Lei Ma
Assistant Professor / Ph.D. Advisor
School of Future Technology, Peking University
National Biomedical Imaging Center (NBIC)
lei.ma@pku.edu.cn | Google Scholar
Lei Ma is an Assistant Professor and Ph.D. advisor at the School of Future Technology, Peking University, and a researcher at the National Biomedical Imaging Center (NBIC). His research focuses on Digital Life — building data-driven, executable, and verifiable computational models of living systems at the intersection of AI and life science.
Before joining Peking University, he served as a team lead at Autodesk Research, working on core industrial software engines. In 2019, he founded the Life Simulation Research Center at the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence (BAAI), where he led the development of BAAIWorm, the first integrative digital worm model. He currently oversees the construction and operation of NBIC Instrument IV (trans-scale image integration system).
His work has been published in Nature Computational Science (Cover), Cell Research (Cover), Nature Communications, National Science Review, and other leading journals, with 80+ SCI papers in total.
Research
| Digital Worm (BAAIWorm) |
Built the first data-driven integrative model of C. elegans encompassing all 302 neurons, achieving closed-loop simulation of nervous system, body, and environment, with behaviors emerging naturally from biological structure. Nature Computational Science, 2024 (Cover) [Paper] |
| Neural Time Computation |
Revealed system-level time computation and representation mechanisms in the suprachiasmatic nucleus through large-scale calcium imaging and machine learning. Cell Research, 2024 (Cover) [Paper] |
| GPU Brain Simulation |
Developed a GPU-accelerated computational framework bridging biophysically detailed neuron simulation and AI training, enabling efficient simulation and optimization of large-scale neural models. Nature Communications, 2023 [Paper] |
| Digital Life Infrastructure |
Leading NBIC Instrument IV construction for trans-scale biomedical data integration. Initiated the Kidney Imageomics Project and the Panoramic Digital Life international science program. National Science Review, 2025 [Paper] |
Selected Publications
* Corresponding author, # Co-first author
M. Zhao, N. Wang, X. Jiang, X. Ma, H. Ma, G. He, K. Du, L. Ma*, T. Huang. An integrative data-driven model simulating C. elegans brain, body, and environment interactions. Nature Computational Science, 4(12): 978–990, 2024. Cover [Link]
Z. Wang, J. Yu, M. Zhai, et al., L. Ma*, W. Hu*, H. Cheng*. System-level time computation and representation in the suprachiasmatic nucleus revealed by large-scale calcium imaging and machine learning. Cell Research, 34(7): 493–503, 2024. Cover [Link]
Y. Zhang#, G. He#, L. Ma#, et al., S. Grillner, K. Du, T. Huang. A GPU-based computational framework that bridges neuron simulation and artificial intelligence. Nature Communications, 14: 5798, 2023. [Link]
F. Zhou, Z. Li, et al., B. Dong*, L. Ma*, L. Yang*. An initiative on digital nephrology: the Kidney Imageomics Project. National Science Review, 2025. [Link]
L. Chen*, L. Ma*, H. Dai, Q. Du, Y. Sun, H. Cheng*. Trans-scale bioimaging and integrative biology: on the debut of China National Biomedical Imaging Center. Science China Life Sciences, 2025.
Contact
Email: lei.ma@pku.edu.cn
Address: National Biomedical Imaging Center (NBIC), Peking University, Beijing, China
Lab: maleilab.cn
Openings
We are actively recruiting postdocs, Ph.D. students, master students, and research assistants with backgrounds in computer science, computational neuroscience, biomedical imaging, or related fields. If you are interested in digital life, brain simulation, or AI for life science, please send your CV to lei.ma@pku.edu.cn.