Omer Faruk Gulban

About

I image and analyze the human brain at mesoscopic resolution using 7 Tesla MRI, and develop the software that enables others to do the same.

I am a Software Engineer and Researcher at Brain Innovation in Maastricht, The Netherlands, where I contribute to cutting-edge neuroimaging solutions that translate academic research into real-world applications. My academic journey has been deeply interdisciplinary—spanning neuroscience, MR physics, and software engineering. I hold a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from Maastricht University (2020), where I specialized in high-resolution brain imaging using anatomical, functional, and diffusion MRI, with a particular focus on the cortex, subcortex, and deep brainstem regions in living humans at 7 Tesla.

Currently, my work lies at the intersection of advanced MRI acquisition and next-generation neuroimaging analysis. I develop tools that unlock the full potential of ultra–high field MRI, pushing the boundaries of how we visualize and understand the living human brain. Notably, I developed LayNii, one of the most widely used layer (f)MRI analysis tools, featuring advanced 3D geometry processing wrapped in an intuitive interface.

Recognizing the importance of accessibility and open science, I also share my expertise through YouTube tutorials and online content—helping to rapidly disseminate my algorithms and analysis pipelines to a global audience.

Even though I am primarily based in industry, I remain actively engaged with the academic community. I regularly publish peer-reviewed articles both independently and in collaboration with international research teams. I am a highly active member of the human brain imaging field, delivering invited talks, contributing to scientific conferences, and leading hackathon projects.

I’m passionate about building usable, impactful scientific tools, and fostering collaborations that translate neuroscience from the lab bench to real-world impact. I carry this mission forward by combining scientific rigor with thoughtful software design, empowering researchers to visualize, analyze, and interpret brain data with precision and ease.

ORCID: 0000-0001-7761-3727

Highlights - Publications

LayNii: A software suite for layer-fMRI

Huber, Poser, Bandettini, ..., Goebel, Gulban

Neuroimage (2021) PDF

Mapping the human subcortical auditory system using histology, post mortem MRI and in vivo MRI at 7 T

Sitek*, Gulban*, ..., Ghosh, De Martino

eLife (2019) PDF

Evolution of neocortical folding: A phylogenetic comparative analysis of MRI from 34 primate species

Heuer, Gulban, Bazin, ..., Toro

Cortex (2019) PDF

Mesoscopic in vivo human T2* dataset acquired using quantitative MRI at 7 Tesla

Gulban, Bollmann, Huber.,... Kay, Ivanov

Neuroimage (2022) PDF

Cortical depth profiles of luminance contrast responses in human V1 and V2 using 7 T fMRI

Marquardt, Schneider, Gulban, ..., Uludag

Human Brain Mapping (2018) PDF

Cortical fibers orientation mapping using in-vivo whole brain 7 T diffusion MRI

Gulban, De Martino, ..., Ugurbil, Lenglet

Neuroimage (2018) PDF