About
Joseph Ayinde is a polymath builder from Greensboro, North Carolina, a dual citizen of the United States and Nigeria. The work happens at the edges: the gap between biology and technology, the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence, the bridge between what we know and what we are discovering.
Previously co-founded Cognition (formerly HEALLY), the Cognitive OS for Learning. Prototyped and tested a non-invasive EEG-AI brain-computer interface, ran human-subject usability trials, and raised $150K+ with partners including Google DeepMind, NVIDIA, and Carnegie Mellon LearnLab.
At 21, joined OpenAI as a Member of Technical Staff, serving as a biology expert for next-generation large language models. Before that, became the world's first undergraduate intern in the world's first Computational Neurosurgery lab in Sydney, Australia, shadowing 80+ neurosurgical operations and leading a research project on AI ethics in neurosurgery under Prof. Antonio Di Ieva.
Research spans operator theory for learning dynamics and evolutionary biology (NSF-funded, Pfennig Lab). Selected as a Computational Models of Learning Scholar at Carnegie Mellon LearnLab, the #1 learning science lab in the world.
Arrived at UNC Chapel Hill at 18 as one of 25 students worldwide selected for the Chancellor's Science Scholars program. Graduated with honors in Biology, Neuroscience, and Chemistry.
Experience
Growth
Willow
Content Engineer
Chatbase
Content engineering for AI-powered chatbot platform.
CEO & Co-Founder
Cognition (formerly HEALLY)
Built the Cognitive OS for Learning. Prototyped non-invasive EEG-AI BCI. $150K+ raised. Partners: Google DeepMind, NVIDIA, CMU LearnLab, CARTA.
Computational Models of Learning Scholar
Carnegie Mellon University LearnLab
#1 learning science lab in the world. 7-month institutional partnership. Prototyped AI hardware and software on the KLI framework.
Member of Technical Staff
OpenAI
Biology expert for next-generation LLMs. Fine-tuned models for scientific reasoning and data interpretation.
AI Specialist
Scale AI
Prompt engineering and feedback loop refinement for AI algorithms in biological contexts.
Independent Project Leader & Lab Assistant
Pfennig Lab, UNC
$500K NSF research project. Sanger sequencing, NGS, gel electrophoresis, DNA analysis.
Research Project Leader & Intern
Computational Neurosurgery Lab, Macquarie University Hospital
World's first undergraduate intern in the world's first Computational Neurosurgery lab. 80+ operations shadowed.
Delta Finalist
The Residency (Sam Altman's Accelerator)
20 of 1,500 companies selected worldwide.
Summer Venture Fellow
LAUNCH Chapel Hill Accelerator
1 of 10 ventures across North Carolina. Mentored by Harvard Business School faculty.
Mathematics Tutor
LingoAce
Selected to tutor STEM subjects. Specialized in general chemistry and calculus for K-12 students.
B.S. Biology, Neuroscience, Chemistry (Honors)
UNC Chapel Hill
Chancellor's Science Scholar, 1 of 25 selected worldwide. Honors Carolina.
Connect
Always interested in connecting with fellow builders, thinkers, and dreamers. Whether it's collaboration, conversation, or simply sharing ideas.