modeling and numerical simulations. Operating budget supported ISC’s activities, including
scientific events (conferences, workshops, seminars) and educational programs (summer school, thematic
institutes, Master’s curriculum), and the resident staff of 10 researchers, 3 engineers and 3 admins who
coordinated them. After two years, I decided to hand over this day-to-day management responsibility in order to
dedicate myself again to research. In sum, it involved contributing to, or supervising:
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Liaison with main sponsor, the Paris Region: yearly financing agreements, collaborations with other regional centers
Liaison with 15 co-sponsoring acamedic institutions: partner fees, bi-yearly meetings of the Board of Trustees
Liaison and co-organization of events with the National Network (RNSC) and Lyon Institute (IXXI) of Complex Systems
Liaison with the Complex Systems Society (CSS): org. of ECCS conferences, submission of grant projects to EU-FP7
Agreements for the creation and management of complex systems “branch” labs hosted by our academic partners
Purchase, installation, management of computing cluster (devt. of a simulation platform, creation of a user committee)
Organization of events: summer schools, conferences, workshops, thematic institutes, seminars, etc.
Organization of calls for projects (seed funding) and position searches (recruitment of postdocs, engineers, admins)
Creation and coordination of a European Master’s in Complex Systems Science (Erasmus Mundus II Program)
Coordination of a team of resident researchers, postdocs, engineers, PhD students, MSc interns, admin staff
Development of Web/Wiki site, specification of a membership policy, launch of public communication campaigns
Development of partnerships with industry and public decision makers (“how complex systems science can help”)
Preparation and organization of meetings of the Steering Committee, the Board of Trustees, and the Scientific Council
Administrative tasks: HR, accounting, operations, logistics, etc.
9. Visiting Assistant Professor, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Nevada, Reno, 7/2005–6/2006
Research Assistant Professor, Brain Computation Lab, University of Nevada, Reno, 8/2004–6/2005
The UNR Brain Computation Laboratory (“Brain Lab”) is an interdisciplinary research group studying large-scale
spiking neuronal models of the cortex. Its core technology was the NeoCortical Simulator (NCS), a biologically
detailed software model running on a massively parallel 220-CPU Beowulf cluster.
I was a Co-PI in the “Neuromorphic Mesocircuits” project led by Philip H. Goodman (Lab Director & Professor,
School of Medicine; deceased in 2010). It constituted an original attempt to design a modular brain architecture
of spiking neural networks that emulated robotic behavior learning. We modeled pattern recognition and
association by “lock-and-key” coherence induction between dynamic cell assemblies. I also further developed the
research on spatial categorization started at CREA, Paris (emergence of symbolic language from visual scenes;
see next) and became actively involved in several other complex systems projects (see above). Additionally, as a
visiting faculty in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, I taught two to three classes per
semester, organized and co-managed student projects, and assisted supervising MSc and PhD works.
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4. Research Associate, CREA Lab, Ecole Polytechnique / CNRS, Paris, 10/1996-9/1997 (while in industry)
elected Associate Member, 1995-98; Foreign Associate, 1998-06 (while in US); Full Member, 2006-11
The Centre de Recherche en Epistémologie Appliquée (CREA) is an interdisciplinary theoretical research lab in
cognitive and social sciences. Its activities range from neuroscience to linguistics and economics, focusing on the
mathematical and computational modeling of complex, self-organizing systems.
I worked with Jean Petitot (Professor & Director; also at EHESS—School for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences,
Paris) on dynamic models of semantics based on cognitive linguistics (in contrast to logical models of syntax
based on generative grammar). We specifically examined spatial categorization, i.e., how the mind is able to map
an infinite variety of visual scenes to only a few prepositions (‘in’, ‘over’, ‘across’, etc.). This study addressed
central theoretical questions such as the interface between physicalist and symbolic representations and the
existence of a “cognitive topology” in perception (less metric than vector spaces, yet more metric than topology).
I created a graphical application to illustrate the schematization pathways underlying classification of space
(COGMORPH project), and collaborated to a book by J.Petitot.
I worked with Jean Petitot (Professor & Director; also at EHESS—School for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences,
Paris) on dynamic models of semantics based on cognitive linguistics (in contrast to logical models of syntax
based on generative grammar). We specifically examined spatial categorization, i.e., how the mind is able to map
an infinite variety of visual scenes to only a few prepositions (‘in’, ‘over’, ‘across’, etc.). This study addressed
central theoretical questions such as the interface between physicalist and symbolic representations and the
existence of a “cognitive topology” in perception (less metric than vector spaces, yet more metric than topology).
I created a graphical application to illustrate the schematization pathways underlying classification of space, and
I collaborated to a book by Jean Petitot on these topics.
3. Postdoctoral Assistant, Institute for Neural Computation, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 10/1991–12/1994
The Institute for Neural Computation (INI) is a research center in neural networks, computer vision, neurobiological
models, machine learning and autonomous robotics. Its goal is to understand the organizational principles of
nervous systems and find new solutions to problems of information processing in technical systems, such as real
time vision, face recognition, and medical engineering.
I worked under the supervision of Christoph von der Malsburg (Professor & Chair; also at the University of
Southern California) on theoretical aspects of pattern recognition, specifically the ability of the visual system to
segment and regroup image domains under the influence of previously learned shapes. My focus was studying
networks of coupled oscillating units and their properties of emergent collective behavior, such as phase-locking
synchronization or traveling waves of activity. I designed models showing that shape extraction can arise from
such networks and created simulator applications with high-end graphical user interfaces to support these models
(WAVEMAT project). I also co-created and taught two original seminars for grad students in cognitive science, on
neuro-inspired learning and linguistic topics.
2. Doctoral Fellow, Electronics Laboratory, ESPCI, Paris, France, 10/1987–9/1991 (aged 21-25)
The Electronics Laboratory at the School of Industrial Physics and Chemistry (Ecole Supérieure de Physique et
Chimie Industrielles, ESPCI), Paris, is an engineering research lab in machine learning, neural networks and
signal processing, led by Gérard Dreyfus, Professor & Director.
Under the direction of Elie Bienenstock, CNRS (now Associate Professor at Brown University, Providence), I
elaborated a criticism of the traditional activity-rate code in neural models, which also advocated temporal
correlations as the basis of brain function (after von der Malsburg’s theory, 1981). We illustrated this question
through three mathematical and numerical studies: (1) the bias/variance trade-off faced by machine learning, like
any nonparametric statistical estimation; (2) handwritten character recognition based on 2-D “elastic” template
matching (instead of pixel lists); (3) synaptic self-organization in the cortex (“synfire chain” growth) by
activity/connectivity feedback (SYNDEVO project). I co-designed the models, created visualization tools and
carried out numerical simulations for all three parts.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
I am currently active in several collaborations with colleagues in Europe, United States and Canada. In the vast land
of complex systems, I commute back and forth between computational biology and bio-inspired computing. On
the way, I founded the field of morphogenetic engineering (ME), which explores new methodologies to model and
create complex architectures that self-organize from a swarm of heterogeneous agents, in particular by development.
Such emergent structures can be modular robots, synthetic organisms, or large autonomic networks of computing
devices. ME could also explain brain representations based on dynamic “neural shapes” in phase space, formed by
myriads of correlated spikes. Additionally, I am interested in the evolutionary mechanisms leading to diversity, and
how they can help us understand and automate the design of ME systems.
Morphogenesis – Computational models of collective cell behavior in 2D/3D, such as tissue and organism
development (embryogenesis), tumor growth, or bacterial mats (synthetic biology)
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• MECAGEN – Mechanogenetic Model of Biological Morphogenesis
• BIOEMERG – BioEmergences: Reconstructing the Physiome of Model Organisms
• SYNBIOTIC – Synthetic Biological Systems: From Design to Compilation
Morphogenetic Engineering – Designing decentralized, autonomous systems inspired by morphogenesis, with
applications in swarm robotics, distributed software, and ICT networks or power grids
• EMBENG – Embryomorphic Engineering (2D)
• MAPDEVO – Modular Architecture by Programmable Development (3D)
• PROGNET – Network Growth by Programmable Attachment (nD)
Neuroscience – Mesoscopic emergence, interaction and composition of spatiotemporal patterns of activity and
connectivity in large-scale spiking neural networks
• SYNDEVO – Synfire Chain Development and Composition
• WAVEMAT – Wave-Based Shape Storage and Matching
• COGMORPH – Morphodynamical Models of Cognitive Linguistics
Evolution & Ecology – Agent-based, grammar-based or genetic programming models of population dynamics
combining the short and long time scales of individual interactions and evolution
• EVOSPACE – Evolutionary Dynamics and Speciation in Space
• DIVPLANT – Emergent Diversity in Communities of Virtual Plants
• HETCA – Long-Term Evolutionary Dynamics in Heterogeneous Cellular Automata
Core scientific network: close collaborators, co-authors/editors, co-supervisors, and co-organizers
Arnaud Banos, CNRS, Paris (computational geography)
Wolfgang Banzhaf, Memorial University (evolutionary comput)
Jake Beal, BBN Tech & MIT, Boston, MA (spatial computing)
Mark Bedau, Reed College, Portland, OR (artificial life)
Hugues Bersini, Université Libre de Bruxelles (artificial life)
Elie Bienenstock, Brown University (comput neuroscience)
Paul Bourgine, Ecole Polytechnique, Paris (complex systems)
Nicolas Bredeche, Université Paris 6 (swarm robotics)
Marco Dorigo, Université Libre de Bruxelles (swarm robotics)
Stefan Dulman, CWI Amsterdam (sensor/actuator networks)
Jean-Louis Giavitto, IRCAM, Paris (spatial computing)
Guy Hoelzer, University of Nevada, Reno (evolutionary biology)
Olivier Michel, Université Paris-Est (comput synthetic biology)
Jean-Marc Montanier, NTNU Trondheim (swarm robotics)
Jean Petitot, Ecole Polytechnique, Paris (cognitive science)
Nadine Peyriéras, CNRS, France (developmental biology)
Jeremy Pitt, Imperial College London (pervasive adaptation)
Hiroki Sayama, Binghamton University, NY (bioengineering)
Susan Stepney, University of York, UK (natural computing)
Chris Trengove, KU Leuven, Belgium (comput neuroscience)
Mihaela Ulieru, IMPACT Institute (techno-social networks)
Franck Varenne, Sorbonne/University of Rouen (epistemology)
C. von der Malsburg, Goethe-University (comp neuroscience)
Alan Winfield, University of West England (swarm robotics)
TEACHING
My main original course, which I first designed at the University of Nevada, explores canonical examples of complex
systems through agent-based modeling and numerical simulation. I currently teach it at the European Erasmus
Mundus Master’s in Complex Systems Science, which I co-founded and coordinated in its beginnings at Ecole
Polytechnique, Paris. I also co-organized a series of graduate seminars on cognitive and neural science at the same
institution. In addition, I led the annual Summer School at the Complex Systems Institute in Paris four years in a row,
and taught 12 course semesters in American universities (UNR and CUA). I have (co)supervised the thesis and
research of 21 postdocs, PhD and MSc students.
Ecole Polytechnique, Paris – Master’s in Complex Systems Science
Co-Founder & Coordinator, 2008-2011
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European Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Complex Systems Science (MCSS)
Consortium: University of Warwick, Ecole Polytechnique, Chalmers Univ. of Technology/Univ. of Gothenburg
“Complex Systems Track”, French Master’s in Logic & Philosophy of Science (LoPHiSS-SC2)
Consortium: Ecole Polytechnique, Université Paris Diderot (Paris 7), Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris
These two new Master’s programs started in the fall of 2010. I was member of the committee of 4 who wrote
in 2008-2009 the “Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Course” grant proposal that was approved by the
European Commission in 2010 for 5 years (10-15% rate of acceptance) with a budget of ~€3.2M (~€600K/year
for scholarships). I closely collaborated to the design of the core curriculum common to both Master’s (based
on Polytechnique’s course offer for the 1st year M1, and an original creation for the 2nd year M2), and
coordinated the first year 2010-2011 at Ecole Polytechnique, advising and following the progress of the
students accepted into the program that year. This degree offers unique interdisciplinary experience and
educational tools for analyzing complex systems and understanding their emergent behavior.
20 Erasmus scholarships per year, distributed over 3 partner sites, i.e. 13 M1+M2 students per site.year
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Guest Lecturer (“Chargé d’enseignement”), 2009-Present
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“Complex Systems Made Simple by Agent-Based Modeling” (Fall 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011)
European Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Complex Systems Science (MCSS)
French National Master’s in Logic & Philosophy of Science (LoPHiSS-SC2)
I created this course to explore the canonical families of complex systems through “simple”, non-mathematical
agent-based modeling and simulation. Relying on the NetLogo platform in a computer lab setting, including a
programming tutorial, students could familiarize themselves with popular case studies (cellular automata,
pattern formation, swarm intelligence, complex networks, spatial communities) and think about their unifying
key concepts (emergence, self-organization, decentralization), then complete an original term project, with
code, paper and slides.
2nd MSc year (M2), 4 semesters, 10-12 Erasmus Mundus & Polytech students, 9 sessions / sem., 2h / sess.
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HSS 512F: “Brain and cognition” (Fall 2010, Fall 2009)
I co-led with Pr. Yves Frégnac a series of 12 seminars given by prominent invited neural and cognitive
scientists (including Jean-Pierre Changeux), on the multiscale neural basis of cognition: from the microscopic
level (molecular, genetic and cellular foundations, individual neuron physiology) to the mesoscopic level
(computational neuroscience, electrophysiology, complex neural dynamics, neural network modeling) and
macroscopic level (cognitive neuroscience, functional imaging, phenomenology, social cognition). After a 1hour seminar given by the guest researcher, a group of 2-3 students presented a review of selected scientific
articles relevant to the seminar’s topic. I organized the entire program of invited talks, the distribution of
students into groups, co-moderated the sessions with Pr. Frégnac and the guest speaker (comments,
questions), closely followed students’ preparation and progress by email, and gave one lecture myself.
3rd year of engineering degree (= 1st MSc year), 2 semesters, 35 students, 12 weeks / sem., 2h / week
The Catholic University of America (CUA), Washington DC – School of Engineering
Adjunct Faculty, 2013-2014
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ENGR 520: “Math Analysis for Graduate Students” (Summer 2014, Spring 2014, Fall 2013)
The objective of this course is to provide an introduction to the mathematical methods that will be needed in
subsequent graduate-level courses in engineering. Emphasis is placed on understanding the concepts for
solving first- and second-order differential equations as opposed to extracting an answer from a math package
such as Mathematica or MATLAB.
graduate level (“M1/M2”), 10-15 students, 16 weeks / semester, 2h30 / week
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ENGR 503: “Control Systems” (Fall 2013)
This course covers concepts related to classical system analysis and control theory, beginning with system
modeling and analysis, and concluding with control design. Since most engineering disciplines take this class,
we review electrical, mechanical, and biomedical systems.
senior year (“4e annee, L3/M1”), 30 students, 16 weeks / semester, 2h30 / week
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CSC 306: “Introduction to Operating Systems” (Spring 2014)
Intended for computer science students and others who want an in-depth introduction to the fundamental
principles, components, and design of modern operating systems, with a focus on the UNIX platform. Topics
include: the evolution and major types of O/S, system calls, processes and threads, concurrency and
deadlocks, virtual and real memory management, CPU scheduling, input/output and disk management, file
system, performance issues, and possible case studies.
junior year (“3e annee, L3”), 10 students, 16 weeks / semester, 2h30 / week
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CSC 223: “Object-Oriented Programming with Java” (Fall 2013)
A course for computer science major students, continuation of CSC 123: “C/C++ Programming”. The focus is
on fundamental object-oriented concepts and basic constructs of the Java programming language. Hands-on
coding is an essential part of this course to understand the concepts and prepare for the next levels of the CS
curriculum. Java is one of today’s most popular programming languages and an essential tool for computer
science students in their future endeavors.
sophomore year (“2e année, L2”), 20 students, 16 weeks / semester, 2h30 / week
Complex Systems Institute, Paris Ile-de-France – Annual French Complex Systems Summer School
Lead Organizer, 2009, 2008 – Co-Organizer, 2010 – Coordinator, 2007 – Instructor, 2007-2011
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“Complex Systems Made Simple: A Hands-On Exploration of Agent-Based Modeling” (2007-2011)
See course description above in “Ecole Polytechnique, Guest Lecturer”.
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“Toward a Fine-Grain Mesoscopic Neurodynamics” (2007)
An overview of spiking neural network models: temporal coding and the “binding problem”, various studies of
emergent spatiotemporal order of neural activity/connectivity at the mesoscopic level of cognition (concluding
Yves Burnod's course, "Multilevels of Brain: Models of Sensorimotor and Cognitive Functions").
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“From Embryogenesis to Embryomorphic Architectures” (2007)
Computational model and simulations of biological organism development based on intercellular coupling
among gene regulatory networks (concluding Nadine Peyriéras's course, "Complex systems approach of
multi-cellular organization and animal embryogenesis").
35 international attendees, of various levels (undergrad, MSc, PhD, postdoc), backgrounds, disciplines
University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) – Department of Computer Science
Visiting / Research Assistant Professor, 2004–2006
freshmen, seniors and graduates, 6 semesters, 110 students total, 16 weeks / semester, 2h30 / week
Created over 1,000 original PowerPoint slides, many of which are now used by other instructors.
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CS 790R: “Computational Models of Complex Systems” (Spring 2006, 2005)
Designed from scratch, fully developed and taught this original, cross-disciplinary 3-credit seminar for
graduate students, including lectures, paper reviews, programming assignments and term projects. We
examined self-organized systems and emergence based on myriads of simple agents, across a variety of
topics: cellular automata, pattern formation, insect colonies, spatial ecology, neural / complex networks, etc.
graduate level ("M1/M2, thèse"), 2 semesters, 8-10 students, 16 weeks / semester, 2h30 / week

CS 446/646: “Principles of Operating Systems” (Spring 2006, Fall 2005)
The principles, components, and design of modern O/S, focusing on the UNIX platform. Topics included:
concurrent processes, inter-process communication, processor management, virtual and real memory
management, deadlock, file systems, disk management, performance issues, case studies, etc.
senior year (“4e année, L3/M1”), 2 semesters, 12-15 students, 16 weeks / semester, 2h30 / week
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CS 135: “Computer Science I” (Spring 2006, Fall 2005)
An introduction to modern problem solving and programming methods in C++, with emphasis on algorithm
development. Also, an introduction to procedural and data abstraction, design, testing, and documentation.
freshman year (“1re année, L1”), 2 semesters, 25-40 students, 16 weeks / semester, 2h30 / week
(the curriculum was coordinated in collaboration with 2 other instructors)
Guest Lecturer, 2003-Present
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Université Libre de Bruxelles & Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium – Master’s in Artificial Intelligence
Current Trends in Artificial Intelligence (Spring 2011, 2012, 2015) – Host: Hugues Bersini
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Brown University, Providence, US – Neuroscience Graduate Program
NEUR 1680: Computational Neuroscience (Spring 2015) – Host: Elie Bienenstock
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National School of Architecture, Paris-Malaquais, Paris – Master’s in Digital Knowledge
Digital Architecture: Theory and Critique (Spring 2015) – Host: Christian Girard
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Golden Gate University, San Francisco, US – Master’s in Software Engineering
CIS 386: Advanced Enterprise Java Programming (Spring 2003) – Host: Carl Schwarcz
Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany — Graduate Seminars in Cognitive Science
Lecturer, 1992, 1993
Organized and conducted credit seminar courses for graduate students (in German), including lectures and
student presentations. Developed courses, selected literature, facilitated discussions:

Language and connectionism (Spring 1993)
Analysis of the formal vs. dynamical systems debate in cognitive science (i.e., rule-based AI vs. examplebased neural networks) from a linguistic perspective.
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Learning in artificial and natural systems (Spring 1992; co-organizer)
Overview of learning processes, theories and methods in psychology, animal behavior, neurophysiology and
neural networks.
Ecole Supérieure de Physique et Chimie, Paris — Neural Networks for Engineers & Researchers
Training Instructor, 1989, 1990
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TEACHING COMPETENCIES & INTERESTS
Computer science (open-ended summary list of domains I have taught or can teach)
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Core topics: theory and practice of programming languages (object-oriented, procedural, declarative; Java,
C/C++, etc.), data structures, algorithms, automata, compilers, operating systems, GUIs, etc.
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Distributed systems: object distribution and component/middleware frameworks (J2EE, CORBA,
Messaging, etc.), Web technologies, application servers, TCP/IP networking, database systems
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Software engineering: object-oriented methodology, design patterns, software architecture
Research & seminar topics (see also Research Topics above)
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Complex systems, biological modeling & bio-inspired engineering: multi-agent systems / agent-based
modeling, cellular automata, artificial life, pattern formation, image processing, morphogenesis, swarm
intelligence, genetic algorithms, evolutionary computation, complex networks
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Computational cognitive science: computational neuroscience, artificial & spiking neural networks,
neurobiological modeling, cognitive linguistics, pattern recognition, machine learning, computer vision
Undergraduate mathematics & physics
THESIS & RESEARCH SUPERVISION
adv = main advisor: I proposed or guided research topics and supervised the work
co-adv = co-advisor: I contributed to existing topics and co-supervised the work
Postdocs
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Jonathan Pascalie, Complex Systems Institute, Paris: adv 2013-15 (co-adv: Olivier Michel)
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Taras Kowaliw, Complex Systems Institute, Paris: adv 2010-13
o
o
o
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Morphogenetic engineering in synthetic biology: Designing self-organized component-based biosystems
A virtual platform for artificial evolutionary development and the evaluation of spatial computing paradigms.
Long-term evolutionary dynamics in heterogeneous cellular automata / Neuroevolution in classification tasks
Quan Zou, University of Nevada, Reno: co-adv 2006-07 (adv: Philip H. Goodman)
o
The role of spatiotemporal correlations in the encoding and retrieval of synaptic patterns by STDP in recurrent
spiking neural networks
PhD students
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Julien Delile, Université Paris Diderot (Paris 7): adv 2008-12 (co-adv: Nadine Peyriéras)
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Carlos Sánchez Quintana, Universidad de Málaga, adv 2011-12 (co-adv: Francisco Vico)
o
o
o
Mechanogenetic modeling and computational simulation of animal early embryogenesis
Growing fine-grained multicellular robots: Emergence of function from structure from development
Pattern recognition by recurrent spiking neural networks and complex spatiotemporal dynamics
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José David Fernández, Universidad de Málaga, co-adv 2010, internship (adv: Francisco Vico)
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Emmanuel Faure, Ecole Polytechnique: co-adv 2006-07, Jury Examiner, 2009 (adv: Paul Bourgine)
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Rich Drewes, University of Nevada, Reno: co-adv 2004-05 (adv: Philip H. Goodman)
o
o
o
o
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Dynamics of emergent biodiversity in an evolving community of virtual L-system plants
Automated reconstruction of the spatiotemporal cellular lineage during embryogenesis
Testing a proposed fundamental information processing function of cortical microcircuits
A spatially extended model of endogenous speciation without external environmental constraints
Christine Wilson, University of Nevada, Reno: co-adv 2004-05 (adv: Philip H. Goodman)
o
A spatially-realistic multisensory/motor, cortical and subcortical brain system
Master’s students
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Victoria Ponce, Master’s in Complex Systems, Ecole Polytechnique: adv 2014-15 (adv: F. Amblard)
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Ramón Martínez Mayorquin, Master’s in Complex Systems, Ecole Polytechnique: adv 2013-14

Olivier Wang, Master’s in Complex Systems, Ecole Polytechnique: adv 2012-14
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David Medernach, Master’s in Philosophy of Science, Univ Paris 7: co-adv 2012 (adv: T. Kowaliw)
o
o
o
o
An agent-based model of avascular tumor growth
An agent-based model of neural fields and spatiotemporal activity pattern formation
A hybrid off/on-lattice model of emergence and maintenance autopoiesis
Local rules in open-ended evolution of heterogeneous cellular automata
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David Fourquet, Master’s in Complex Systems, Ecole Polytech.: adv 2011-12 (co-adv: T. Kowaliw)
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Razvan Dordea, Master’s in Complex Systems, Ecole Polytech.: adv 2011 (co-adv: A. Diaconescu)
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Pierre Chaigneau, Master’s in Philosophy of Science, Univ. Paris 7: adv 2011 (co-adv: Jean Petitot)
o
o
o
Controlling & evolving network self-assembly: From “programmed attachment” to swarm intelligence
Using natural complex systems for the engineering of self-organized computer and ICT systems
Can self-organization be architectured? The epistemological gap, and possible bridges, between natural
complex systems and complex industrial systems
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Adam MacDonald, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton: adv 2008-09 (co-adv: Mihaela Ulieru)
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Oscar Sessions, University of Nevada, Reno: adv 2006-07 (co-adv: Philip H. Goodman) and
Milind Zirpe, University of Nevada, Reno: co-adv 2006-07 (adv: Philip H. Goodman)
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James King, University of Nevada, Reno: co-adv 2004-05 (adv: Philip H. Goodman)
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Andreas Schwarz, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany: adv 1993-94 (co-adv: C. von der Malsburg)
o
o
o
o
Self-organizing structured networks and agent-based software design
Recurrent Asynchronous Irregular Networks (RAIN) and NeoCortical Simulator (NCS) benchmarks.
Brain communication server: A dynamic data transferal system for a parallel brain simulator
Coding metric with delayed temporal correlations: An oscillator model of graph-matching
PhD reviews & juries only
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Richard Malgat, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Lyon, France: Reviewer, 9/2015 (adv: A. Boudaoud)
o Mechanical Modeling of Three-dimensional Plant Tissue
Latifa Jackson, Drexel University, Phil., US: Committee & Jury Examiner, 8/2014 (adv: A. Tözeren)
o Addiction, mental health, infectious disease: Understanding their interplay in human populations
Francis Jeanson, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada: Reviewer, 1/2014 (adv: Tony White)
o Neural coding via transmission delay coincidence detectors: An embodied approach
Anaïs Soubeyran, Univ. Paris-Sorbonne (Paris 4), France: Reviewer, 12/2012 (adv: Daniel Andler)
o
Emergence and mind-body problem: Towards a characterization of the contemporary notion of emergence
and its application in cognitive science

Régis Martinez, Université Lumière Lyon 2: Reviewer, 9/2011 (adv: Hélène Paugam-Moisy)

David Colliaux, Ecole Polytechnique, Paris: Reviewer, 5/2011 (adv: Jean Petitot, Yves Frégnac)

Kristen Manac’h, Univ. Bretagne Occidentale, France: Jury Examiner, 1/2011 (adv: Pierre De Loor)

Daniel Lobo, Universidad de Málaga, Spain: Jury Examiner, 11/2010 (adv: Francisco Vico)
o
o
o
o
Dynamics of cognitive and complex systems: The role of delays in information transmission
Classes of neuronal dynamics and experience dependent structured correlations in a visual cortex
Towards the notion of “enactive” virtual agent: Application to a dynamic evolutionary approach
Evolutionary development based on genetic regulatory models for behavior-finding (generative systems
based on string grammars)

Sylvain Cussat-Blanc, Univ. Toulouse 1, France: Jury Examiner & Chair, 11/2009 (adv: Yves Duthen)

Heike Sichtig, Binghamton Univ. SUNY: Committee & Jury Examiner, 4/2009 (adv: Craig Laramee)
o
o
Artificial creatures: The development of organisms from a single cell
The SGE paradigm: Exploring information processing in biological systems using spiking neural networks
(S), a genetic algorithm (G) and expert knowledge (E)
INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Technological professional knowledge, 1995–2004
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9-year professional software development experience across multiple technologies and platforms (in
addition to a 18-year scientific programming experience, as of 2014)
Expertise in object-oriented design methodology and application development in Java and J2EE, including
Servlets/JSP, EJB, JDBC/SQL, Threads, RMI, JCE, Security, JNI, JFC/Swing, etc.
Strong experience in Web/object distribution technologies: HTTP, HTML/XML, CORBA/IDL, Messaging
Project experience with various development frameworks and tools: J2EE SDK, Visual Studio, Apache,
Allaire JRun, Watershed ROF, Persistence PowerTier, Symantec VisualCafe, IONA Orbix, IBM MQSeries,
MATLAB, LabVIEW, etc.
Main languages: Java, C++/C (past: Objective-C, Pascal, Fortran)
Main platforms: Windows, UNIX (Linux, Solaris)
Highly productive programmer: I have been consistently able to personally produce between 20,000 and
45,000 lines of high-quality production code per year.
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Personal skills
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Highly creative and productive, able to design and build components or entire systems from scratch
Strong analytical and organizational skills resulting in high-quality enterprise-level deliverables
Strong proven presentation and communication skills
Successfully assumed technical leadership and project management roles
Excellent learning capability and adaptability to new environments
8. Chief Engineer, Akheron Technologies, Palo Alto, California, 3/2002–8/2004
Akheron (early-stage start-up) built innovative network security technology extending traditional firewall protection
(traffic analysis & filtering) to the application layer, e.g. instant messaging (IM) and peer-to-peer.
Designed and developed a suite of Java applications to monitor, archive and display IM traffic, based on a complex
thread-pooled, multi-client architecture using the Jabber protocol (40,000 lines of code). Also contributed to
Akheron’s proprietary High-Bandwidth Transparent Vectoring (HBTV) technology. Co-authored or assisted writing
four provisional patents.
7. Senior Software Architect, BIOwulf Genomics, Berkeley, California, 11/2000–2/2002
BIOwulf (early-stage start-up, ended 2/2002) focused on machine learning methods, especially support vector
machines (SVMs), for genomic, proteomic and medical data analysis.
At the company’s start, was hired to integrate math and engineering by designing a system to deliver productized
SVM algorithmic methods. Created an online application service provider (ASP), the “Discovery Platform”, to
centralize and streamline multiple data processing chains: (a) users upload raw input data; (b) math analysts
custom-tailor optimal classification methods and deploy them as “numerical engines” (componentware of the
system); (c) users download output results. Single-handedly designed and built the entire J2EE-based system,
including a back-end numerical computation server (JNI over Matlab). Collaborated with SVM co-inventor Isabelle
Guyon. Co-authored two patents.
6. Senior Software Engineer & Architect, RedCart.com, San Francisco, California, 7/1999–11/2000
RedCart (early/mid-stage start-up, ended in 12/2000) provided e-commerce technology as an application service
provider (ASP) to consumer web portal sites. Its “Universal Shopping” technology enabled transactions across
multiple online merchants through a single virtual shopping cart account.
Joined at an early stage and played a major role in the design and development of the system. Single-handedly
created and implemented the automatic checkout functionality across two coupled servers:
 A J2EE front-end: Wrote a multi-tier, multi-threaded checkout engine in Java (EJB, Servlets, JSP).
 An Apache-based proxy: Wrote an HTTP “bot” (agent) module in C automating the navigation of
merchant sites through pluggable “wrappers” (merchant-specialized software components analogous to
drivers). To streamline the massive development of wrapper code, created an original macro script in C
containing 120 bot navigation commands and trained groups of programmers in its use.
Helped supervise and provide technical leadership to the engineering team, in collaboration with the CTO and VP
of Engineering. Led or contributed to code reviews for most of the system.
5. Senior Software Engineer, Neuron Data, Mountain View, California, 8/1998–7/1999
Software Engineer, Research & Development, Neuron Data France, Paris, France, 4/1995–7/1998
Neuron Data (founded in 1985, IPO in 2000 as Blaze Software, followed by several buyouts and mergers) built
market-leading high-end application development tools for Fortune 500 customers.
Hired to work directly with the Chief Software Architect on new projects. Created major new features, core modules
and prototypes of products from scratch. For the “Advisor” product, a suite of tools for business rules management
(business rules are componentware expert systems based on English-like scripts):
 Developed the first prototype of Advisor’s rules engine, based on the RETE search algorithm.
 Coded various lexical and syntactical parsers for an English-like 4GL script compiler.
 Created the complete initial GUI which was further developed by the whole engineering team.
 Wrote multiple client/server demos using CORBA, RMI, HTTP, and MQSeries.
For “Open Interface”, a cross-platform GUI builder (precursor of IDE tools like Visual Basic or Delphi):
 Created a C/C++ code generation engine, automatically resynchronizing GUI and text modifications.
Invented a set of “annotations” (special comments) inserted in the code. Wrote the user manual.
ACTIVITIES, COMMITTEES & REVIEWS
Since my return to academia in 2004, I have built or renewed scientific relationships with many colleagues and
institutions in Europe, the US, and Canada. In addition to my previous activities from before 1998, this second period
has been characterized by a number of new initiatives and publications: journal and conference papers, book chapters
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and edited books, creation and/or organization of conferences and workshops, supervision of PhD and MSc students,
contributions to reviews and committees, launch of several projects, and grant writing.
Editor (elaboration of books, proceedings & journals)
Book editor
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Co-Editor & Author, Growing Adaptive Machines: Combining Development and Learning in Artificial Neural
Networks (2014) Kowaliw, T., Bredeche, N. & Doursat, R., eds. “Studies in Computational Intelligence” Series,
Springer-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-642-55336-3 [261 pages].
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Creator, Lead Editor & Author, Morphogenetic Engineering: Toward Programmable Complex Systems (2012)
Doursat, R., Sayama, H. & Michel, O., eds. “Understanding Complex Systems” Series, Springer-Verlag, ISBN 9783-642-33901-1 [452 pages].

Co-Editor & Author, Cognitive Morphodynamics: Dynamical Morphological Models for Constituency in Perception
and Syntax (2011) Petitot, J., in collaboration with Doursat, R. Peter Lang, ISBN 978-3-0343-0475-7 [306 pages].
Proceedings editor
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Education Chair, Special Session Chair, Co-Editor & Author, Advances in Artificial Life: Proceedings of the
13th European Conference on the Synthesis and Simulation of Living Systems (ECAL’15) Timmis, J., Stepney, S.,
Andrews, P., Caves, L., Doursat, R., Hickinbotham, S. & Polack, F., eds. July 20-24, 2015, University of York, UK.
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Education Chair, Workshop Chair, Co-Editor & Author, Artificial Life 14: Proceedings of the 14th International
Conference on the Simulation and Synthesis of Living Systems (Alife XIV) Sayama, H., Rieffel, J., Risi, S., Doursat,
R. & Lipson, H., eds. July 30-Aug 2, 2014, New York, NY. MIT Press, ISBN 978-0-262-32621-6 [988 pages].
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Track Chair, Co-Editor & Author, Proceedings of the 15th International Genetic and Evolutionary Computation
Conference (GECCO 2013) Blum, C. et al., eds. July 6-10, 2013, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ACM, ISBN 9781-4503-1963-8 [1636 pages].
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Track Chair, Co-Editor & Author, Proceedings of the 14th International Genetic and Evolutionary Computation
Conference (GECCO 2012) Soule, T. et al., eds. July 7-11, 2012, PA. ACM, ISBN 978-1-4503-1177-9 [1364 pages].
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General Chair & Co-Editor, Advances in Artificial Life: Proceedings of the 11th European Conference on the
Synthesis and Simulation of Living Systems (ECAL’11) Lenaerts, T., Giacobini, M., Bersini, H., Bourgine, P., Dorigo
M. & Doursat, R., eds. August 8-12, 2011, Paris, France. MIT Press, ISBN 978-0-262-29714-1 [909 p].
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Special Session Chair & Co-Editor, Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Swarm Intelligence
(ANTS 2010) Dorigo, M., Birattari, M., Di Caro, G. A., Doursat, R., Engelbrecht, A. P., Floreano, D., Gambardella,
L. M., Groß, R., Sahin, E., Sayama, H. & Stützle, T., eds. September 8-10, 2010, Brussels, Belgium. LNCS 6234,
Springer-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-642-15460-7 [542 pages].
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Technical Chair & Co-Editor, IT Revolutions: Proceedings of the 1st International ICST Conference, Revised
Selected Papers (2009) Ulieru, M., Palensky, P. & Doursat, R., eds. December 17-19, 2008, Venice, Italy. LNICST
11, Springer-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-642-03977-5 [259 pages].
Journal guest editor
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Co-Editor, Special Issue for the 20th Anniversary of the European Conference on Artificial Life (ECAL’11) (2013)
Lenaerts, T., Giacobini, M., Bersini, H., Bourgine, P., Dorigo M. & Doursat, R., eds. Artificial Life 19(2) [181 pages].
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Co-Editor, ANTS 2010 Special Issue: Extended Best Papers from the 7th International Swarm Intelligence
Conference Proceedings (2011) Dorigo, M., Birattari, M., Di Caro, G., Doursat, R., Engelbrecht, A., Gambardella,
L. M., Groß, R., Sahin, E. & Stützle, T., eds. Swarm Intelligence 5(3-4) [228 pages].
Board member
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Review Editorial Board, Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 2014-Present
Officer (Secretary), Board of Directors (of 12), International Society for Artificial Life (ISAL), 2013-Present
Associate Editorial Board, IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks (TNN), 2009-2010
Advisory Board, Embedded Self-organising Systems, 2009-Present
Chair & Organizing Committees (creation & preparation of events)
Workshop creation
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Creator & Lead Organizer, International Series of Morphogenetic Engineering Workshops (MEW):
o 5th MEW, at 13th European Conference on Artificial Life (ECAL’15), July 20-24, 2015, University of York, UK.
o 4th MEW, at 14th International Conference on Artificial Life (ALIFE XIV), July 31, 2014, New York, NY.
o 3rd MEW, at 11th European Conference on Artificial Life (ECAL’11), August 12, 2011, Cité Universitaire, Paris,
France. Invited keynote: Jacob Beal.
o 2nd MEW, Special Session at 7th International Conference on Swarm Intelligence (ANTS), September 10,
2010, IRIDIA, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.
o 1st MEW, June 19, 2009, Complex Systems Institute, Paris Ile-de-France (ISC-PIF). Keynote: Marco Dorigo.
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Creator & Lead Organizer, 1st International Workshop on the Shapes of Brain Dynamics (SBD 2010), June 18,
2010, Complex Systems Institute, Paris Ile-de-France (ISC-PIF). Invited keynote: Walter Freeman.
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Co-Creator & Co-Organizer, Workshop on Spatial Evolutionary Dynamics (SED 2008), October 17, 2008,
Complex Systems Institute, Paris Ile-de-France (ISC-PIF). Invited keynote: Paulien Hogeweg.
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Conference & workshop organization
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Education Chair, 13th European Conference on Artificial Life (ECAL’15), July 20-24, 2015, University of York.
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Education Chair, 14th International Conference on Artificial Life (Alife XIV), July 30-Aug 2, 2014, SUNY Global
Center & Javits Center, New York, NY.
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Chair & Lead Organizer, “Generative & Developmental Systems” Track (GDS 2013), at 15th International Genetic
and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO 2013), July 6-10, 2013, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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Co-Chair, 3rd International Workshop on Morphogenesis in Living Systems (MLS 2013), February 15, 2013, Institut
de Neurobiologie Alfred Fessard (INAF), CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
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Co-Chair & Lead Organizer, “Generative & Developmental Systems” Track (GDS 2012), at 14th International
Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO 2012), July 7-11, 2012, Philadelphia, PA. Invited
keynote: Stuart Kauffman.
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General Chair & Lead Organizer, 11th European Conference on Artificial Life (ECAL’11), August 8-12, 2011, Cité
Universitaire, Paris, France.
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Co-Organizer, International Workshop on Development and Learning in Artificial Neural Networks (DevLeaNN),
October 27-28, 2011, Complex Systems Institute, Paris Ile-de-France (ISC-PIF).
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Panel Chair, Ladislav Tauc Conference in Neurobiology 2010: Multiscale Analysis of Neural Systems, February
15-16, 2010, Institut de Neurobiologie Alfred Fessard (INAF), CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
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General Chair & Co-Organizer, 3rd French Conference on Complex Systems Science & Engineering, French
National Network of Complex Systems (RNSC), November 25-27, 2009, CNRS Headquarters, Paris, France.
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Co-Chair, International Symposium on Complex Systems, French National Network of Complex Systems (RNSC),
September 17-18, 2009, Institut Henri Poincaré (IHP), Paris, France.
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Technical Program Chair, IT Revolutions 2008 Conference (co-sponsored by ICST, IEEE, Create-Net), and
Co-Chair, “Approaching Complexity” Theme, December 17-19, 2008, Venice, Italy.
Summer school organization
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Lead Organizer, 2nd Annual ISAL Summer School, ECAL’15, July 20-24, 2015.
Lead Organizer, 1st Annual ISAL Summer School, Alife XIV, July 30, 2014.
Co-Organizer, 4th Annual French Complex Systems Summer School, ISC-PIF, August 2-20, 2010.
Lead Organizer, 3rd Annual French Complex Systems Summer School, ISC-PIF, July 20-August 14, 2009.
Lead Organizer & Instructor, 2nd Annual French Complex Systems Summer School, ISC-PIF, July-Aug ‘08.
Coordinator & Instructor, 1st Annual French Complex Systems Summer School, July 30-August 26, 2007.
Advisory Committees (recommendations on research & education)
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Slides Factory & Summer School Committee (of 12), “Self-Awareness in Autonomic Systems” (AWARENESS)
Coordination Action, supporting research & education under the FP7-FET Proactive Initiative, 2012-2013.
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Steering Committee (of 20), “Toward a More Predictive Biology” think tank, French National Institute for
Agricultural Research (INRA), 2010.
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Council (of 57) of the Complex Systems Society (CSS), 2009-2010.
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Curriculum Committee (of 6) for the creation of the first European Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Complex Systems
Science (awarded), and Doctoral School (submitted), a collaboration between Ecole Polytechnique, Paris;
University of Warwick, UK; and Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, 2008-2009.
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Curriculum Committee (of 4) for the creation of the first French Master’s Program in Complex Systems Science,
with Ecole Polytechnique, Université Paris Diderot (Paris 7), and Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, 2008-2010.
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Scientific Committee (of 40-50), Réseau National des Systèmes Complexes (RNSC), the French National
Network of Complex Systems), writing recommendations about the main objectives of French research in complex
systems, 2006, 2010.
Reviewer & Program Committees (review of submissions)
Journal paper reviews
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Referee, ACM Transactions on Autonomous Adaptive Systems (TAAS), 2007, 2013
Referee, Advances in Complex Systems, 2008
Referee, Artificial Life, 2011, 2014
Referee, IEEE Transactions on Emerging Topics in Computing (TETC), 2014
Referee, IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation (TEVC), 2010
Referee, IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks (TNN), 1994, 2008
Referee, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, Part B (SMCB), 2010
Referee, Neural Computation, 1993, 1994
Referee, Neural Networks, 1992
Referee, PLoS Computational Biology, 2015
Referee, PLoS ONE, 2015
Referee, Technique et Science Informatiques (TSI), 2010
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Conference & workshop paper reviews
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Program Committee, International Series of Artificial Life Conferences:
o 13th European Conference on Artificial Life (ECAL’15), July 20-24, 2014, University of York, UK.
o 12th European Conference on Artificial Life (ECAL’13), September 2-6, 2013, Taormina, Italy.
o 13th International Conference on Artificial Life (Alife XIII), July 19-22, 2012, Michigan State University, MI.
o “Evolving Networks” Workshop: From Systems/Synthetic Biology to Computational Neuroscience (EvoNet
2012), at 13th International Conference on Artificial Life (Alife XIII), July 19-22, 2012, Michigan State University,
East Lansing, MI.
o 11th European Conference on Artificial Life (ECAL’11), August 8-12, 2011, Cité Universitaire, Paris, France.
o 3rd IEEE Symposium on Artificial Life (IEEE-ALIFE 2011), at IEEE Symposium Series on Computational
Intelligence (SSCI 2011), April 11-15, 2011, Université Paris Diderot (Paris 7), France.
o 12th International Conference on Artificial Life (Alife XII), August 19-23, 2010, University of Southern Denmark,
Odense, Denmark.
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Program Committee, Australasian Conference on Artificial Life and Computational Intelligence (ACALCI 2015),
February 5-7, 2015, University of Newcastle, Australia. Upcoming.
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Program Committee, International Series of Bio-Inspired ICT Conferences:
o 8th International Conference on Bio-Inspired Information and Communication Technologies (BICT 2014),
December 1-3, 2014, Boston, MA.
o Special Track on State-Topology Coevolution in Adaptive Networks (STCAN 2010), at 5th International
Conference on Bio-Inspired Models of Network, Information, and Computing Systems (BIONETICS 2010),
December 1-3, 2010, Boston, MA.
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Program Committee, 8th IEEE International Conference on Self-Adaptive and Self-Organizing Systems (SASO
2014), September 8-12, 2014, Imperial College, London, UK.
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Program Committee, International Series of Evolutionary Computation Conferences:
o IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC 2014), at IEEE World Congress on Computational
Intelligence (WCCI 2014), July 6-11, 2014, Beijing, China.
o IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC 2013), June 20-23, 2013, Cancún, Mexico.
o “Generative & Developmental Systems” Track (GDS 2011), at 13th International Genetic and Evolutionary
Computation Conference (GECCO 2011), July 12-16, 2011, Dublin, Ireland.
o “Generative & Developmental Systems” Track (GDS 2009), at 11th International Genetic and Evolutionary
Computation Conference (GECCO 2009), July 8-12, 2009, Montréal, Canada.
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Program Committee, Demos Session, at 7th IEEE International Conference on Self-Adaptive and Self-Organizing
Systems (SASO 2013), September 9-13, 2013, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.
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Program Committee, 6th International Workshop on Nature-Inspired Cooperative Strategies for Optimization
(NICSO 2013), September 2-4, 2013, Kent, UK.
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Program Committee, International Series of Spatial Computing Workshops (SCW):
o 5th SCW (2012), at 11th International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems (AAMAS
2012), June 4-8, 2012, Valencia, Spain.
o 3rd SCW (2010), at 4th IEEE International Conference on Self-Adaptive and Self-Organizing Systems (SASO
2010), September 27-October 1, 2010, Budapest, Hungary.
o 2nd SCW (2009), at 3rd IEEE International Conference on Self-Adaptive and Self-Organizing Systems (SASO
2009), September 14-18, 2009, San Francisco, CA.
o 1st SCW (2008), at 2nd IEEE International Conference on Self-Adaptive and Self-Organizing Systems (SASO
2008), October 20-24, 2008, Venice, Italy.
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Program Committee, 8th International Conference on Complex Systems (ICCS 2011), June 26-July 1, 2011, New
England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI), Boston, MA.
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Program Committee, IEEE Symposium Workshop on Organic Computing (OC 2011), at IEEE Symposium Series
on Computational Intelligence (SSCI 2011), April 11-15, 2011, Université Paris Diderot (Paris 7), France.
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Program Committee, Swarm, Amorphous, Spatial, and Complex Systems Track (SASCS), at 12th International
Symposium on Stabilization, Safety and Security of Distributed Systems (SSS 2010), September 20-22, 2010,
Columbia University, New York, NY.
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Program Committee, Special Session on Organic Computing (OC 2010), at IEEE World Congress on
Computational Intelligence (WCCI 2010), July 18-23, 2010, Barcelona, Spain.
Grant proposal reviews
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Grant Review Committee, Complex Systems Institute, Paris Ile-de-France (ISC-PIF), 2011, 2012, 2013
Grant Review Committee, Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), France, 2008
Grant Review Committee, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), 2007
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René Doursat - 14 of 26
Juries & Search Committees (evaluation & selection of candidates)
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PhD Defence Juries:
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o
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Reviewer, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Lyon, France, 9/2015
Committee Member & Examiner, Drexel University, Philadelphia, US, 8/2014
Reviewer, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, 1/2014
Advisor & Examiner, Université Paris Diderot (Paris 7), France, 2/2013
Reviewer, Université Paris-Sorbonne (Paris 4), France, 12/2012
Reviewer, Université Lumière Lyon 2, France, 9/2011
Reviewer, Ecole Polytechnique, Paris, France, 5/2011
Examiner, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France, 1/2011
Examiner, Universidad de Málaga, Spain, 11/2010
Examiner & Chair, Université Toulouse 1 Capitole, France, 11/2009
Committee Member & Examiner, Binghamton University SUNY, US, 4/2009
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Jury (of 5), French-Canadian Association for the Advancement of Science (ACFAS), Marcel Vincent Award, given
yearly to an outstanding Canadian researcher in social sciences, 2006, 2007.
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Search Committee (Member & Chair), Complex Systems Institute, Paris (ISC-PIF), for Postdoc Fellowships:
o 2010: 34 applicants, 9 interviewees, 6 ranked, 2 positions
o 2009: 43 applicants, 8 interviewees, 5 ranked, 3 positions
o 2008: 19 applicants, 9 interviewees, 4 ranked, 3 positions
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Search Committee (Chair), Complex Systems Institute, Paris Ile-de-France (ISC-PIF), for 1 Software
Engineer/Scientific Programmer position, and 1 Webmaster/Communication Manager position, 2009.
Memberships (past and present)
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Member, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Member, Complex Systems Society (ECSS)
Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Member, International Neural Network Society (INNS)
Member, International Society for Artificial Life (ISAL)
Member, New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI)
Member, French National Network of Complex Systems (RNSC)
GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS
Project grants & personal scholarships
Awarded
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Doursat, R. (PI), Kowaliw, T., Michel, O., Spicher, A., Giavitto, J.-L. Generation of Realizable Component-Based
Systems from High-Level Specifications, Postdoctoral Budget, Call AAP’13 by ISC-PIF, €81K, 11/2013-4/2015.
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Amos, M. (PI), Stepney, S., Doursat, R., Vico, F. J. & Rasmussen, S. TRUCE (Training and Research for
Unconventional Computing), FP7 FET Proactive Coordination and Support Actions, Call FP7-ICT-2011.9.12,
€509K, 10/2012-9/2015.
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Doursat, R. (PI), Vico, F. J. & Muñoz, J. Bio-inspired Computation, Personal Research Grant, “Attraction Program
for Renowned Researchers”, University of Málaga (UMA), Andalusia TECH, Government of Andalusia, Spain,
€40K, 4/2012, 1-year [whose budget start was delayed for over half a year, and which I eventually declined].
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Delaplace, F. (PI), Doursat, R., Giavitto, J.-L., Hains, G., Klaudel, H., Michel, O., Pommereau, F., Sené, S., Spicher,
A. & Verlan S. Synthetic Biological Systems: From Design to Compilation (SynBioTIC), “Information, Matter and
Engineering Sciences” Call, National Research Agency (ANR), #ANR-BLAN-SIMI10-LS-100618-12-01, France,
€539K, 1/2011-12/2014.
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Bourgine, P. (PI), Doursat, R., Ball, R. & Mehlig, B. EMMC (Erasmus Mundus Master’s Course), Master’s in
Complex Systems Science (MCSS), European Union Lifelong Learning Programme, 3 European partners
(University of Warwick, Ecole Polytechnique Paris, Chalmers University of Technology/University of Gothenburg),
5-year funding for student scholarships (~€600K/year) and administrative costs, ~€3.2M, 9/2010-8/2015.
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ASSYST (Action for the Science of complex SYstems and Socially Intelligent icT), European Coordination Action:
FP7-ICT/FET-Proactive, 15 European partners, €900K (ISC-PIF: €175K), 36 months, 1/2009–12/2011.
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Goodman, P. H. (PI), Harris, F. C., Doursat, R., Nicolescu, M. N. & Markram, H. J. Continuation of Large-Scale
Biologically Realistic Models of Cortical & Subcortical Dynamics with Social Robotic Applications, Office of Naval
Research (ONR) Project Grant #N000149910880, US, $801K, 7/2006–6/2009.
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Doursat, R. (PI) & Petitot, J. Bridging the gap between visual perception and language: an exploration into the
neural morphodynamics of cognitive schemas, categories and compositionality, Personal Research Grant, Marie
Curie International Reintegration Grant, European Union, €80K, 10/2004, 2-year [which I eventually declined,
preferring a contract at the University of Nevada].
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Doursat, R. (PI) & Petitot, J. Dynamical connectionism and cognitive linguistics: Toward a new microstructure of
semantics, Personal Research Fellowship, Ecole Polytechnique, Paris, €12K, 10/1996–9/1997.
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René Doursat - 15 of 26
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Doursat, R. (PI) & Bienenstock, E. A study of the possible neurobiological mechanisms underlying the
compositionality of cognitive functions, Personal Research Grant, Fyssen Foundation, Paris, €20K, 10/1995, 1-year
[which I eventually declined, preferring to go to Industry].
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Doctoral scholarship, Ministry of Research and Technology, France, €33K, 10/1989–9/1991.
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Graduate stipend, Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS), Paris (most selective French school), €56K, 10/1985–9/89.
Submitted, under review
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CEM-FET (Computational Evolving Manifolds for Future Emerging Technology), EU – FP7-FET, 5 partners, 3/2015
Submitted, not selected
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RhomboSeg (Vertebrate Hindbrain Cell Lineage and Modeling), France – ANR-TECSAN, 3 partners, 11/2014
MEC@GEN (Integrating Developmental Mechanics and Genetics), US – NSF 13-506 (IOS) preproposal, 1/2013
DesRes (Design for Resilience and Sustainability), EU – FP7-FET, 4 partners (preprop. accepted), 4/2012
Gro-CyPhy (Growing Cyber-Physical Systems), EU – FP7-FET-UCOMP, 7 partners, €3M request, 1/2012
BEBOTS (Behavioral Robots), EU – Marie-Curie-IEF, personal fellowship at UMA, 2-year, 8/2011
ECSTASY (Engineering Complex Socio-Technical Adaptive SYstems), EU – FP7-FET, 4 partners, 5/2011
PinkNoise (Bioinspired Generation of Audiovisual Content), Spain – 7 partners, €320K requested, 2/2011
EMJD/CSS (Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate: Complex Systems Science), EU – EAC-A1, 4 partn., 5-year, 4/’10
E2CP (social Web), EU – FP7-ICT, 3 partners, 17 individual supporters, €100K requested, 1-year, 3/2009
BIO-NEXT (cloud computing), EU – COST-ICT, 20 individual participants, preproposal, 3/2009
ComplexiT (immune system modeling), France – CNRS-PICS, 4 European partners, preproposal, 3/2009
MEC@GEN (bio-development modelg), France – ANR-SYSCOMM, 3 partners, €500K requested, 3-year, 2/2009
Non-Classical Computing (bio-inspired engineering), US – NSF-PIRE, 17 indiv. sponsors, preproposal, 2/2009
EvoSpace (spatial evolutionary dynamics), US – NSF-Ecology, 3 individual participants, 4-year, 1/2009
AniMorph (virtual bio-development), France – ANR-Open, 3 French partners, €800K requested, 3-year, 11/2008
EnergyWeb (energy grid), EU – FP7-COSI-ICT, 8 European partners, €4.13M requested, 3-year, 4/2008
PUBLICATIONS (64 + 71)
Starting from 15 publications during my first academic period until 1998, I have grown to the current total of 135 since
my return to research in 2004 (including 52 full papers and chapters), i.e. at an average pace of 11 publications per
year over the last 11 years (including 4-5 full papers and chapters per year). My intermediate period in industry did not
involve publishing beside writing patents and technical reports. Current citation metrics in my Google Scholar profile:
h-index: 15 / citations: 700+ (or 3400+ if counting the famed 1992 “Bias-Variance” paper).
Summary
52 full papers / book chapters / patents
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Journals:
Books:
Conferences:
Other:
17 journal papers
9 book chapters
24 full papers in proceedings
2 patents
66 abstracts in conferences, 5 technical reports
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Abstracts (accepted): 23 conferences & workshops
Abstracts (invited): 8 keynotes, 35 talks
Other: 5 technical docs, internal & technical reports
12 edited journal issues, books & proceedings
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Journals:
2 guest-edited special issues
Books:
3 edited books
Conferences: 7 edited conference proceedings
Individual seminars
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Academic institutions
General public & media appearances
Journals — Full Papers, Guest-Edited Issues (19)
Journal papers (17)
. Pascalie, J., Potier, M., Kowaliw, T., Giavitto, J.-L., Michel, O., Spicher, A. & Doursat, R. Morphogenetic engineering
in synthetic biology. In preparation.
. Rizzi, J., Villoutreix, P. et al. Predicting sea urchin’s normal development from a small cohort of digital embryos. In
preparation.
. Delile, J., Herrmann, M., Peyriéras, N. & Doursat, R. (2014) MecaGen: a cell-based computational model of
embryogenesis coupling mechanical behavior and gene regulation. Submitted.
17. To be published in Nature Communications (I am one of 5 joint supervisors*):
Faure, E., Savy, T., Rizzi, B., Melani, C., Remešíková, M., Fabrèges, D., Hammons, M., Špir, R., Drblíková, O.,
Čunderlík, R., Recher, G., Lombardot, B., Duloquin, L., Colin, I., Kollár, J., Desnoulez, S., Affaticati, P., Maury, B.,
Boyreau, A., Nief, J.Y., Calvat, P., Vernier, P., Frain, M., Lutfalla, G., Kergosien, Y., Suret, P., Doursat, R.*, Sarti,
A.*, Mikula, K.*, Peyriéras, N.* & Bourgine, P.* (2015) A workflow to process 3D+time microscopy images of
developing organisms and reconstruct their cell lineage. Nature Communications. Accepted.
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René Doursat - 16 of 26
16. Varenne, F., Chaigneau, P., Petitot, P. & Doursat, R. (2015) Programming the emergence in morphogenetically
architected complex systems. Acta Biotheoretica. Accepted.
15. Kowaliw, T. & Doursat, R. (2015) Bias-variance decomposition in genetic programming. Metaheuristics. Accepted.
14. Doursat, R. & Sánchez, C. (2014) Growing fine-grained multicellular robots. Soft Robotics 1(2): 110-121 [12 pages].
13. Castro-González, C., Luengo-Oroz, M. A., Duloquin, L., Savy, T., Rizzi, B., Desnoulez, S., Doursat, R., Kergosien,
Y. L., Ledesma-Carbayo, M. J., Bourgine, P., Peyriéras, N. & Santos, A. (2014) A digital framework to build, visualize
and analyze a gene expression atlas with cellular resolution in zebrafish early embryogenesis. PLoS Computational
Biology 10(6): e1003670 [13 pages, no numbers].
12. Joachimczak, M., Kowaliw, T., Doursat, R. & Wróbel, B. (2013) Evolutionary design of soft bodied animats with
decentralized control. Artificial Life and Robotics 18(3-4): 152-160 [9 pages].
11. Doursat, R., Sayama, H. & Michel, O. (2013) A review of morphogenetic engineering. “Frontiers of Natural
Computing” (FNC 2012) Special Issue. Lones, M., Tyrrell, A., Stepney, S. & Caves, L., eds. Natural Computing
12(2): 517-535 [19 pages].
10. Amos, M., Stepney, S., Doursat, R., Vico, F. J. & Rasmussen, S. (2012) TRUCE: A coordination action for
unconventional computation. International Journal of Unconventional Computing 8(4): 333-337 [5 pages].
9. Fernández, J. D., Lobo, D., Martín, G. M., Doursat, R. & Vico, F. J. (2012) Emergent diversity in an open-ended
evolving virtual community. Artificial Life 18(2): 199-222 [24 pages].
8. Doursat, R. (2011) Morphogenetic engineering weds bio self-organization to human-designed systems. PerAda
Magazine: Towards Pervasive Adaptation, 18 May 2011 [6 pages, no numbers].
7. Ulieru, M. & Doursat, R. (2011) Emergent engineering: A radical paradigm shift. International Journal of Autonomous
and Adaptive Communications Systems (IJAACS) 4(1): 39-60 [22 pages].
6. Hoelzer, G., Drewes, R., Meier, J. & Doursat, R. (2008) Isolation-by-distance and outbreeding depression are
sufficient to drive parapatric speciation in the absence of environmental influences. PLoS Computational Biology
4(7): e1000126 [11 pages, no numbers].
5. Doursat, R. (2008) The self-made puzzle: Integrating self-assembly and pattern formation under non-random genetic
regulation. InterJournal: Complex Systems 2292 [13 pages, no numbers].
4. Doursat, R. (2006) The growing canvas of biological development: Multiscale pattern generation on an expanding
lattice of gene regulatory networks. InterJournal: Complex Systems 1809 [10 pages, no numbers].
3. Selected for a special journal issue (among less than 10% of the papers accepted at IJCNN 2005):
Doursat, R. & Petitot, J. (2005) Dynamical systems and cognitive linguistics: Toward an active morphodynamical
semantics. Neural Networks 18(5-6): 628-638 [11 pages].
2. Bienenstock, E. & Doursat, R. (1994) A shape-recognition model using dynamical links. Network: Computation in
Neural Systems 5(2): 241-258 [18 pages].
1. Cited over 2700 times (as per Google Scholar):
Geman, S., Bienenstock, E. & Doursat, R. (1992) Neural networks and the bias/variance dilemma. Neural
Computation 4(1): 1-58 [58 pages].
Guest-edited special issues (2)
2. Lenaerts, T., Giacobini, M., Bersini, H., Bourgine, P., Dorigo M. & Doursat, R., eds. (2013) Special Issue for the 20th
Anniversary of the European Conference on Artificial Life (ECAL’11). Artificial Life 20(1) [181 pages]. Editorial.
Artificial Life 20(1): 1-3 [3 pages].
1. Dorigo, M., Birattari, M., Di Caro, G., Doursat, R., Engelbrecht, A., Gambardella, L. M., Groß, R., Sahin, E. & Stützle,
T., eds. (2011) ANTS 2010 Special Issue: Extended best papers from the 7th International Swarm Intelligence
Conference Proceedings. Swarm Intelligence 5(3-4) [228 pages]. Editorial. Swarm Intelligence 5: 143-147 [5 pages].
Books — Chapters, Edited Books (12)
Book chapters (9)
9. Delile, J., Doursat, R. & Peyriéras, N. (2014) Chapitre 17: Modélisation multi-agent de l’embryogenèse animale. In
Modéliser & simuler. Épistémologies et pratiques de la modélisation et de la simulation, Tome 2, F. Varenne & M.
Silberstein, S. Dutreuil & P. Huneman, eds.: pp. 581-624. Éditions Matériologiques, ISBN 978-2-919694-72-3 [44p].
8. Doursat, R., Sayama, H. & Michel, O. (2014) Chapitre 18: L’ingénierie morphogénétique : modèles de processus
dynamiques pour la morphogenèse. In Modéliser & simuler. Épistémologies et pratiques de la modélisation et de la
simulation, Tome 2, F. Varenne & M. Silberstein, S. Dutreuil & P. Huneman, eds.: pp. 625-642. Éditions
Matériologiques, ISBN 978-2-919694-72-3 [18 pages].
7. Kowaliw, T., Bredeche, N., Chevallier, S. & Doursat, R. (2014) Chapter 1: Artificial neurogenesis: An introduction
and selective review. In Growing Adaptive Machines: Combining Development and Learning in Artificial Neural
Networks, T. Kowaliw, N. Bredeche & R. Doursat, eds.: pp. 1-60. “Studies in Computational Intelligence” Series,
Springer-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-642-55336-3 [60 pages].
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René Doursat - 17 of 26
6. Delile, J., Doursat, R. & Peyriéras, N. (2013) Chapter 16: Computational modeling and simulation of animal early
embryogenesis with the MecaGen platform. In Computational Systems Biology, 2nd edition, A. Kriete & R. Eils, eds.:
pp. 359-405. Academic Press, Elsevier, ISBN 978-0-124-05926-9. [47 pages].
5. Doursat, R., Sánchez, C., Dordea, R., Fourquet, D. & Kowaliw, T. (2012) Chapter 11: Embryomorphic Engineering:
Emergent innovation through evolutionary development. In Morphogenetic Engineering: Toward Programmable
Complex Systems, R. Doursat, H. Sayama & O. Michel, eds.: pp. 275-311. “Understanding Complex Systems”
Series, Springer-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-642-33901-1 [37 pages].
4. Doursat, R., Sayama, H. & Michel, O. (2012) Chapter 1: Morphogenetic Engineering: Reconciling self-organization
and architecture. In Morphogenetic Engineering: Toward Programmable Complex Systems, R. Doursat, H. Sayama
& O. Michel, eds.: pp. 1-25. “Understanding Complex Systems” Series, Springer-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-642-33901-1
[25 pages].
3. Doursat, R. & Petitot, J. (2011) Chapter 3: Relations. In Cognitive Morphodynamics: Dynamical Morphological
Models for Constituency in Perception and Syntax, by J. Petitot, in collaboration with R. Doursat: pp. 119-170. Peter
Lang, ISBN 978-3-0343-0475-7 [52 pages].
2. Doursat, R. (2008) Chapter 8: Organically grown architectures: Creating decentralized, autonomous systems by
embryomorphic engineering. In Organic Computing, R. P. Würtz, ed.: pp. 167-200. Springer-Verlag, ISBN 978-3540-77656-7 [34 pages].
1. Bienenstock, E. & Doursat, R. (1991, 2009) Chapter 4: Issues of representation in neural networks. In
Representations of Vision: Trends and Tacit Assumptions in Vision Research, A. Gorea, Y. Frégnac, Z. Kapoula &
J. Findlay, eds.: pp. 47-67. Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-11505-6 [21 pages].
Edited books (3)
3. Kowaliw, T., Bredeche, N. & Doursat, R., eds. (2014) Growing Adaptive Machines: Combining Development and
Learning in Artificial Neural Networks. “Studies in Computational Intelligence” Series, Springer-Verlag, ISBN 978-3642-55336-3 [261 pages].
2. Doursat, R., Sayama, H. & Michel, O., eds. (2012) Morphogenetic Engineering: Toward Programmable Complex
Systems. “Understanding Complex Systems” Series, Springer-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-642-33901-1 [452 pages].
1. Petitot, J., in collaboration with Doursat, R. (2011) Cognitive Morphodynamics: Dynamical Morphological Models for
Constituency in Perception and Syntax. Peter Lang, ISBN 978-3-0343-0475-7 [306 pages].
Conferences & Workshops — Full Papers, Edited Proceedings (31)
Full papers in proceedings (24)
24. Ponce Bobadilla, A. V., Doursat, R. & Amblard, F. (2015) An agent-based model of avascular tumor growth.
Advances in Artificial Life: Proceedings of the 13th European Conference on the Synthesis and Simulation of Living
Systems (ECAL'15), July 20-24, 2015, University of York, UK; J. Timmis, S. Stepney, P. Andrews, L. Caves, R.
Doursat, S. Hickinbotham & F. Polack, eds.: pp. xx-xx. MIT Press. [8 pages; presenter: A. V. Ponce]. Upcoming.
23. Ren, I. Y., Doursat, R. & Giavitto, J.-L. (2015) Synchronization in music group playing. 11th International Symposium
on Computer Music Multidisciplinary Research (CMMR 2015), June 16-19, 2015, Plymouth University, UK [8 pages;
presenter: I. Y. Ren]. Upcoming.
22. Wang, O., Doursat, R. & Bourgine, P. (2014) A hybrid off/on-lattice model of emergence and maintenance
autopoiesis. Artificial Life 14: Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on the Simulation and Synthesis of
Living Systems (Alife XIV), July 30-August 2, 2014, SUNY Global Center & Javits Center, New York, NY; H. Sayama,
J. Rieffel, S. Risi, R. Doursat, H. Lipson, eds.: pp. 532-538. MIT Press, ISBN 978-0-262-32621-6 [7 pages].
21. Raimbault, J., Banos, A. & Doursat, R. (2014) A hybrid network/grid model of urban morphogenesis and optimization.
4th International Conference on Complex Systems and Applications (ICCSA 2014), June 23-26, 2014, Université de
Normandie, Le Havre, France; M. A. Aziz-Alaoui, C. Bertelle, D. Olivier, X. Z. Liu, eds.: pp. 51-60 [10 pages;
presenter: J. Raimbault].
20. González, J., Doursat, R. & Banos, A. (2014) Service regularity loss in high-frequency feeder bus lines: Causes and
self-driven remedies. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Complex Systems and Applications
(ICCSA 2014), June 23-26, 2014, Université de Normandie, Le Havre, France; M. A. Aziz-Alaoui, C. Bertelle, X. Z.
Liu, D. Olivier, eds.: pp. 75-81 [7 pages; presenter: J. González].
19. Doursat, R. (2013) Bridging the mind-brain gap by morphogenetic “neuron flocking”: The dynamic self-organization
of neural activity into mental shapes. How Should Intelligence Be Abstracted in AI Research? Technical Report FS13-02, in AAAI 2013 Fall Symposium Series, November 15-17, Arlington, VA; S. Risi, J. Lehman, J. Clune, eds.: pp.
16-21. ISBN 978-1-57735-640-0 [6 pages].
18. Joachimczak, M., Kowaliw, T., Doursat, R. & Wróbel, B. (2013) Controlling development and chemotaxis of softbodied multicellular animats with the same gene regulatory network. Advances in Artificial Life: Proceedings of the
12th European Conference on the Synthesis and Simulation of Living Systems (ECAL’13), September 2-6, 2013,
Taormina, Italy; Liò, P., Miglino, O., Nicosia, G., Nolfi, S. & Pavone, M.: pp. 454-461. MIT Press, ISBN 978-0-26231709-2 [8 pages; presenter: M. Joachimczak].
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17. Medernach, D., Kowaliw, T., Ryan, C. & Doursat, R. (2013) Long-term evolutionary dynamics in heterogeneous
cellular automata. “Artificial Life” Track (ALIFE 2013), in Proceedings of the 15th International Genetic and
Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO 2013), July 6-10, 2013, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; C. Blum et
al., eds.: pp. 231-238. ACM, ISBN 978-1-4503-1963-8 [8 pages; presenter: D. Medernach].
16. Best paper nominee (28 nominees for 13 awards, out of 204 papers published at GECCO 2013):
Kowaliw, T., Banzhaf, W. & Doursat, R. (2013) Networks of transform-based evolvable features for object
recognition. “Genetics Based Machine Learning” Track (GBML 2013), in Proceedings of the 15th International
Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO 2013), July 6-10, 2013, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
C. Blum et al., eds.: pp. 1077-1084. ACM, ISBN 978-1-4503-1963-8 [8 pages; presenter: W. Banzhaf].
15. Joachimczak, M., Kowaliw, T., Doursat, R. & Wróbel, B. (2012) Brainless bodies: Controlling the development and
behavior of multicellular animats by gene regulation and diffusive signals. Artificial Life 13: Proceedings of the 13th
International Conference on the Simulation and Synthesis of Living Systems (Alife XIII), July 19-22, 2012, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, MI; C. Adami, D. M. Bryson, C. Ofria, R. T. Pennock, eds.: pp. 349-356. MIT Press,
ISBN 978-0-262-31050-5 [8 pages; presenter: B. Wróbel].
14. Best paper award winner (10 winners out of 170 papers published at GECCO 2012):
Fernández, J. D., Vico, F. J. & Doursat, R. (2012) Complex and diverse morphologies can develop from a minimal
genome. “Generative & Developmental Systems” Track (GDS 2012), in Proceedings of the 14th International
Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO 2012), July 7-11, 2012, Philadelphia, PA; T. Soule et
al., eds.: pp. 553-560. ACM, ISBN 978-1-4503-1177-9 [8 pages].
13. Fernández, J. D., Doursat, R. & Vico, F. J. (2012) The evolution of controller-free molecular motors from spatial
constraints. Proceedings of the 5th Spatial Computing Workshop (SCW 2012), in Satellite Workshop Proceedings
of the 11th International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems (AAMAS 2012), vol. W21,
June 4-8, 2012, Valencia, Spain; J. Beal, S. Dulman, J.-L. Giavitto & A. Spicher, eds.: pp. 19-24. IFAMAAS [6 pages;
presenter: J. D. Fernández].
12. Doursat, R. (2011) The myriads of Alife: Importing complex systems and self-organization into engineering. In
Proceedings of the 3rd IEEE Symposium on Artificial Life (IEEE-ALIFE 2011), April 11-15, 2011, Paris, France: pp.
xii-xix. IEEE, ISBN 978-1-61284-061-1 [8 pages].
11. Doursat, R. (2009) Facilitating evolutionary innovation by developmental modularity and variability. “Generative &
Developmental Systems” Track (GDS 2009), in Proceedings of the 11th International Genetic and Evolutionary
Computation Conference (GECCO 2009), July 8-12, 2009, Montreal, Canada; F. Rothlauf, ed.: pp. 683-690. ACM,
ISBN 978-1-60558-325-9 [8 pages].
10. Doursat, R. (2008) Spatial self-organization of heterogeneous, modular architectures. 1st Spatial Computing
Workshop (SCW 2008), in Proceedings of the 2nd IEEE International Conference on Self-Adaptive and SelfOrganizing Systems Workshops (SASOW 2008), October 20-24, 2008, Venice, Italy: pp. 306-312. IEEE, ISBN 9780-7695-3553-1 [7 pages].
9. Doursat, R. & Ulieru, M. (2008) Emergent engineering for the management of complex situations. In Proceedings of
the 2nd International Conference on Autonomic Computing and Communication Systems (Autonomics 2008),
September 23-25, 2008, Telecom Italia Labs, Turin, Italy; A. Manzalini, ed.: No. 14. ICST, ISBN 978-963-9799-349 [10 pages, no numbers].
8. Selected for a book volume (77 selected papers out of more than 300 presented at ICCS 2006):
Doursat, R. (2008) The growing canvas of biological development: Multiscale pattern generation on an expanding
lattice of gene regulatory networks. In Unifying Themes in Complex Systems Vol VI: Proceedings of the 6th
International Conference on Complex Systems (ICCS 2006), June 25-30, 2006, New England Complex Systems
Institute (NECSI), Boston, MA; A. A. Minai, D. Braha & Y. Bar-Yam, eds.: pp. 205-210. Springer-Verlag, ISBN 9783-540-85080-9 [6 pages].
7. Doursat, R. (2008) Programmable architectures that are complex and self-organized: From morphogenesis to
engineering. In Artificial Life XI: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on the Simulation and Synthesis
of Living Systems (Alife XI), August 5-8, 2008, University of Southampton, Winchester, UK; S. Bullock, J. Noble, R.
Watson & M. A. Bedau, eds.: pp. 181-188. MIT Press, ISBN 978-0-262-28719-7 [8 pages].
6. Vert, G., Doursat, R. & Nasser, S. (2006) Towards utilizing fuzzy self-organizing taxonomies to identify attacks on
computer systems and adaptively respond. In Proceedings of the 2006 IEEE International Conference on Fuzzy
Systems (FUZZ-IEEE 2006), July 16-21, 2006, Vancouver, BC, Canada: pp. 2216-2222. IEEE, ISBN 0-7803-94887 [7 pages; presenter: G. Vert].
5. Doursat, R. & Bienenstock, E. (2006) Neocortical self-structuration as a basis for learning. 5th International
Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL 2006), May 31-June 3, 2006, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
IU, ISBN 0-9786456-0-X [8 pages, no numbers].
4. Selected for a special journal issue (among less than 10% of the papers accepted at IJCNN 2005):
Doursat, R. & Petitot, J. (2005) Bridging the gap between vision and language: A morphodynamical model of spatial
categories. In Proceedings of the 2005 IEEE International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN 2005), July
31-August 4, 2005, Montréal, Canada: Vol. 5, pp. 2903-2908. IEEE, ISBN 0-7803-9048-2 [6 pages].
3. Doursat, R. & Petitot, J. (1997) Modèles dynamiques et linguistique cognitive: vers une sémantique morphologique
active. Le mouvement: Des boucles sensori-motrices aux représentations cognitives et langagières, Actes de la
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6ème Ecole d’été de l’Association pour la Recherche Cognitive (ARCo), July 5-13, 1997, Bonas, France: pp. 167183 [17 pages].
2. Bienenstock, E. & Doursat, R. (1990) Spatio-temporal coding and the compositionality of cognition. In Proceedings
of the Workshop on Temporal Correlations and Temporal Coding in the Brain, April 25-27, 1990, Paris, France; R.
Lestienne, ed.: pp. 42-47 [6 pages; presenter: E. Bienenstock].
1. Bienenstock, E. & Doursat, R. (1989) Elastic matching and pattern recognition in neural networks. In Neural
Networks: From Models to Applications, Proceedings of the nEuro’88 Conference, June 6-9, 1988, Ecole Supérieure
de Physique et Chimie Industrielles (ESPCI), Paris, France; L. Personnaz & G. Dreyfus, eds.: pp. 472-482. IDSET,
ISBN 2-9036-6703-9 [11 pages].
Edited proceedings (7)
7. Timmis, J., Stepney, S., Andrews, P., Caves, L., Doursat, R., Hickinbotham, S. & Polack, F., eds. (2015) Advances
in Artificial Life: Proceedings of the 13th European Conference on the Synthesis and Simulation of Living Systems
(ECAL’15), July 20-24, 2015, University of York, UK. Upcoming.
6. Sayama, H., Rieffel, J., Risi, S., Doursat, R. & Lipson, H., eds. (2014) Artificial Life 14: Proceedings of the 14th
International Conference on the Simulation and Synthesis of Living Systems (Alife XIV), July 30-Aug 2, 2014, SUNY
Global Center & Javits Center, New York, NY. MIT Press, ISBN 978-0-262-32621-6 [988 pages].
5. Blum, C. et al., eds. (2013) Proceedings of the 15th International Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference
(GECCO 2013), July 6-10, 2013, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ACM, ISBN 978-1-4503-1963-8 [1636 pages].
4. Soule, T. et al., eds. (2012) Proceedings of the 14th International Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference
(GECCO 2012), July 7-11, 2012, Philadelphia, PA. ACM, ISBN 978-1-4503-1177-9 [1364 pages].
3. Lenaerts, T., Giacobini, M., Bersini, H., Bourgine, P., Dorigo M. & Doursat, R., eds. (2011) Advances in Artificial Life:
Proceedings of the 11th European Conference on the Synthesis and Simulation of Living Systems (ECAL’11),
August 8-12, 2011, Paris, France. MIT Press, ISBN 978-0-262-29714-1 [907 pages].
2. Dorigo, M., Birattari, M., Di Caro, G. A., Doursat, R., Engelbrecht, A. P., Floreano, D., Gambardella, L. M., Groß, R.,
Sahin, E., Sayama, H. & Stützle, T., eds. (2010) Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Swarm
Intelligence (ANTS 2010), September 8-10, 2010, Brussels, Belgium. LNCS 6234, Springer-Verlag, ISBN 978-3642-15460-7 [542 pages].
1. Ulieru, M., Palensky, P. & Doursat, R., eds. (2009) IT Revolutions: Proceedings of the 1st International ICST
Conference, Revised Selected Papers, December 17-19, 2008, Venice, Italy. LNICST 11, Springer-Verlag, ISBN
978-3-642-03977-5 [259 pages].
Other — Patents (2)
2. Guyon, I., Reiss, E. P., Doursat, R & Weston, J. A. E. (2011) Data mining platform for knowledge discovery from
heterogeneous data types and/or heterogeneous data sources. US Patent 7,921,068.
1. Guyon, I., Reiss, E. P., Doursat, R, Weston, J. A. E. & Lewis, D. D. (2008) Data mining platform for bioinformatics
and other knowledge discovery. US Patent 7,444,308.
Conferences & Workshops — Accepted Abstracts (23)
Accepted abstracts - oral presentations (12)
12. Pascalie, J., Potier, M., Kowaliw, T., Giavitto, J.-L., Michel, O., Spicher, A. & Doursat, R. (2015) Spatial computing
in synthetic bioware: Creating bacterial architectures. Advances in Artificial Life: Proceedings of the 13th European
Conference on the Synthesis and Simulation of Living Systems (ECAL'15), July 20-24, 2015, York, UK; J. Timmis,
S. Stepney, P. Andrews, L. Caves, R. Doursat, S. Hickinbotham & F. Polack, eds.: p. xx. MIT Press. Upcoming.
11. Doursat, R. (2014) Morphogenetic engineering in swarm robotics and synthetic biology. 7th International Workshop
on Guided Self-Organization (GSO 2014), December 16-18, 2014, University of Freiburg, Germany.
10. Pascalie, J., Doursat, R., Potier, M., Spicher, A., Kowaliw, T., Giavitto, J.-L. & Michel, O. (2014) Soft to wet:
Morphogenetic engineering in synthetic biology. Workshop “Exploiting Synergies Between Biology and Artificial Life
Technologies” (EVOBLISS 2014), at 14th International Conference on the Simulation and Synthesis of Living
Systems (Alife XIV), July 30, 2014, SUNY Global Center, New York, NY.
9. Joachimczak, M., Kowaliw, T., Doursat, R. & Wróbel, B. (2012) Evolving morphologies and controllers for soft-bodied
multicellular animats using gene regulatory networks and artificial embryogenesis. Evolutionary Developmental
Robotics Workshop (EvoDevoRobo 2012), in Companion Publication of the 14th International Genetic and
Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO 2012), July 7-11, 2012, Philadelphia, PA; T. Soule et al., eds.: pp.
357-360. ACM, ISBN 978-1-4503-1178-6 [4 pages; presenter: M. Joachimczak].
8. Doursat, R. (2008) A morphogenetic model of controlled self-organization. 5th European Conference on Complex
Systems (ECCS 2008), September 14-19, 2008, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel [4 pages].
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7. Doursat, R. (2008) From morphogenesis to embryomorphic engineering. “From Amorphous to Spatial Computing”
Workshop, July 7-8, 2008, Paris, France [8 pages].
6. Hoelzer, G., Drewes, R. & Doursat, R. (2008) Speciation through spatial self-organization of the gene pool. 12th
Evolutionary Biology Meeting (EBM 2008), September 24-26, 2008, Université de Provence, Marseille, France
[presenter: G. Hoelzer].
5. Doursat, R. (2007) The self-made puzzle: Integrating self-assembly and pattern formation under non-random genetic
regulation. 7th International Conference on Complex Systems (ICCS 2007), October 28-November 2, 2007, New
England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI), Boston, MA.
4. Doursat, R. (2006) The growing canvas of biological development: Multiscale pattern generation on an expanding
lattice of gene regulatory networks. 6th International Conference on Complex Systems (ICCS 2006), June 25-30,
2006, New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI), Boston, MA [online proceedings].
3. Hoelzer, G., Drewes, R. & Doursat, R. (2006) Temporal waves of genetic diversity in a spatially explicit model of
evolution: Heaving toward speciation. 6th International Conference on Complex Systems (ICCS 2006), June 25-30,
2006, New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI), Boston, MA [online proceedings; presenter: G. Hoelzer].
2. Bienenstock, E. & Doursat, R. (1989) Of shapes, graphs and neural codes. NATO Advanced Research Workshop
on Neuro Computing: Algorithms, Architectures and Applications, February 27-March 3, 1989, Les Arcs, France
[presenter: E. Bienenstock].
1. Bienenstock, E. & Doursat, R. (1988) Graph-matching and shape recognition in neural networks. 1st Conference on
Image Recognition and Neural Networks: From Signal Processing to Representation (NEURO-IMAGE 1988),
October 6-7, 1988, Université de Bordeaux II, France.
Accepted abstracts - posters (11)
11. Doursat, R. (2014) Morphogenetic “neuron flocking”: The dynamic self-organization of neural activity into mental
shapes . 8th International Conference on Emergent Dynamics from Large-Scale Brain Networks in Health and
Disease (BrainModes 2014), December 11-12, 2014, King’s College London, UK.
10. Stepney, S. et al. (2012) Gardening cyber-physical systems. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on
Unconventional Computation and Natural Computation (UCNC 2012) September 3-7, 2012, Université d’Orléans,
France; J. Durand-Lose & N. Jonoska, eds.: pp. 237-238. LNCS 7445, Springer-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-642-32893-0.
9. Doursat, R. (2009) Heterogeneous collective motion or moving pattern formation? The “self-made puzzle” of
embryogenesis under the light of multi-agent modeling. 1st International Conference on Morphogenesis in Living
Systems (MLS 2009), May 14-16, 2009, Université Paris Descartes, France.
8. Doursat, R. & Bienenstock, E. (2007) How activity regulates connectivity: A self-organizing complex neural network.
Ladislav Tauc Conference in Neurobiology 2007: Complexity in Neural Network Dynamics (Tauc 2007), December
13-14, 2007, Institut de Neurobiologie Alfred Fessard (INAF), CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
7. Doursat, R., Goodman, P. H. & Zou, Q. (2007) Neocortical locks and keys: Coherence induction among complex,
heterogeneous neuronal patterns. Ladislav Tauc Conference in Neurobiology 2007: Complexity in Neural Network
Dynamics (Tauc 2007), Dec 13-14, 2007, Alfred Fessard Neurobiology Institute (INAF), CNRS, Gif-s/Yvette, France.
6. Faure, E., Lombardot, B., Luengo-Oroz, M., Campana M., Peyriéras, N., Doursat, R. & Bourgine, P. (2007) Active
machine learning for embryogenesis. 4th European Conference on Complex Systems (ECCS 2007), October 1-5,
2007, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany [online proceedings].
5. OCP Science Best Poster Award in Unconventional Computing (2008), International Journal of Unconventional
Computing 4(2): i-ii.
Doursat, R. (2007) Embryomorphic engineering: How to design hyper-distributed architectures capable of
autonomous segmentation, rescaling and shaping. Unconventional Computation Conference (UC 2007), March 2123, 2007, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Santa Fe Institute (SFI), Santa Fe, NM.
4. Goodman, P. H., Doursat, R., Zou, Q., Zirpe, M. & Sessions, O. (2007) RAIN brains: Mammalian neocortex as a
hybrid analog-digital computer. Unconventional Computation Conference (UC 2007), March 21-23, 2007, Los
Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Santa Fe Institute (SFI), Santa Fe, NM.
3. Doursat, R. & Bienenstock, E. (2006) How activity regulates connectivity: A self-organizing complex neural network.
6th International Conference on Complex Systems (ICCS 2006), June 25-30, 2006, New England Complex Systems
Institute (NECSI), Boston, MA.
2. Doursat, R. & Bienenstock, E. (2006) The self-organized growth of synfire patterns. 10th International Conference
on Cognitive and Neural Systems (ICCNS 2006), May 17-20, 2006, Boston University, MA.
1. Doursat, R. & Goodman, P. H. (2006) Neocortical keys and locks: A neural model of associative learning by
coherence induction between spike patterns and ongoing membrane potentials. 10th International Conference on
Cognitive and Neural Systems (ICCNS 2006), May 17-20, 2006, Boston University, MA.
Conferences & Workshops — Invited Talks with Abstracts (43)
Invited keynotes with abstracts (8)
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8. One of 3 keynote speakers, with Thomas Kirste (Rostock), Edzer Pebesma (Münster)
Doursat, R. (2013) Architectured self-organized systems: Toward the best of both worlds by “Morphogenetic
Engineering”. . Geosensor Networks: Bridging Algorithms and Applications (Dagstuhl Seminar 13492), December
1-6, 2013, Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik, Schloss Dagstuhl, Germany.
7. One of 3 keynote speakers, with Ioannis Kevrekidis (Princeton), Jeffrey Wilcox (VP Lockheed)
Doursat, R. (2013) Self-organization with architecture: Toward the best of both worlds by “Morphogenetic
Engineering”. 7th IEEE International Conference on Self-Adaptive and Self-Organizing Systems (SASO 2013),
September 9-13, 2013, Philadelphia, PA.
6. Only keynote speaker
Doursat, R. (2011) Artificial evo-devo: Bringing back self-organized multi-agent systems into evolutionary
computation. International Conf. on Artificial Evolution (EA 2011), October 24-26, 2011, Université d’Angers, France.
5. Only keynote speaker
Doursat, R. (2011) Embryomorphic Engineering: Growing architectures from self-positioning and self-identifying
agents. 1st Workshop on Middleware and Architectures for Autonomic and Sustainable Computing (MAASC 2011),
May 12, 2011, Télécom ParisTech, Paris, France.
4. One of 3 keynote speakers, with Paulien Hogeweg (Utrecht), Pierre-Yves Oudeyer (INRIA Bordeaux)
Doursat, R. (2011) The myriads of Alife: Importing complex systems and self-organization into engineering. 2011
IEEE Symposium on Artificial Life (IEEE-ALIFE), April 11-15, 2011, Université Paris Diderot (Paris 7), Paris, France.
3. Only keynote speaker
Doursat, R. (2010) Architecture and self-organisation: Heading for the best of both worlds. Gartner Enterprise
Architecture Summit, May 17-18, 2010, London, UK.
2. One of 2 keynote speakers, with Russ Abbott (CalState LA)
Doursat, R. (2010) Embryomorphic Engineering: From biological development to self-organized computational
architectures. 4th EmergeNET Meeting: Engineering Emergence (EmergeNET4), April 19-20, 2010, University of
York, UK.
1. One of 3 keynote speakers, with Marco Dorigo (Bruxelles), Hiroshi Shimizu (Osaka)
Doursat, R. (2007) How to plan self-organization, control decentralization, and design evolution: Addressing the
paradoxes of complex systems engineering with metaphors from biological development. 2nd International
Conference on Bio-Inspired Models of Network, Information, and Computing Systems (BIONETICS 2007),
December 10-13, 2007, Budapest, Hungary.
Invited talks with abstracts (35)
35. One of 30 invited speakers, including Luca Cardelli, Lee Cronin, Kepa Ruiz Mirazo
Doursat, R. (2015) TBA. 4th International Conference on Emergence in Chemical Systems, June 21-27, 2015,
University of Alaska Anchorage, AK. Upcoming.
34. One of 6 invited speakers
Doursat, R. (2015) Imagination wanted: How artificial life can help biology and cybernetics revisit and expand each
other. Workshop Living Circuits: Contemporary Cybernetic Performativity in the Life Sciences, organized by the
CNRS Interdisciplinary Action "Domestication and Fabrication of Life", May 12, 2015, Complex Systems Institute,
Paris Ile-de-France.
33. One of 6 invited speakers
Doursat, R. (2015) L’ingénierie morphogénétique : modèles de processus dynamiques pour la morphogenèse.
Modéliser et Simuler : Atelier autour de la publication du tome 2, January 12, 2015, Institute for History and
Philosophy of Sciences and Technology (IHPST), Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris, France.
32. Doursat, R. (2014) How complex systems thinking can tame big data: The limits of data-centric inference and the
usefulness of agent-based modeling. AgreenSkills Training & Research School “Predictive Modeling: from Data to
Models”, October 29-31, 2014, Météopole, Toulouse, France.
31. Doursat, R. & Rizzi, B. (2014) An integrative biology platform for the measurement and computational modeling of
multicellular dynamics from 3D+time in vivo imaging of animal early embryogenesis. 6th International Symposium
on Functional Microscopy in Biology (MiFoBio 2014), October 4-10, 2014, Seignosse (CNRS, Inserm), France.
30. Delile, J., Doursat, R. & Peyriéras, N. (2014) Computational modeling and simulation of animal early embryogenesis.
2nd International Conference on Physics and Biological Systems (PhysBio 2014), June 24-27, 2014, CNRS, Gifsur-Yvette, France.
29. One of 7 invited speakers, including Rolf Pfeifer, Alain Berthoz, Kevin O’Regan
Doursat, R. (2013) Morphogenesis in space and time: How cells self-assemble into bodies and neurons synchronize
into minds. Workshop “Robotics and Life: Concepts and Design of Intelligent Systems, Contribution of Enaction,
Cybernetics and Complexity Sciences, December 9, 2013, Information Processing and Systems Research Lab
(ETIS), Université de Cergy-Pontoise, France.
28. One of 20 invited speakers, including Kunihiko Kaneko, Steen Rasmussen, Mark Bedau, W. Banzhaf
Doursat, R. (2013) Morphogenetic Engineering: Programming the Emergence of Complex Systems Architecture.
3rd International Conf. on Emergence in Chemical Systems, June 17-22, 2013, University of Alaska Anchorage, AK.
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27. One of 8 invited speakers, including Ed Munro, Lance Davidson, Roeland Merks
Doursat, R. (2013) From Embryogenesis to Simulated Development to Synthetic Biology: The Alliance of Modeling
and Engineering in Biological Complex Systems. 3rd International Conference on Morphogenesis in Living Systems
(MLS 2013), February 15, 2013, Institut de Neurobiologie Alfred Fessard (INAF), CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
26. One of 8 invited speakers, including Ricard Solé, Barry McMullin, Christoph Teuscher
Doursat, R. (2012) Complex systems and morphogenetic engineering: New avenues toward self-organized
architecture. Frontiers of Natural Computing Workshop (FNC), September 10-12, 2012, University of York, UK.
25. One of 5 invited speakers, including Marco Dorigo, Jack Lutz, Cristian Calude
Doursat, R. (2012) Advances in embryomorphic engineering. 11th International Conference on Unconventional
Computation and Natural Computation (UCNC 2012) September 3-7, 2012, Université d’Orléans, France; J. DurandLose & N. Jonoska, eds.: p. 10. LNCS 7445, Springer-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-642-32893-0.
24. One of 7 invited speakers, including Josh Bongard, Kenneth Stanley, Giorgio Metta
Doursat, R. (2012) Morphogenetic engineering: Reconciling architecture with self-organization. Evolutionary
Developmental Robotics Workshop (EvoDevoRobo 2012), at 14th International Genetic and Evolutionary
Computation Conference (GECCO 2012), July 7-11, 2012, Philadelphia, PA.
23. One of 26 invited speakers, including Gustavo Deco, Karl Friston, Stephen Grossberg, Gregor Schöner, Wolf Singer,
Misha Tsodyks, Christoph von der Malsburg
Doursat, R. (2011) Morphogenetic “neuron flocking”: The dynamic self-organization of neural activity into mental
shapes. Workshop on Mathematical Models of Cognitive Architectures, December 5-9, 2011, International Center
of Mathematics Meetings (CIRM), Université d’Aix-Marseille, France.
22. Doursat, R. (2011) Toward Morphogenetic Engineering: Biological development as a new model of programmed
self-organization. 2nd International Workshop on New Worlds of Computation (NWC 2011), May 23-24, 2011,
Université d’Orléans, France.
21. Delile, J., Kowaliw, T., Peyriéras, N. & Doursat, R. (2011) Automated inference of 4-D cell polarization fields in an
agent-based model of early vertebrate embryogenesis. Workshop on the 4-D Visualization of Vertebrate
Morphogenesis, at Annual Meeting of the American Association of Anatomists (AAA 2011), at Experimental Biology
(EB 2011), April 9-13, 2011, Washington, DC [presenter: J. Delile].
20. One of 12 invited speakers, including Matthieu Latapy, Guillaume Beslon, Annick Lesne
Doursat, R. (2010) A computational model of multicellular development. 1st Conference on Mathematical and
Computational Modeling of Complex Systems (COMMISCO 2010), October 11-13, 2010, Institut de Recherche pour
le Développement (IRD), Bondy, France.
19. Doursat, R. (2010) Heterogeneous collective motion or moving pattern formation? The exemplary status of
multicellular morphogenesis at the border between “informed” physics and “physical” computation. 9th Complex
Systems Dynamics Workshop (DySCo 2010), September 27-28, 2010, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France.
18. Doursat, R. & Petitot, J. (2010) Cognitive morphodynamics: Viewing semantic categorization as a pattern formation
process in complex neural systems. Symposium on Structured Flows on Manifolds: A General Dynamical
Framework to Cognition, at “Cognition, Emotions and Society” Conference of the French Psychology Society (SFP),
September 7-9, 2010, Université Charles-de-Gaulle Lille 3, France.
17. One of 7 invited speakers, including Netta Cohen, Alessandro Crespi, Holke Cruse
Doursat, R. (2010) Embryomorphic Engineering: From biological development to self-organized computational
architectures. “Evolutionary Transitions of Brain-Body Couplings” Workshop, at 11th International Conference on
the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB 2010), August 24, 2010, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris 6), France.
16. One of 4 invited speakers, including Eric Goles, Hugues Berry, Fernando Peruani
Doursat, R. (2010) Embryomorphic Engineering: From biological development to self-organized computational
architectures. 2nd Summer Solstice International Conference on Discrete Models of Complex Systems (SOLSTICE
2010), June 16-18, 2010, LORIA, CNRS, Nancy, France.
15. One of 15 invited speakers, including Anil Seth, Philippe Huneman, Jeff Johnson
Doursat, R. (2009) Causing and influencing patterns by designing the agents: Complex systems made simpler. 4th
Workshop on Causality in Complex Systems, co-organized by DSTO, CSIRO (Australia), and ONR, AFRL (US), in
association with the Conference on Spatial Simulation for the Social Sciences (S4), November 25-27, 2009, Complex
Systems Institute, Paris Ile-de-France.
14. Doursat, R. (2009) Heterogeneous collective motion or moving pattern formation? The two sides of embryogenesis
combined by multi-agent modeling into a “self-made puzzle”. Workshop on Quantitative Tissue Biology and Virtual
Tissues (Biocomplexity X), October 28-November 1, 2009, The Biocomplexity Institute, Indiana University,
Bloomington, IN.
13. One of 6 invited panelists, including Greg Hornby, Julian Miller, Peter Bentley, Sean Luke
Doursat, R. (2009) Evolutionary developmental systems as “self-made puzzles” that can be programmed: Lessons
from biological morphogenesis. Invited panelist, “Generative & Developmental Systems” Workshop (GDS 2009), at
11th Int’l Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO 2009), July 8-12, 2009, Montreal, Canada.
12. One of 11 invited speakers, including Hugues Bersini, Stan Marée, Eric Werner
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Doursat, R. (2009) Heterogeneous collective motion or moving pattern formation? The self-made puzzle of
embryogenesis under the light of multi-agent modeling. 2nd Paris Workshop on Multi-Agent Systems in Biology at
Meso or Macroscopic scales (MASBio 2009), June 23, 2009, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.
11. Doursat, R. (2009) Embryomorphic engineering: How elaborate, modular architectures can be self-organized, too.
1st International Morphogenetic Engineering Workshop (MEW 2009), June 19, 2009, Complex Systems Institute,
Paris, France.
10. Doursat, R. (2009) The self-made puzzle: Complex systems science as a design activity. Workshop on “Aesthetic
at the Heart of Science”, at European Future and Emerging Technologies Conference (FET 2009): “Science Beyond
Fiction”, April 21-23, 2009, Prague, Czech Republic.
9. Doursat, R. (2009) Mouvement collectif hétérogène ou formation de motifs en mouvement? Le puzzle auto-façonné
de l’embryogenèse à la lumière des modèles multi-agents. 5ème Ecole interdisciplinaire d’échanges et de formation
en biologie (Berder 2009): “Spatialisation et localisation”, Mar 29-Apr 4, 2009, Formation du CNRS, Brittany, France.
8. Doursat, R. (2008) Paradox in approaching complexity: From natural to engineered complex systems. IT Revolutions
2008, December 17-19, 2008, Telecom Italia Future Centre, Venice, Italy.
7. Doursat, R. & Ulieru, M. (2008) Guiding the emergence of structured network topologies: A programmed attachment
approach. “Dynamics On and Of Complex Networks II” Workshop (DOON II), at 5th European Conference on
Complex Systems (ECCS 2008), September 14-19, 2008, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
6. Doursat, R. (2007) Of tapestries, ponds and RAIN: Toward fine-grain mesoscopic neurodynamics in excitable media.
International Workshop on Nonlinear Brain Dynamics for Computational Intelligence, at 10th Joint Conference on
Information Sciences (JCIS 2007), July 20, 2007, Salt Lake City, UT.
5. Doursat, R. (2007) Multiscale Embryomorphic Architectures. Workshop on Scaling in Biological and Social
Networks, July 9-13, 2007, Santa Fe Institute (SFI), Santa Fe, NM.
4. Doursat, R. (2007) Embryomorphic systems meta-design: Preparing for self-assembly, self-regulation and evolution.
7th Understanding Complex Systems Symposium (UCS 2007), May 14-17, 2007, Department of Physics, University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL.
3. Goodman, P. H. & Doursat, R. (2007) Large-scale biologically realistic models of cortical mesocircuit dynamics.
Computational Neuroscience, Sensory Augmentation, and Brain-Machine Interface, April 25-26, 2007, Office of
Naval Research (ONR), Arlington, VA.
2. Doursat, R. & Petitot, J. (2005) Notes on the possibility of embodied computation based on the emergence of
singularities in a large-scale complex dynamical system. Workshop on Neurodynamics and Intentional Dynamic
Systems, at International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN 2005), August 5, 2005, Montréal, Canada.
1. Doursat, R. (1995) The microdynamics of mental schemas. Workshop on Morphodynamic Models for Language and
Perception, December 11-13, 1995, International Centre for Semiotic and Cognitive Studies (Umberto Eco & Patrizia
Violi, dirs.), University of San Marino, Italy.
Other — Documents, Reports (5)
Technical documents (2)
2. Doursat, R. (2000) How to write “wrapper” code for merchant websites (an internal development guide for use by
the engineering team). RedCart.com, Inc. [30 pages].
1. Doursat, R. (1995) CodeGen: Automated C/C++ code generation and regeneration (technical specifications and
user programming manual). NeuronData, Inc. [41 pages].
Internal & technical reports (3)
3. Petitot, J. & Doursat, R. (1998) Modèles dynamiques et linguistique cognitive: vers une sémantique morphologique
active. Technical Report 9809, in Rapports et documents du CREA, Ecole Polytechnique, Paris.
2. Doursat, R., von der Malsburg, C. & Bienenstock, E. (1995) Coding metric with delayed temporal correlations: An
oscillator model of graph-matching. Technical Report, Institute for Neural Computation, Ruhr-Universität Bochum,
Germany.
1. Doursat, R., Konen, W., Lades, M., von der Malsburg, C., Vorbrüggen, J. C., Wiskott, L. & Würtz, R. P. (1993) Neural
mechanisms of elastic pattern matching. Internal Report IRINI 93-01, Institute for Neural Computation, RuhrUniversität Bochum, Germany.
Seminars — Individual Talks
Academic Institutions
58. Université de Strasbourg, France (host: Pierre Collet), Engineering Science, Computer Science and Imaging
Laboratory (ICube), June 9, 2015 — From multicellular development to morphogenetic engineering to synthetic
biology.
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57. Brown University, Providence, RI (hosts: Elie Bienenstock, Stuart Geman), Division of Applied Mathematics,
February 4, 2015 — Computational reconstruction and modeling of multicellular dynamics from 3D+time in vivo
imaging of animal early embryogenesis. Extension to Artificial Life.
56. Tufts University, Boston, MA (hosts: Michael Levin, Barry Trimmer), Department of Biology, February 2, 2015 —
From multicellular development to morphogenetic engineering to synthetic biology.
55. KU Leuven, Belgium (hosts: Chris Trengove, Cees van Leeuwen), Lab. for Perceptual Dynamics (PDL), March
7, 2014 — Morphogenetic “neuron flocking”: The dynamic self-organization of neural activity into mental shapes.
54. The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC (host: Victor Frenkel), Department of Biomedical
Engineering, April 18, 2013 — From multicellular development to “artificial life” to synthetic biology, The modelingengineering loop in biological complex systems.
53. University of Southampton, UK (host: Seth Bullock), Institute for Complex Systems Simulation, March 6, 2013
— Morphogenetic engineering: The two-way bridges between biomodelling, bioinspired engineering, and
bioengineering.
52. Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (host: Uri Hershberg), School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health
Systems, December 10, 2012 — From embryogenesis to simulated development to synthetic biology: The alliance
of modeling and engineering in biological complex systems.
51. University of Vermont, Burlington, VT (host: Maggie J. Eppstein), Complex Systems Center, November 30, 2012
— Morphogenetic Engineering: Toward programmable complex systems via biological and artificial development.
50. BBN Technologies, Cambridge, MA (host: Jake Beal), Distributed Systems Technology Group, November 27,
2012 — Complex systems and Morphogenetic Engineering: New avenues toward self-organized architectures.
49. George Mason University, Fairfax, VA (host: Kenneth A. De Jong), Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study,
November 16, 2012 — Programmable complex systems, artificial development, and the “shapes” of brain dynamics.
48. Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (host: David E. Breen), Geometric Biomedical Computing Group, Department
of Computer Science, November 12, 2012 — From embryogenesis to simulated development to synthetic biology:
The alliance of modeling and engineering in biological complex systems.
47. Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (host: Christoph von der Malsburg), Frankfurt Institute for
Advanced Studies (FIAS), March 16, 2012 — Morphogenetic “neuron flocking”: The dynamic self-organization of
neural activity into mental shapes.
46. Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany (hosts: Markus Diesmann, Sonja Grün), Computational and Systems
Neuroscience Group, March 15, 2012 — Morphogenetic “neuron flocking”: The dynamic self-organization of neural
activity into mental shapes.
45. Université d’Aix-Marseille, France (host: Viktor Jirsa), Theoretical Neuroscience Group (TNG), May 18, 2011 —
Uncovering the shapes of brain dynamics.
44. Université de Lille, France (host: Sophie Tison), Fundamental Computer Science Laboratory, Lille (LIFL), April
19, 2011 — How to design self-organization in multi-agent systems.
43. Université d’Aix-Marseille, France (host: Alexis Nasr), Fundamental Computer Science Laboratory, Marseille
(LIF), April 12, 2011 — Self-organization and architecture: Heading for the best of both worlds.
42. Universidad de Málaga, Spain (host: Francisco J. Vico), Research Group in Biomimetics, School of Computer
Science, April 8, 2011 — Architecture and self-organization.
41. Université d’Orléans, France (host: Jérôme Durand-Lose), Fundamental Computer Science Laboratory, Orléans
(LIFO), March 21, 2011 — Unconventional architectures: The art of programming self-organization.
40. Université de Strasbourg, France (host: Pierre Collet), Image Science, Computer Science and Remote Sensing
Laboratory (LSIIT), March 18, 2011 — How to design self-organization: Bringing back evolutionary computation into
multi-agent systems.
39. Université de Nancy & INRIA, France (host: François Charpillet), Lorraine Laboratory of Research in Computer
Science and its Applications (LORIA), March 17, 2011 — The myriads of Alife: Importing complex systems and selforganization into engineering.
38. University of Bristol, UK (host: Luca Giuggioli), Bristol Centre for Complexity Sciences (BCCS), November 9,
2010 — Heterogeneous collective motion or moving pattern formation? The exemplary status of multicellular
morphogenesis at the border between “informed” physics and “physical” computation.
37. Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, France (hosts: Guillaume Beslon, Pablo Jensen), Complex Systems
Institute of Rhône-Alpes (IXXI), November 4, 2010 — A computational model of multicellular development.
36. Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium (hosts: Marco Dorigo, Hugues Bersini), Institute of Interdisciplinary
Research & Development in Artificial Intelligence (IRIDIA), March 19, 2010 — Embryomorphic engineering: From
biological development to artificial multi-agent organisms.
35. Université de Nantes, France (host: Julien Cohen), Computer Science Laboratory, Nantes Atlantique (LINA),
February 11, 2010 — Morphogenetic engineering: From biological development to programmable self-organized
systems.
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34. Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris 6), France (host: Michel Gho), Developmental Biology Laboratory (LBD),
December 11, 2009 — Heterogeneous collective motion or moving pattern formation? The self-made puzzle of
embryogenesis under the light of multi-agent modeling.
33. University of West England, Bristol, UK (host: Alan F. T. Winfield), Intelligent Autonomous Systems Laboratory,
Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL), October 19, 2009 — Embryomorphic engineering: From biological development
to artificial multi-agent organisms.
32. London School of Economics, UK (host: Eve Mitleton-Kelly), Complexity Research Programme, June 26, 2009
— Complex systems as “self-made puzzles” that can be programmed: Lessons from biological morphogenesis.
31. Genopole, Evry, France (hosts: Martine Beurton-Aimar, François Képès), Epigenomics Project, June 25, 2009
— Complex systems and agent-based modeling in biology.
30. The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK (host: Jeff Johnson), Department of Design and Innovation, April 1, 2009
— The self-made puzzle: Complex systems and design.
29. Université de Cergy-Pontoise, France (host: Laura Hernandez), Laboratory for Theoretical Physics and
Modelling, February 5, 2009 — A multi-agent computational model of biological morphogenesis based on nonrandom, programmable pattern formation and self-assembly.
28. New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI), Cambridge, MA (host: Yaneer Bar-Yam), NECSI Winter
School 2009, January 8, 2009 — Self-organization and variability of complex modular architectures as a prerequisite
to evolutionary innovation.
27. Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris 6), France (host: Michelle Thieullen), Probabilities and Random Models
Laboratory (PMA), December 12, 2008 — A multi-agent computational model of biological morphogenesis based
on non-random, programmable pattern formation and self-assembly.
26. Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain (host: Ricard Solé), Complex Systems Laboratory, December 5,
2008 — Self-organization and variability of complex modular architectures as a prerequisite to evolutionary
innovation.
25. Université Paris-Sud 11 & INRIA, Orsay, France (hosts: Nicolas Bredeche, Marc Schoenauer), Computer
Science Research Laboratory (LRI), Machine Learning and Optimization Team (TAO), November 10, 2008 —
Spatial self-organization of heterogeneous, modular architectures.
24. Ecole Polytechnique & CNRS, Paris, France (host: Paul Bourgine), Research Center in Applied Epistemology
(CREA), March 25, 2008 — Architectures that are self-organized and complex: From morphogenesis to engineering.
23. University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand (host: Martin Purvis), Department of Information Science, Feburary
12, 2008 — Architectures that are self-organized and complex: From morphogenesis to engineering.
22. Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (host: Marcus Frean), Artificial Intelligence Group, School of
Mathematics, Statistics & Computer Science, February 5, 2008 — Architectures that are self-organized and complex:
From morphogenesis to engineering.
21. Complex Systems Institute, Paris Ile-de-France, “Morning Seminar” Series, January 18, 2008 — The self-made
puzzle: Integrating self-assembly and pattern formation under non-random genetic regulation.
20. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland (host: Dario Floreano), Laboratory of Intelligent
Systems, Institut d’Ingénierie des Systèmes, January 16, 2008 — The self-made puzzle: Integrating self-assembly
and pattern formation under non-random genetic regulation.
19. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland (hosts: Felix Schürmann, Henry Markram),
Blue Brain Project, Brain Mind Institute, January 16, 2008 — Toward a spiking mesoscopic neurodynamics.
18. Utrecht University, The Netherlands (host: Paulien Hogeweg), Theoretical Biology & Bioinformatics Group,
Department of Biology, December 17, 2007 — The self-made puzzle: Integrating self-assembly and pattern
formation under non-random genetic regulation.
17. Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (host: James Glazier), The Biocomplexity Institute, May 31, 2007 —
Embryomorphic architectures.
16. INRIA Futurs, Orsay, France (host: Hugues Berry), ALCHEMY Research Laboratory, January 23, 2007 —
Organically grown architectures: Embryogenesis and neurogenesis as new paradigms for decentralized systems
design.
15. Ecole Polytechnique & CNRS, Paris, France (host: Paul Bourgine), Research Center in Applied Epistemology
(CREA), December 5, 2006 — Building the mesoscopic foundations of cognition: emergence and interaction of
spatiotemporal patterns in complex dynamical neural systems.
14. Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (host: Christoph von der Malsburg), Frankfurt Institute for
Advanced Studies (FIAS), November 3, 2006 — Genetics and epigenetics: Two models of self-organization in
biological development.
13. Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany (host: Rolf Würtz), Institute for Neural Computation (INI), October 31, 2006
— Locks and keys in complex neural networks: The “mesocircuits” of cognition.
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12. Binghamton University SUNY, Binghamton, NY (host: Hiroki Sayama), Department of Bioengineering, July 25,
2006 — Locks and keys in complex biosystems: From coherence induction to regulation.
11. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (host: Hava Siegelmann), Biologically Inspired Neural & Dynamical
Systems (BINDS) Laboratory, Department of Computer Science, July 24, 2006 — Locks and keys in complex
biosystems: From coherence induction to regulation.
10. Université de Sherbrooke, Canada (host: Jean Rouat), Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, July
18, 2006 — Toward a rich neurodynamics at a mesoscopic level: Two models of resonance among networks of
oscillatory and excitable units.
9. McGill University, Montréal, Canada (host: Andrew Hendry), Evolution & Ecology Groups, Department of Biology,
July 13, 2006 — Temporal waves of genetic diversity in a spatially explicit model of evolution: Heaving toward
speciation.
8. Université Laval, Québec, Canada (host: Guy Mineau), Department of Computer Science & Software Engineering,
July 6, 2006 — Spatial language and linguistic space: Two models of conceptual categorization based on visual
icons and semantic networks.
7. Université de Montréal, Canada (host: Lael Parrott), Complex Systems Laboratory, Department of Geography,
July 4, 2006 — From evo to devo: Two spatially extended models showing speciation and pattern formation.
6. The MITRE Corporation, Washington, DC (host: Brandon S. Minnery), Emerging Technology Office, May 2, 2006
— Neuromorphic mesocircuits: From neural computation to cognitive architectures via analog VLSI.
5. University of Nevada, Reno, NV (host: George Bebis), Computer Vision Laboratory, Department of Computer
Science & Engineering, June 24, 2004 — Structural graph matching and morphological image transforms: Two paths
toward the categorization of geometrical patterns.
4. University of Nevada, Reno, NV (host: Philip H. Goodman), Brain Computation Laboratory, Department of
Computer Science & Engineering / School of Medicine, May 25, 2004 — An epigenetic development model of the
nervous system.
3. Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands (host: Willem Levelt), Language
Production Group, November 1992 — Compositionality in neural networks.
2. Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany (host: Christoph von der Malsburg), Institute for Neural Computation (INI),
April 1991 — Representations in the nervous system and in artificial neural networks.
1. Université de Montréal, Canada (host: Jan Gecsei), Department of Computer Science and Operations Research
(DIRO), April 1988 — Graph matching and shape recognition.
General public & media appearances
4. Ecole Polytechnique's Alumni Association, Paris, France (host: Michel Paillet), "Human and Social Sciences"
Chapter, March 19, 2015 — Morphogenetic engineering: New perspectives for the design of self-organized systems.
3. French National Public Radio (France-Culture), Paris, France (host: Xavier de la Porte), Show: “Place de la
Toile” (“Web Square”), January 15, 2010 — What are complex systems? (30-mn interview)
2. “La Cantine”, Paris, France (host: Christel Sorin, Fmr. Head of Research at France Telecom), Coworking Space
for High-Tech Entrepreneurs, May 27, 2009 — The Web as a complex system: A self-organization that can be
controlled?
1. Conseil Régional d’Ile-de-France (Regional Government of the Paris Metropolitan Area), France (host: Marc
Lipinski, Vice President for Research & Innovation), Public Forum on Research in Ile-de-France, March 3, 2009 —
Best practices for the coordination of research (panel discussion)
Revision: May 20, 2015