Dr. Kirst works across diverse fields including mathematics, physics, computer science, and neurobiology, establishing theoretical, mechanistic, and conceptual insights into flexible brain function. He studied mathematics and theoretical physics at the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and University of Göttingen, and earned his Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization.
Dr. Kirst began playing the piano at the age of 10 and classical percussion at 12 under the tutelage of Andrea Schneider in Germany. He has performed with numerous classical orchestras—including youth ensembles such as the German Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as youth orchestras of Lower Saxony and Bremen—and professional orchestras, notably the NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover. He is a member of various contemporary and percussion ensembles, including the Percussion Ensemble of the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover, the contemporary Daniel Ott Ensemble, and the Max Planck Nonlinear Jazz Ensemble. His concert tours have taken him to Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, and Estonia.