Yasemin Ersoy

Personal Website

Reveal Contact Info

Researcher

Sommer Lab

Current Research

My research explores the principles that govern information extraction in biological and artificial systems. I integrate tools from signal processing, machine learning, and theoretical neuroscience to investigate how time-varying dynamics give rise to representations that support perception and behavior. To me, perception is a puzzle and my goal is to uncover how the brain encodes efficiently, decides what to keep or discard, and how meaning emerges from these seemingly noisy signals.

Background

I studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at UC Berkeley, drawn in by the beauty of the Fourier transform. I spent over a decade dedicated to research and engineering roles, mostly involving sensors, at Texas Instruments and Google[X]: from ultrasound heart rate and motion detection and emotion recognition to ECG and aerial imagery. I wholeheartedly decided it was finally time to return to my true passion: understanding understanding. I always wanted to end up in academia, but I took the scenic route to get here: I’m applying to PhD programs this fall, in neuroscience and electrical engineering.
Outside of research, I enjoy swimming, singing international songs, and I recently rejoined sailing. I used to dance in a Turkic folk group and my new goal is to join a samba group and someday perform in Carnaval in Brazil