Nicholas Sofroniew

mathematician, scientist, engineer

Nicholas Sofroniew, Director of Product and Technology at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), is at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence into cell biology. At CZI, he steers the AI initiatives for cell biology and supports critical projects within the CZ Science ecosystem, including the pioneering CZ Imaging Institute. Some notable contributions include leading the Imaging Technology Team in contributing to napari, an acclaimed open-source image analysis and visualization platform, and establishing the napari hub for sharing innovative plugins.

Prior to CZI, Nicholas was a Research Scientist at the Janelia Research Campus, where he delved into the neurobiological underpinnings of intelligence. His groundbreaking work included developing the 2-photon random access mesoscope and a tactile virtual reality system for neuroscience research. He holds a PhD in Neuroscience from a joint program between the University of Cambridge and the Janelia Research Campus, and a Bachelor's and Master's in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge, where he distinguished himself in Analysis and Combinatorics. In high-school he was a top Chemistry student in the USA and won a Silver Medal at the 37th International Chemistry Olympiad.