Upcoming Events
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Mar28Register by March 14More Information Biology, Medicine, Public Health, Psychology & Cognitive Sciences, Research
Get ready for a half-day of neural networking: The 26th Annual Mind Brain Research Day features a research poster session, bag lunch, and keynote address, “Deep Brain Stimulation for Intractable OCD,” by Wayne Goodman, M.D., of Baylor College of Medicine.
Be sure to register by March 14!
Schedule of events:Poster Session
11 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Sayles HallLunch
11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Sayles Hall
*You must RSVP by March 14 to reserve a lunch.*Keynote Address & Poster Awards
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
MacMillan Hall Room 117
Keynote Address: “Deep Brain Stimulation for Intractable OCD”
Wayne Goodman, M.D.
D.C and Irene Ellwood Professor and Chair
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Baylor College of Medicine -
Mar284:00pm
NSGP Seminar Series Presents Dr. Christina Kim; University of CA, Davis
Sidney E. Frank Hall, Rm Rm. 220/Marcuvitz Aud.More Information Biology, Medicine, Public Health, ResearchTitle: Molecular circuits for probing activated neuronal ensembles
Host: Dr. Ahmed Abdelfattah
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Apr1More Information Biology, Medicine, Public Health, Research
Title: Phenotypic Distinction Between Missense and Loss of Function Mutations in SLC13A5 Epilepsy
Advisor: Dr. Judy Liu
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Apr112:00pm - 1:30pm
Developmental Brown Bag Seminar Series: Junyi Chu
Metcalf Research Building, Rm 305More InformationSpeaker: Dr. Junyi Chu, MIT
Title: The puzzle and promise of play
Abstract: Few phenomena in childhood are as compelling or mystifying as play. While many animals play, human play is distinguished by the sheer diversity of goals that we pursue, even as adults. Yet the seeming inutility of play belies one of the hallmarks of intelligence: a remarkably flexible ability to reason and plan in novel situations. What kind of mind generates and pursues so many goals, and has so much fun in the process? I suggest that answering this question takes us beyond current accounts of rational action and exploration. In this talk, I will present three lines of work on reasoning and decision-making in (mostly) playful contexts. I will begin with a case study of goal-directed reasoning: how children assess speculative conjectures in the absence of any evidence. Then, I will discuss the proposal that play in humans reflects a novel kind of exploration, in which players are trying to figure out what problems they can pose and solve. I will present a number of empirical studies – spanning exploratory play to rule-based games and imaginative pretense – illustrating how children and adults choose goals and actions when trying to have fun, compared with under other objectives. This research suggests that inventing and pursuing novel goals is an intrinsically rewarding activity, and I will speculate on why that might be valuable for human cognition. I will end by briefly discussing ongoing research on goal generation and creativity, in both humans and machines. By paying attention to the goals we adopt and the problems we make for ourselves, I aim to explain the richness and flexibility of the human mind. -
Apr2More Information Biology, Medicine, Public Health, Research
Title: The role of rare copy number variants in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Advisor: Dr. Philip Shaw, NIH
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Apr32:00pm - 3:00pm
BrainExPo Seminar: Cortical Computations Underlying the Integration of Perceptual Priors and Sensory Processing
164 Angell Street, Rm Innovation ZoneMore Information BrainExPo, CCBS, Psychology & Cognitive Sciences, ResearchCortical Computations Underlying the Integration of Perceptual Priors and Sensory Processing
Tahereh Toosi, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University
The ability of the visual system to store and use learned information, or perceptual priors, is essential for interpreting complex visual scenes, such as identifying obscured objects or imagining scenes not currently visible. This process relies on the interaction between processing incoming sensory data and existing knowledge stored in the synaptic strengths throughout the brain. Although the importance of top-down and bottom-up integration is recognized, the precise ways in which they enable the brain to piece together information from different sources remain largely unknown.
My research aims to reveal the mechanisms underlying these processes by demonstrating how the brain’s need to function reliably in noisy environments influences the development of these pathways, enabling visual processing abilities like resolving visual occlusion and visual imagination. The phenomenon of illusory contours and shapes, exemplified by the Kanizsa optical illusion and Rubin’s face-vase illusion, serves as an ideal case study for how the brain combines sensory input with past experiences to create a coherent perception. Previous studies have shown that such illusory contours invoke activation in specific layers (L2/3) of the early visual cortex but not in others (L4). I will demonstrate the recapitulation of these findings within a deep convolutional model optimized for object recognition, powered by a theory-grounded, biologically plausible algorithm that processes activations through forward and feedback pathways iteratively. This represents the first instance of a large-scale, image-computable model that, while primarily optimized for recognizing objects, also explains how illusions are perceived in the visual cortex as a result of integrating sensory data with learned information.
Zooming out, the insights from this computational modeling suggest a resolution to the debate over whether the brain functions primarily as a generative or a pattern recognition neural network, and explaining a number of experimental findings regarding specificity of computations in cortical layers.
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Apr412:00pm - 1:00pm
Perception & Action Seminar Series: Jeffrey Taube
Carney Innovation Zone (164 Angell Street 4th floor), Rm 305More InformationSpeaker: Jeffrey Taube (Dartmouth)
Title: TBA
Abstract: TBA -
Apr42:00pm - 3:30pm
Fueling Your Passion: Preventing Burnout in Academic Research
Carney Institute for Brain Science (164 Angell Street, 4th Floor, Providence, RI 02906), Rm Innovation ZoneRegister to AttendMore Information“Fueling Your Passion: Preventing Burnout in Academic Research” is a workshop intended to help early-career academic researchers learn how to identify and prevent burnout. Kelly Holder, PhD, Chief Wellness Officer, Warren Alpert Medical School, will lead the workshop. This event is co-sponsored by the Office of University Postdoctoral Affairs (OUPA) and the Carney Institute for Brain Science as part of The Carney Institute’s Advancing Research Careers Program (R25NS124530).
This event will take place in person on Thursday, April 4, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM at the Innovation Zone inside the Carney Institute for Brain Science (164 Angell Street, 4th Floor, Providence, RI 02906).
Light refreshments will be provided, and the event will last about 90 minutes.
The Carney Institute’s Advancing Research Careers (ARC) program aims to advance the research careers of women and persons historically excluded due to ethnicity and race (PEERs) in brain sciences at the level of advanced postdoctoral scholars and junior faculty. ARC is funded by an R25 award from NINDS to support an annual cohort of highly qualified participants through structured mentorship, research support, and activities that contribute to successful neuroscience research careers
Target Audience: This event is designed for early career scholars, including Carney ARC scholars, senior postdoctoral scholars at Brown, and junior faculty members at Brown who have recently transitioned from postdoctoral appointments.
Registration is required.
Questions? Please email [email protected]
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Apr44:00pm
NSGP Seminar Series Presents Dr. Lauren Sergio; York University
Sidney E. Frank Hall, Rm Rm. 220/Marcuvitz Aud.More Information Biology, Medicine, Public Health, ResearchTitle: The Wounded Brain: Assessing Function Pre-dementia and Post-concussion
Host: Dr. Joo-Hyun Song
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Apr5More Information Biology, Medicine, Public Health, Research
Title: Differential control of Drosophila feeding behavior via co-transmission of acetylcholine and leucokinin
Advisor: Dr. Gilad Barnea
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Apr52:00pm - 3:30pm
Social & Cognitive Science Brown Bag Seminar Series: Jae-Young Son
Metcalf Research Building, Rm 305More InformationSpeaker: Jae-Young Son, Brown University
Title:
Abstract:
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Apr8More Information Biology, Medicine, Public Health, Research
Title: Ventral Tegmental Area Regulation of Dynamic Blood Brain Barrier Permeability
Advisor: Dr. Christopher Moore
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Apr9More Information Biology, Medicine, Public Health, Graduate School, Postgraduate Education
MCB Graduate Program Seminar
Aron Lukacher, MD, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Penn State College of Medicine
“Polyomavirus Wakes Up and Chooses Neurovirulence”
Hosted by: Walter Atwood
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
12:00 pm
70 Ship Street, Room 107
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Apr10More Information Biology, Medicine, Public Health
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Grand Rounds
Teen stress, trauma, and transition: Considering biology and social context
Nicole R. Nugent, PhD
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Brown University
Wednesday, April 10 2024◊ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
• PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED: https://cme-learning.brown.edu/2023-2024-Child-Adolescent
Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants should be better able to identify and become familiar with the following concepts:
• Describe how stressful and traumatic life experiences may impact teen mental health
• Characterize the role of social environmental, including digital interactions (i.e., text messaging, social media communication, etc.), for adolescents during times of transition and stress
• Consider the ways that experiences may impact adolescent biologyFinancial Relationship Disclosure: Dr. Nugent has no financial relationships to disclose.
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Apr11More Information
Speaker: Johannes Burge (University of Pennsylvania)
Title: TBA
Abstract: TBA
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Apr1512:00pm - 1:30pm
Developmental Brown Bag Seminar Series: Matthew Gingo
Metcalf Research Building, Rm 305More InformationSpeaker: Matthew Gingo, Wheaton College
Title:
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Apr16Zoom linkMore Information Mathematics, Technology, Engineering, Research, Training, Professional Development
DSCoV (Data Science, Computation, and Visualization) workshops are lunchtime introductions to basic data science and programming skills and tools, offered by and for Brown staff, faculty, and students (with occasional presenters from outside Brown). The workshops are interactive, so bring a laptop. All are welcome, and pizza is usually served.
JavaScript for JsPsych
Presenter: Robert Gemma, Research Software Engineer (Graphics), OIT
Learn JavaScript fundamentals with an emphasis on working with JsPsych. Familiarity with jsPsych and Honeycomb is useful but not necessary.
The workshops can also be attended on Zoom.
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Apr1812:00pm - 1:00pm
Perception & Action Seminar Series: Stefan Uddenberg
Carney Innovation Zone (164 Angell Street 4th floor), Rm 305More InformationSpeaker: Stefan Uddenberg (University of Chicago)
Title: TBA
Abstract:TBA
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Apr192:00pm - 3:30pm
Social & Cognitive Science Brown Bag Seminar Series: Vivienne Chi
Metcalf Research Building, Rm 305More InformationSpeaker: Vivienne Chi, Brown University
Title:
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Apr224:30pm - 5:30pm
Turning Your PhD into a Job Series: Acing an Interview
167 Angell Street, Rm 1st Floor Conference RoomMore Information Careers, Recruiting, InternshipsDuring this workshop, we will focus on how to prepare for your next interview.
This includes:
- General rules of an interview and how to prepare for it
- Common interview questions and the frameworks to structure your thoughts and answers
- Tips on how to answer the tough questions (with examples)
- Resources for preparation and practice
This program is open to all Brown PhD students and Postdocs.
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Apr25
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Apr262:00pm - 3:30pm
Social & Cognitive Science Brown Bag Seminar Series: Linda Zou
Metcalf Research Building, Rm 305More InformationSpeaker: Linda Zou, University of Maryland
Title:
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Apr29Virtual and In Person12:00pm - 1:00pm
Fluid Biomarkers Laboratory Lunch & Learn Seminar:“Blood? Brain? No Barriers: applications of MSD’s ultrasensitive immunoassays for neuroscience research”
Sidney Frank Hall, Marcuvitz Auditorium, Rm 220More Information ALZ, Biology, Medicine, Public Health, CTN, Graduate School, Postgraduate Education, Physical & Earth Sciences, Psychology & Cognitive Sciences, ResearchBrown University’s Fluid Biomarkers Laboratory & Meso Scale Discovery invite you to join us for a lunch and learn to explore:
MSD Solutions for:
- Personalized Multiplexing
- Ultrasensitive Detection
- Assay Development
Focus: Biomarker detection in blood, CSF, exosomes, + extracellular vesicles (EVs)
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Apr2912:00pm - 1:30pm
Developmental Brown Bag Seminar Series: Justin Parent
Metcalf Research Building, Rm 305More InformationSpeaker: Justin Parent, Brown/URI
Title:
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Apr30More Information
John Mislow Memorial Lecture
Stanislas Dehaene, Professor, Collège de France
“Understanding the neural code for conscious symbolic thought:
A challenge for human cognitive neuroscience”Tuesday, April 30, 2024 | 4:00 p.m.
Reception to followAccording to the global neural workspace hypothesis, the mechanisms of conscious access are similar in human and non-human species. Wherein, then, lies the singularity of the human brain? In this talk, I will propose that the contents of consciousness became markedly richer in humans as our brains acquired a capacity for compositional thought using discrete symbols. Recent comparative data from my lab show that humans possess unique abilities for symbolic learning and a mathematical “language of thought”. Even the mere perception of a square or a zig-zag involves a short mental program that captures the observed data in an internal language of geometry. Behavioral and brain- imaging experiments indicate that the perception of geometric shapes is poorly captured by current convolutional neural network models of the ventral visual pathway, but involves a symbolic geometrical description within the dorsal parieto-prefrontal network. I will argue that existing connectionist models do not suffice to account for even elementary human perceptual data, and that neural codes for symbols and syntax remain to be discovered.
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May2More Information
Speaker: Miranda Scolari (Texas Tech University)
Title: TBA
Abstract: TBA
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May32:00pm - 3:30pm
Social & Cognitive Science Brown Bag Seminar Series: Semir Tatlidil
Metcalf Research Building, Rm 305More InformationSpeaker: Semir Tatlidil, Brown University
Title: TBA
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May411:00am - 1:00pm
PhD Career Beyond Academia Series: Career Journey as an International Student
167 Angell Street, Rm 1st Floor Conference RoomMore Information Careers, Recruiting, InternshipsJoin us to meet our exceptional Brown international PhD alumni who are currently excelling in various industries!
At this in-person event, you will:
- Explore different career options that are available for international PhD students
- Hear alumni’s stories of career transition from academia to industries and the challenges that international students may face during the process
- Learn more about the skills you can gain at Brown for different types of careers
Our Ph.D. alumni speakers are:
- Jiuyang (Joey) Bai, PhD in Cognitive Science, Senior Machine Learning Engineer at CVS Health
- Isabella Gama, PhD in Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Associate at McKinsey & Company
- Youngmin Lee, PhD in Chemistry, Patent Agent at Cantor Colburn LLP
- Asli Sahin, PhD in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Director of Search and Evaluation Neuroscience at Abbvie
- Shubham Sharma, PhD in Chemical Engineering, Senior Scientist at Pfizer
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May912:00pm - 1:00pm
Perception & Action Seminar Series: Sabine Kastner
Metcalf Research Building, Rm 305More InformationSpeaker: Sabine Kastner (Princeton)
Title: TBA
Abstract: TBA
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Jun6All Day
Sixth Annual Dr. Samuel M. Nabrit Conference for Early Career Scholars
Marcuvitz Auditorium, Rm SFH220Learn MoreMore Information Biology, Medicine, Public Health, Graduate School, Postgraduate Education, Mathematics, Technology, Engineering, Psychology & Cognitive Sciences, ResearchSixth Annual Dr. Samuel M. Nabrit Conference for Early Career Scholars
The 2024 Dr. Samuel M. Nabrit Conference for Early Career Scholars (June 6-7) will showcase the research achievements of outstanding molecular life scientists from historically underrepresented groups.
The conference is free and in person, hosted by the Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry Department at Brown University.
Conference Keynote Speakers
Sherilynn Black, PhD
Blanton S. Tolbert, PhD
The conference program will open Thursday afternoon June 6 and close Friday evening June 7. It will feature short talks by invited early career scholars, panel events focusing on identity and professional development, and a poster session.
This will be an inclusive event, drawing attendees from the Brown BioMed community (including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff and campus organizations) as well as registered participants from across the US. The conference has been named in honor of Dr. Samuel Milton Nabrit, Brown’s first African-American PhD recipient and a marine biologist with a distinguished international career.
For questions about the 2024 Samuel M. Nabrit Conference for Early Career Scholars, please contact [email protected].
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Jun13More Information CTN
We hope that you will join us for our annual Spring Retreat on Thursday, June 13th, from 1PM-5PM in LMM 107 at 70 Ship Street. The full schedule will be posted as we get closer to the retreat. Social to follow in the Ship Street Courtyard.
Eric Morrow, MD/PhD, DirectorJudy Liu, MD/PhD, Associate Director