Peter Dayan's research focuses on decision-making processes in the brain, the role of neuromodulators as well as neuronal malfunctions in psychiatric diseases. P. Dayan has long worked at the interface between natural and engineered systems for learning and choice, and is also regarded as a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence. As director, he will not only establish his new department at the MPI for Biological Cybernetics but will have decisive influence on the future development of the institute. New departments to be established soon include 'Cognitive Neuroscience/Computational Psychiatry' and 'Causal Animal Neuroscience'. Furthermore, 12 Junior Research Groups will be appointed over the next years.

P. Dayan is joined by his wife Li Zhaoping who was appointed as a professor at the University of Tübingens science faculty and also became a Max Planck Fellow. Her research is wide ranging, with a particular emphasis on sensory systems. In addition, she is known for a ground-breaking theory about visual attention.