Fellows

BPF fellows are established or emerging thought leaders on various topics related to scientific, technical, philosophical, medical, and policy issues of brain preservation. Publishing in professional journals and for general audiences, they seek to advance humanity’s thoughtful discussion of these issues, so that we may make better collective decisions and actions as preservation technologies develop. Our current distinguished Fellows:

Michael Cerullo M.D., Psychiatrist, Cincinnati Inst. for Cognitive Science; Author, Uploading and Branching Identity, M&M, 2014

Example Publication: Uploading and Branching Identity, Minds and Machines, 25(1):17-36 (2015).

“Uploading has the potential to change the way we understand ourselves and our place in the universe. The breathtaking pace of technology has brought us to the point today where all the technology necessary for uploading is now feasible. If the progression of technology continues and animal experiments demonstrate the feasibility of uploading then this should be viewed as life extension technology. Brain preservation and later destructive uploading will preserve continuity of consciousness. The rational choice is to spend whatever resources are necessary to understand, develop, and apply this technology to those who choose to use it.”

Austin Parish M.D. Student, UCSD School of Medicine; M.S. Student, Clinical Research, Stanford U. School of Medicine

Austin is interested in evidence-based brain preservation as a medical procedure in the future, and determining how to best steer basic and clinical research toward that future. He has done research in precision oncology and in medicinal chemistry, and is currently a researcher at the Meta Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS), looking at ways to improve how clinical research is done and ways to more effectively bring research findings to clinical practice.

Keith Wiley PhD, Computer Science. Data Scientist and Senior Software Engineer at Atigeo, Seattle, WA

Keith Wiley has experience in several domains of computer science, including artificial life, evolutionary algorithms, image-processing, optimized search, topology, distributed processing, and machine learning. His undergraduate degree in psychology, which focused on neurological and physiological psychology, coupled with his experience in neural networks and other aspects of artificial intelligence, underly his interest in mind-uploading, both from the practical standpoint of when and how such technologies might eventually mature, and also from the philosophical standpoint of how to best interpret mind-uploading thought experiments and hypothetical scenarios with respect to personhood and the nature of identity.

Example Publication: Wiley, K. B., A Taxonomy and Metaphysics of Mind-Uploading. Humanity+ Press and Alautun Press, Sep 2014.

Disclaimer:
BPF Fellows have their own views and opinions that are often but not necessarily those of BPF, and vice versa. Being a Fellow does not create legal liability, either to or on behalf of BPF, with the exception of Fellows who at any time may also be directors or agents of BPF.

Apply to Be a Fellow
Are you doing original research in an academic or professional domain of relevance to brain preservation? Do you have an interest in BPF’s institutional or social mission? If so, please contact us, we’d love to hear from you.