Dr. Johannes Zierenberg

Professional Experience

10/2023–present

Head of Neural Network Dynamics
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, Germany

Team lead in the group of Viola Priesemann

10/2023–present

Senior Researcher and Lecturer
Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

03/2025–present

Scientific Consultant
Freelance Consulting, Remote

Data-driven modeling and time series prediction

02/2020–05/2020

Visiting Scientist
Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain

08/2019

Assistant Professor (offer)
University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada

Tenure-track offer (declined)

01/2017–09/2023

Postdoctoral Researcher
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, Germany

07/2015–12/2016

Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

2012–2015

Research Visitor
Coventry University, Coventry, UK

Multiple short research stays

2011–2012

Research Visitor
Université de Nancy, Nancy, France

Multiple short research stays

Education

10/2011–06/2015

Dr. rer. nat. (Physics)
University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

04/2009–01/2011

M.Sc. Physics
University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

09/2008–02/2009

ERASMUS Exchange
ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

09/2005–09/2008

B.Sc. Physics
University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

1. S Azizpour, V Priesemann, J Zierenberg, A Levina, Finite integration time can shift optimal sensitivity away from criticality, Communications Physics 9, 119 (2026)
2. T Bätge, J Zierenberg, M Wilczek, Effects of correlated collisions and intermittency on the growth of lucky droplets, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 123, e2502553123 (2026)
3. L Rudelt, D González Marx, FP Spitzner, B Cramer, J Zierenberg, V Priesemann, Signatures of hierarchical temporal processing in the mouse visual system, PLOS Computational Biology 20, e1012355 (2024)
4. D Warkotsch, H Christiansen, J Zierenberg, W Janke, Pulling on grafted flexible polymers can cause twisted bundles, Soft Matter 20, 4916-4927 (2024)
5. J Zierenberg, FP Spitzner, J Dehning, V Priesemann, M Weigel, M Wilczek, How contact patterns destabilize and modulate epidemic outbreaks, New Journal of Physics 25, 053033 (2023)
6. H Yamamoto, FP Spitzner, T Takemuro, V Buendía, H Murota, C Morante, T Konno, S Sato, A Hirano-Iwata, A Levina, V Priesemann, MA Muñoz, J Zierenberg, J Soriano, Modular architecture facilitates noise-driven control of synchrony in neuronal networks, Science Advances 9, eade1755 (2023)
7. B Cramer, M Kreft, S Billaudelle, V Karasenko, A Leibfried, E Müller, P Spilger, J Weis, J Schemmel, MA Muñoz, V Priesemann, J Zierenberg, Autocorrelations from emergent bistability in homeostatic spiking neural networks on neuromorphic hardware, Physical Review Research 5, 033035 (2023)
8. L Berg, J Zierenberg, C Martins-Costa, A Neef, A Kapadia, New avenues for modeling human brain function and disease in vitro, Neuroforum 29, 26 (2023)
9. A Levina, V Priesemann, J Zierenberg, Tackling the subsampling problem to infer collective properties from limited data, Nature Reviews Physics 4, 770-784 (2022)
10. FP Spitzner, J Dehning, J Wilting, A Hagemann, JP Neto, J Zierenberg, V Priesemann, MR. Estimator, a toolbox to determine intrinsic timescales from subsampled spiking activity, PLOS ONE 16, e0249447 (2021)
11. S Contreras, J Dehning, M Loidolt, J Zierenberg, FP Spitzner, JH Urrea-Quintero, SB Mohr, M Wilczek, M Wibral, V Priesemann, The challenges of containing SARS-CoV-2 via test-trace-and-isolate, Nature Communications 12, 378 (2021)
12. J de Heuvel, J Wilting, M Becker, V Priesemann, J Zierenberg, Characterizing spreading dynamics of subsampled systems with nonstationary external input, Physical Review E 102, 040301 (2020)
13. J Dehning, FP Spitzner, MC Linden, SB Mohr, JP Neto, J Zierenberg, M Wibral, M Wilczek, V Priesemann, Model-based and model-free characterization of epidemic outbreaks, medRxiv , 2020.09.16.20187484 (2020)
14. J Dehning, J Zierenberg, FP Spitzner, M Wibral, JP Neto, M Wilczek, V Priesemann, Inferring change points in the spread of COVID-19 reveals the effectiveness of interventions, Science 369, eabb9789 (2020)
15. J Zierenberg, J Wilting, V Priesemann, A Levina, Description of spreading dynamics by microscopic network models and macroscopic branching processes can differ due to coalescence, Physical Review E 101, 022301 (2020)
16. J Zierenberg, J Wilting, V Priesemann, A Levina, Tailored ensembles of neural networks optimize sensitivity to stimulus statistics, Physical Review Research 2, 013115 (2020)
17. J Gross, J Zierenberg, M Weigel, W Janke, Massively parallel multicanonical simulations, Computer Physics Communications 224, 387-395 (2018)
18. W Janke, J Zierenberg, From particle condensation to polymer aggregation, Journal of Physics: Conference Series 955, 012003 (2018)
19. FP Spitzner, J Zierenberg, W Janke, The droplet formation-dissolution transition in different ensembles: Finite-size scaling from two perspectives, SciPost Physics 5, 062 (2018)
20. J Zierenberg, J Wilting, V Priesemann, Homeostatic Plasticity and External Input Shape Neural Network Dynamics, Physical Review X 8, 031018 (2018)
21. N Fytas, J Zierenberg, P Theodorakis, M Weigel, W Janke, A Malakis, Universality from disorder in the random-bond Blume-Capel model, Physical Review E 97, 040102(R) (2018)
22. J Wilting, J Dehning, JP Neto, L Rudelt, M Wibral, J Zierenberg, V Priesemann, Operating in a Reverberating Regime Enables Rapid Tuning of Network States to Task Requirements, Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience 12, 55 (2018)
23. W Janke, P Schierz, J Zierenberg, Transition barrier at a first-order phase transition in the canonical and microcanonical ensemble, Journal of Physics: Conference Series 921, 012018 (2017)
24. W Janke, M Marenz, J Zierenberg, Generalized ensemble computer simulations for structure formation of semiflexible polymers, Lobachevskii Journal of Mathematics 38, 978-985 (2017)
25. J Zierenberg, N Fytas, M Weigel, W Janke, A Malakis, Scaling and universality in the phase diagram of the 2D Blume-Capel model, The European Physical Journal Special Topics 226, 789-804 (2017)
26. J Zierenberg, K Tholen, W Janke, Effect of grafting on the binding transition of two flexible polymers, The European Physical Journal Special Topics 226, 683-692 (2017)
27. M Bachmann, E Bittner, N Fytas, R Kenna, M Weigel, J Zierenberg, Recent advances in phase transitions and critical phenomena: Festschrift on the occasion of Wolfhard Janke's 60th birthday, The European Physical Journal Special Topics 226, 533-537 (2017)
28. N Fricke, J Zierenberg, M Marenz, FP Spitzner, V Blavatska, W Janke, Scaling laws for random walks in long-range correlated disordered media, Condensed Matter Physics 20, 13004 (2017)
29. J Zierenberg, N Fricke, M Marenz, FP Spitzner, V Blavatska, W Janke, Percolation thresholds and fractal dimensions for square and cubic lattices with long-range correlated defects, Physical Review E 96, 062125 (2017)
30. KS Austin, J Zierenberg, W Janke, Interplay of Adsorption and Semiflexibility: Structural Behavior of Grafted Polymers under Poor Solvent Conditions, Macromolecules 50, 4054-4063 (2017)
31. J Zierenberg, P Schierz, W Janke, Canonical free-energy barrier of particle and polymer cluster formation, Nature Communications 8, 14546 (2017)
32. S Majumder, J Zierenberg, W Janke, Kinetics of polymer collapse: effect of temperature on cluster growth and aging, Soft Matter 13, 1276-1290 (2017)
33. A Nuβbaumer, J Zierenberg, E Bittner, W Janke, Numerical test of finite-size scaling predictions for the droplet condensation-evaporation transition, Journal of Physics: Conference Series 759, 012009 (2016)
34. J Zierenberg, W Janke, Finite-size scaling of Lennard-Jones droplet formation at fixed density, Journal of Physics: Conference Series 750, 012017 (2016)
35. J Zierenberg, M Marenz, W Janke, Dilute Semiflexible Polymers with Attraction: Collapse, Folding and Aggregation, Polymers 8, 333 (2016)
36. P Schierz, J Zierenberg, W Janke, First-order phase transitions in the real microcanonical ensemble, Physical Review E 94 (2016)
37. P Schierz, J Zierenberg, W Janke, Molecular Dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations in the microcanonical ensemble: Quantitative comparison and reweighting techniques, The Journal of Chemical Physics 143, 134114 (2015)
38. J Zierenberg, W Janke, Exploring different regimes in finite-size scaling of the droplet condensation-evaporation transition, Physical Review E 92 (2015)
39. J Zierenberg, N Fytas, W Janke, Parallel multicanonical study of the three-dimensional Blume-Capel model, Physical Review E 91 (2015)
40. J Zierenberg, W Janke, From amorphous aggregates to polymer bundles: The role of stiffness on structural phases in polymer aggregation, EPL (Europhysics Letters) 109, 28002 (2015)
41. M Mueller, J Zierenberg, M Marenz, P Schierz, W Janke, Probing the Effect of Density on the Aggregation Temperature of Semi-flexible Polymers in Spherical Confinement, Physics Procedia 68, 95-99 (2015)
42. J Zierenberg, M Mueller, P Schierz, M Marenz, W Janke, Aggregation of theta-polymers in spherical confinement, The Journal of Chemical Physics 141, 114908 (2014)
43. J Zierenberg, M Wiedenmann, W Janke, Application of the parallel multicanonical method to lattice gas condensation, Journal of Physics: Conference Series 510, 012017 (2014)
44. J Zierenberg, M Marenz, W Janke, Scaling Properties of Parallelized Multicanonical Simulations, Physics Procedia 53, 55-59 (2014)
45. J Zierenberg, M Marenz, W Janke, Scaling properties of a parallel implementation of the multicanonical algorithm, Computer Physics Communications 184, 1155-1160 (2013)
46. M Marenz, J Zierenberg, A Arkin, W Janke, Simple flexible polymers in a spherical cage, Condensed Matter Physics 15, 43008:1-7 (2012)
47. S Schöbl, J Zierenberg, W Janke, Influence of lattice disorder on the structure of persistent polymer chains, Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical 45, 475002 (2012)
48. S Schöbl, J Zierenberg, W Janke, Simulating flexible polymers in a potential of randomly distributed hard disks, Phys. Rev. E 84, 051805 (2011)

1. Künstliche Intelligenz im Alltag (Invited Talk)
   Lions Club Göttinger 7, Göttingen, Germany, 27.01.2026
2. Effects of correlated collisions and intermittency on the growth of lucky droplets (Seminar)
   Statistical Physics Seminar, Göttingen, Germany, 22.01.2026
3. Emergent spatiotemporal patterns in adaptive networks (Workshop)
   International NTZ-Workshop on New Developments in Computational Physics, Leipzig, Germany, 01.11.2025
4. Infektionsausbreitung aus Sicht eines (statistischen) Physikers (Invited Talk)
   Rotary Club Göttingen Sternwarte, Göttingen, Germany, 08.10.2025
5. Short-term plasticity for stable neural network dynamics (Workshop)
   MBEXC Research Alliance Meeting, Göttingen, Germany, 19.06.2025
6. Finite integration time shifts optimal dynamic range into subcritical regime (Conference)
   DPG Frühjahrstagung, Regensburg, Germany, 01.03.2025
7. Estimating the risk of an epidemic from human contact behavior (Invited Talk)
   HPI, Potsdam, Germany, 19.12.2024
8. Harnessing the Vicinity of Criticality to Adapt Information Processing (Invited Talk)
   Seminar at Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, 27.11.2024
9. Harnessing the Vicinity of Criticality to Adapt Information Processing (Invited Talk)
   Statistical Physics of Cognition Workshop, London, UK, 25.11.2024
10. Self-regulation and learning in living systems (Invited Talk)
    Biophysics Hi-Noon, Göttingen, Germany, 22.11.2024
11. How contact patterns affect the non-equilibrium physics of epidemic outbreaks (Invited Talk)
    Theorie Kolloquium, Oldenburg, Germany, 05.04.2024
12. Cycloactive matter (Workshop)
    Edinburgh-Göttingen Research Initiative, Göttingen, Germany, 21.02.2024
13. Flexible tuning to task requirements via input statistics, local learning, and homeostatic plasticity (Conference)
    International Conference on Neuromorphic, Natural and Physical Computing, Hannover, Germany, 25.10.2023
14. Using computer models to understand pathological bursts in neuronal cultures (Invited Talk)
    Göttingen Meeting of the NWG, Göttingen, Germany, 24.03.2023
15. Neuromorphic computing with self-organized networks (Invited Talk)
    Kiel University, Kiel, Germany, 10.01.2023
16. Neuromorphic computing with self-organized networks (Invited Talk)
    IWR Colloquium, Heidelberg, Germany, 30.11.2022
17. Available processing time regulates optimal balance between sensitivity and precision (Conference)
    DPG Frühjahrstagung, Regensburg, Germany, 05.09.2022
18. Characterizing spreading dynamics of subsampled systems with non-stationary external input (Conference)
    DPG Frühjahrstagung, Regensburg, Germany, 05.09.2022
19. Understanding Collective Neural Dynamics with Spreading Processes in Complex Networks (Invited Talk)
    Lecture Series Current Topics in Biophysics and Complex Systems, 18.07.2022
20. Emergent bistability in spiking neural networks (Workshop)
    Workshop on statistical mechanical theories of emergence in biological systems, Edinburgh, Scotland, 19.05.2022
21. Homeostatic self-organization in neural networks (Invited Talk)
    University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland, 13.05.2022 - online
22. How contact pattern influence epidemic outbreaks (Invited Talk)
    Workshop on Physics of Data, Venice, Italy, 07.04.2022
23. Autocorrelations in homeostatic spiking neural networks as a result of emergent bistable activity (Conference)
    APS March Meeting, Chicago, USA, 14.03.2022 - online
24. Parallel flat-histogram method for equilibrium and non-equilibrium problems (Invited Talk)
    APS March Meeting, Chicago, USA, 18.03.2022 - online
25. Homeostatic self-organization in neural networks (Invited Talk)
    SFB 1461 Kolloquium, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany, 24.02.2022 - online
26. Disease dynamics shaped by contact behavior (Invited Talk)
    Physikalisches Kolloquium, TU Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany, 02.02.2022 - online
27. Resonance between contact patterns and disease progression shapes epidemic spread (Invited Talk)
    Theorie-Kolloquium der Fakultät für Physik, Uni Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg-Essen, Germany, 03.12.2021 - online
28. Autocorrelations in homeostatic spiking neural networks as a result of emergent bistable activity (Workshop)
    International NTZ-Workshop on New Developments in Computational Physics, Leipzig, Germany, 25.11.2021 - online
29. Eine Analyse des Einflusses von statistischen Eigenschaften menschlichen Kontaktverhaltens auf Krankheitsausbrüche (Invited Talk)
    Herbstagung, Deutsche Aktuarvereinigung, Germany, 15.11.2021 - online
30. Resonance between contact patterns and disease progression shapes epidemic spread (Workshop)
    Workshop on Statistical mechanical theories of emergence in biological systems, Göttingen, Germany, 15.10.2021
31. Tailoring modular neural networks for optimal sensitivity to stimulus statistics (Invited Talk)
    Statistical Physics Seminar, Coventry, UK, 06.10.2021 - online
32. Temporal resonance between disease progression and contact patterns shapes epidemic spread (Invited Talk)
    Virginia Tech, Virginia, USA, 12.07.2021 - online
33. Inferring Change Points in the Spread of COVID-19 for Short-Term Forecasts (Invited Talk)
    MaxEnt21, 05.07.2021 - online
34. The role of GitHub for the management of research data to model COVID-19 (Invited Talk)
    Forschungsdatenmanagement Workshop 2021, MPG, 06.05.2021 - online
35. Using modular networks to reliably distinguish temporal input patterns (Invited Talk)
    BioNN Seminar, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland, 02.03.2021 - online
36. Inferring and modeling the spread of an infectious disease - lessons learned from COVID-19 (Invited Talk)
    Theorie der kondensierten Materie / TRR146 Seminar, Mainz, Germany, 04.02.2021 - online
37. Tailored ensembles of neural networks optimize sensitivity to stimulus statistics (Seminar)
    Statistical Physics Seminar, Göttingen, Germany, 21.01.2021 - online
38. Monte Carlo Methoden in der Modellierung von Krankheitsausbrüchen (Lecture)
    jDPG Theo-Workshop 2021 - Stochastische Modelle in der Physik, 08.01.2021 - online
39. Theory of equilibrium cluster formation in solutions of extended particles (Workshop)
    International NTZ-Workshop on New Developments in Computational Physics, Leipzig, Germany, 03.12.2020 - online
40. Inferring COVID-19 spreading rates and potential change points for case number forecasts (Workshop)
    ELLIS against Covid-19 Online Workshop, 22.04.2020 - online
41. Computation in complex networks with emergent spatio-temporal correlations (Invited Talk)
    Instituto Carlos I, University of Granada, Granada, Spain, 07.02.2020
42. Computation in complex networks with emergent spatio-temporal correlations (Invited Talk)
    Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, 15.01.2020
43. Computation in complex networks with emergent spatio-temporal correlations (Invited Talk)
    aiCTX, Zurich, Switzerland, 14.01.2020
44. Parallel multicanonical simulations and their applications (Invited Talk)
    New methods in Monte Carlo simulations, CECAM-HQ-EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland, 02.09.2019
45. Statistische Physik in den Neurowissenschaften: Artifizielle Netzwerke (Invited Talk)
    Physics Teacher Training Program (ZLS), Leipzig, Germany, 14.05.2019
46. Homeostatic plasticity and external input can explain difference between neural spiking activity in vitro and in vivo (Invited Talk)
    Duke University, Duke, USA, 19.04.2019
47. Homeostatic plasticity and external input shape neural network dynamics (Conference)
    DPG Frühjahrstagung, Regensburg, Germany, 03.04.2019
48. Turning neural networks more brain-like: Inspirations from statistical physics (Seminar)
    MPI Campus Seminar, Göttingen, Germany, 06.02.2019
49. Extending the dynamic range by an ensemble of neural networks (Workshop)
    International NTZ-Workshop on New Developments in Computational Physics, Leipzig, Germany, 30.11.2018
50. Homeostatic plasticity and external input shape neural network dynamics (Workshop)
    Stochastic dynamics on large networks: Prediction and inference, Dresden, Germany, 15.10.2018
51. Homeostatic plasticity and external input explain difference in neural spiking activity in vitro and in vivo (Conference)
    Bernstein Conference, Berlin, Germany, 28.09.2018
52. Diversity of dynamic states in neural networks induced by homeostatic plasticity (Invited Talk)
    ARMC, Coventry University, Coventry, UK, 20.03.2018
53. Population dynamics of driven branching processes (Invited Talk)
    UCL Berkeley, Berkeley, USA, 12.03.2018
54. Diversity of dynamic states in neural networks induced by homeostatic plasticity (Conference)
    APS March Meeting, Los Angeles, USA, 08.03.2018
55. Diversity of dynamic states in neural networks induced by homeostatic plasticity (Workshop)
    International NTZ-Workshop on New Developments in Computational Physics, Leipzig, Germany, 30.11.2017
56. (Grand-)canonical free energy barriers (Invited Talk)
    University Mainz, Mainz, Germany, 05.10.2017
57. Homeostatic plasticity in neural networks induces a diverse range of dynamic states (Invited Talk)
    Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany, 07.07.2017
58. Canonical free-energy barrier of particle and polymer cluster formation (Conference)
    International NTZ-Workshop on New Developments in Computational Physics, Leipzig, Germany, 24.11.2016
59. Finite-size scaling of free-energy barrier in droplet formation and nucleation-like processes (Conference)
    DPG Frühjahrstagung, Regensburg, Germany, 09.03.2016
60. Exploring different regimes in finite-size scaling of the droplet condensation-evaporation transition (Workshop)
    Annual CSP Workshop, Athens, Georgia, USA, 24.02.2016
61. Exploring different regimes in finite-size scaling of the droplet condensation-evaporation transition (Workshop)
    International NTZ-Workshop on New Developments in Computational Physics, Leipzig, Germany, 26.11.2015
62. The role of stiffness in polymer aggregation: Leading from amorphous aggregates to polymer bundles (Conference)
    DPG Frühjahrstagung, Berlin, Germany, 18.03.2015
63. Aggregation of semiflexible polymers under constraints (Workshop)
    International NTZ-Workshop on New Developments in Computational Physics, Leipzig, Germany, 27.11.2014
64. Application of the parallel multicanonical method to lattice gas condensation (Conference)
    XXV IUPAP Conference on Computational Physics, Moscow, Russia, 21.08.2013
65. Simulations of aggregation in homopolymer systems (Conference)
    DPG Frühjahrstagung, Regensburg, Germany, 11.03.2013
66. Scaling properties of a parallel implementation of the multicanonical algorithm (Workshop)
    International NTZ-Workshop on New Developments in Computational Physics, Leipzig, Germany, 30.11.2012

Contact

Email:

Location:
Göttingen, Germany