Accepting applications: The Brain Prize Course - Computational and Theoretical Neuroscience 2026
Dear Colleagues, I’m writing as a co-director of the upcoming *CAJAL Advanced Neuroscience Training Course: The Brain Prize Course - Computational and Theoretical Neuroscience 2026*, now open for applications. This intensive course is a unique opportunity for early-career researchers interested in this field. Hosted at the *Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown*, this three-week course focuses on *bridging the gap between theoretical frameworks and experimental neuroscience*. It provides intensive training in neural coding, network dynamics, and advanced data analysis, combining high-level lectures with hands-on Python-based projects to model complex brain functions and interpret large-scale neuronal datasets. 📍 *Location:* Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal 📅 *Dates:* 13 - 31 July 2026 ⏳ *Application Deadline:* 27 February 2026 🔗 *Apply now:* https://form.jotform.com/Cajal_training/computational-neuro2026 *Course Directors* - *Alfonso Renart* - Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal - *Julijana Gjorgjieva* - Technical University of Munich, Germany - *Maria Geffen* - University of Pennsylvania, USA - *Omri Barak* - Technion, Israel Institute of Technology *Course Themes & Topics:* - *Neural Modeling & Dynamics*: Mastering the mathematical foundations of brain function, from single-cell biophysical models like Hodgkin−Huxley to the complex behavior of excitatory-inhibitory networks. - *Neural Coding & Data Analysis*: Learning how populations of neurons represent information using advanced computational tools like dimensionality reduction to decode large-scale neural datasets. - *Cognitive & Normative Theory*: Exploring high-level functions through Bayesian inference and reinforcement learning to understand how the brain optimizes decision-making and motor control. *Speakers include:* - Larry Abbott (Columbia University, USA) - Haim Sompolinsky (Harvard University, USA & Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel) - Susanne Schreiber (Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany) - Francesca Mastrogiuseppe (SISSA – International School for Advanced Studies, Italy ) - Il Memming Park (Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal) - Jakob Macke (University of Tübingen, Germany ) - Wiktor Młynarski (LMU Munich – Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany ) - Laura Busse (LMU Munich – Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany ) - Yiota Poirazi (IMBB–FORTH, Heraklion, Greece ) - Adrienne Fairhall (University of Washington, USA) - Agostina Palmigiano (Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, UCL, UK) - Joe Paton (Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal) - Dmitri Chklovskii (Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation, USA) - Brent Doiron (University of Chicago, USA) - Gilles Laurent (Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Germany) - Alex Cayco Gajic (École Normale Supérieure – PSL, France ) - Rafal Bogacz (MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit, University of Oxford, UK) ________________________________ Maria Neimark Geffen, Ph.D. (she/her) Professor Co-director, Penn Computational Neuroscience Initiative Department of Otorhinolaryngology: HNS (primary) Department of Neuroscience Department of Neurology Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania 5 Ravdin 3400 Spruce St. Philadelphia PA 19104 Tel.: 215.898.0782 My zoom <https://pennmedicine.zoom.us/my/mgeffen?pwd=eWVFbUJFUGRJZ3g1eU9YZEZic2VwZz09> mgeffen@pennmedicine.upenn.edu http://hosting.med.upenn.edu/hearing https://bsky.app/profile/geffenlab.bsky.social
Dear Colleagues, The deadline for the Cajal course in Computational Neuroscience has been extended to March 9! We look forward to seeing you in sunny Lisbon this summer! Please apply. -Maria ________________________________ From: Maria Neimark Geffen <mariageffen@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, January 30, 2026 10:21 AM To: comp-neuro@lists.cnsorg.org <comp-neuro@lists.cnsorg.org> Subject: Accepting applications: The Brain Prize Course - Computational and Theoretical Neuroscience 2026 Dear Colleagues, I’m writing as a co-director of the upcoming CAJAL Advanced Neuroscience Training Course: The Brain Prize Course - Computational and Theoretical Neuroscience 2026, now open for applications. This intensive course is a unique opportunity for early-career researchers interested in this field. Hosted at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, this three-week course focuses on bridging the gap between theoretical frameworks and experimental neuroscience. It provides intensive training in neural coding, network dynamics, and advanced data analysis, combining high-level lectures with hands-on Python-based projects to model complex brain functions and interpret large-scale neuronal datasets. 📍 Location: Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal 📅 Dates: 13 - 31 July 2026 ⏳ Application Deadline: 27 February 2026 🔗 Apply now: https://form.jotform.com/Cajal_training/computational-neuro2026 Course Directors * Alfonso Renart - Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal * Julijana Gjorgjieva - Technical University of Munich, Germany * Maria Geffen - University of Pennsylvania, USA * Omri Barak - Technion, Israel Institute of Technology Course Themes & Topics: * Neural Modeling & Dynamics: Mastering the mathematical foundations of brain function, from single-cell biophysical models like Hodgkin−Huxley to the complex behavior of excitatory-inhibitory networks. * Neural Coding & Data Analysis: Learning how populations of neurons represent information using advanced computational tools like dimensionality reduction to decode large-scale neural datasets. * Cognitive & Normative Theory: Exploring high-level functions through Bayesian inference and reinforcement learning to understand how the brain optimizes decision-making and motor control. Speakers include: * Larry Abbott (Columbia University, USA) * Haim Sompolinsky (Harvard University, USA & Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel) * Susanne Schreiber (Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany) * Francesca Mastrogiuseppe (SISSA – International School for Advanced Studies, Italy ) * Il Memming Park (Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal) * Jakob Macke (University of Tübingen, Germany ) * Wiktor Młynarski (LMU Munich – Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany ) * Laura Busse (LMU Munich – Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany ) * Yiota Poirazi (IMBB–FORTH, Heraklion, Greece ) * Adrienne Fairhall (University of Washington, USA) * Agostina Palmigiano (Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, UCL, UK) * Joe Paton (Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal) * Dmitri Chklovskii (Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation, USA) * Brent Doiron (University of Chicago, USA) * Gilles Laurent (Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Germany) * Alex Cayco Gajic (École Normale Supérieure – PSL, France ) * Rafal Bogacz (MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit, University of Oxford, UK) ________________________________ Maria Neimark Geffen, Ph.D. (she/her) Professor Co-director, Penn Computational Neuroscience Initiative Department of Otorhinolaryngology: HNS (primary) Department of Neuroscience Department of Neurology Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania 5 Ravdin 3400 Spruce St. Philadelphia PA 19104 Tel.: 215.898.0782 My zoom<https://pennmedicine.zoom.us/my/mgeffen?pwd=eWVFbUJFUGRJZ3g1eU9YZEZic2VwZz09> mgeffen@pennmedicine.upenn.edu<mailto:mgeffen@pennmedicine.upenn.edu> http://hosting.med.upenn.edu/hearing https://bsky.app/profile/geffenlab.bsky.social
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Maria Neimark Geffen