A leader in systems neuroscience, Prof. Nachum Ulanovsky is recognized globally for pioneering a new field in brain research. His groundbreaking work on spatial navigation in bats, focusing on 3-D navigation, hippocampal coding, and multisensory integration, has set a gold standard in systems neuroscience. Since establishing his independent laboratory at the Weizmann Institute in 2007, he has consistently made significant contributions to the field, shaping neuroethology and natural neuroscience. Specializing in systems and naturalistic neuroscience, Prof. Ulanovsky explores brain and behavioral mechanisms in bats under real-life conditions. His research output has been marked by outstanding breakthroughs, such as demonstrating 3D spatial representation in bats and revealing a ‘cognitive map’ in the hippocampus. His seminal discoveries, including the development of methods to study place and grid cells, 3D place cells in free-flying bats, and the identification of optimality principles in spatial navigation, showcase his innovative impact.
Prof. Ulanovsky’s list of publications and grants is unparalleled in Israeli neuroscience, reflecting the significance of his work, and his notable accolades, including the prestigious Society for Neuroscience (SFN) Young Investigator Award, the Andre Deloro Award, and the Kimmel  Award, underscore his exceptional research contributions. His recent large-scale model for bat behavior, featured in Science and Nature in 2021, addresses unsolved questions in memory and spatial navigation. With an upcoming book invited by MIT Press, poised to become a textbook in the field, Prof. Ulanovsky solidifies his role as a leader in neuroethology and natural neuroscience.