Upcoming Events
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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: The Impact of Enhancing Parenting on Child DNA Methylation
Abstract: Research with rodents, non-human primates, and children demonstrates that the early caregiving environment plays a critical role in the development of physiological systems involved in regulating stress-reactivity. A key process by which experiences of early environmental adversity might influence risk for the development of later psychopathology is through biological embedding of adversity exposure via epigenetic changes (i.e., DNA methylation - DNAm). Despite the promise and progress of social epigenomic research on risk processes (e.g., maltreatment), a significant limitation of the extant literature is that a basic understanding of how biological embedding of adversity can be prevented or reversed has yet to be achieved, with little understanding of the role of protective factors that impact these developmental trajectories. This presentation will highlight early findings on how enhancing parenting alters the epigenome among at-risk preschoolers and establishes a biological foundation that promotes resiliency and prevents the development of psychopathology.
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Apr30More Information CCBS, Graduate School, Postgraduate Education, Psychology & Cognitive Sciences, Research
Join us for our weekly interdepartmental journal club to discuss recent work in cognitive, computational, and systems neuroscience. For more info, contact Kati Conen ([email protected])
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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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May1More Information Biology, Medicine, Public Health, Psychology & Cognitive Sciences, Social Sciences
Clinical Psychology Training Programs at Brown: A Consortium of the Providence VA Medical Center, Lifespan,
and Care New England
Cultural Adaptation of Evidence-Based Interventions
Melanie M. Domenech Rodríguez, PhD, ABPP
Department of Psychology
Utah State UniversityWednesday, May 1, 2024◊ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
• PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED: https://cme-learning.brown.edu/DPHB-23-24
Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants should be better able to:
• Define cultural adaptation
• Differentiate cultural adaptation from cultural competence
• Identify multiple models of cultural adaptation
• Explain the effects of cultural adaptation on treatment outcomes
• Describe specific examples of cultural adaptationsFinancial Relationship Disclosure: Dr. Domenech has no financial relationships to disclose.
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May1More Information Biology, Medicine, Public Health, Graduate School, Postgraduate Education
MCB Graduate Program Seminar
Christopher W. Cowan, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Neuroscience
SmartState Endowed Chair in Brain Imaging
Medical University of South Carolina
“Transcriptional regulation of cortical development in a syndromic form of autism”
Hosted by: Sofia Lizarraga
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May15:00pm - 6:30pm
BioCON Intro Into Networking Social
164 Angell Street, Rm Innovation Zone, 4th floorRSVPMore Information Biology, Medicine, Public Health, Graduate School, Postgraduate EducationThis is an Intro Into Networking Workshop and Social Event for Graduate Students and Postdocs in biology-related fields.
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May2More Information
Speaker: Miranda Scolari (Texas Tech University)
Title: From Sensory Processing to Decision Making: Exploring the Role of Selective Attention
Abstract: Selective attention prioritizes a subset of visual input in service of behavioral goals, such that responses to attended information are faster and/or more accurate compared to the unattended. This selection can occur based on several external properties, such as a relevant object’s expected location (space-based selection) or an expected feature (e.g., color; feature-based selection). Space- and feature-based attention are regularly treated as separable mechanisms that can be deployed simultaneously when unique and relevant information from both dimensions is known in advance to the observer. However, research findings have been mixed as to whether these should be ascribed to common or independent sources. In a series of experiments from my lab (Liang & Scolari, 2020; Liang, Poquiz, & Scolari, 2023), we modeled latent components of perceptual decision making during a visual search task, which points to a dual processing approach: Selection mechanisms behave independently within sensory processing but interactively within higher-order processes. Furthermore, this interaction is task dependent. The onset time of perceptual evidence accumulation (non-decision time) and the amount of information required before generating a response (response caution) are modulated by the reliability of the multidimensional pre-cue. Post hoc analyses of the pupillometry data collected during each experiment consistently revealed a similar relationship between whole pre-cue reliability and changes in pupil size, and in turn, changes in pupil size reliably predicted response caution across experiments (Liang & Scolari, in preparation). Together, this line of research provides converging evidence for a dual process model of selective attention, while also offering insight into the specific cognitive processes that may be tracked with pupillometry.
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May22:00pm - 3:30pm
Empowering Career Growth and Professional Resilience Through Strategic Networking
Carney Institute for Brain Science (164 Angell Street, 4th Floor, Providence, RI 02906), Rm Innovation ZoneRegister to AttendMore Information“Empowering Career Growth and Professional Resilience Through Strategic Networking” is a workshop facilitated by Mari Anne Snow, CEO/Founder, Sophaya and the Remote Nation Institute (RNI) and Dr. Katherine M. Sharkey, Associate Professor, Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry & Human Behavior and Associate Dean for Gender Equity, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. In this interactive, open discussion forum, participants will examine the nature of career paths in today’s workplace and examine new techniques for building professional networks to foster resilience and lifelong professional meaning and relevance. After completing this session, participants will leave with:
- A pragmatic understanding of the workplace today.
- Novel approaches for cultivating and maintaining a vibrant and supportive network.
- Techniques for building a meaningful career life.
- Concrete action steps to create forward momentum.
This event will take place in person on Thursday, May 2, 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]
Mari Anne Snow, CEO, Sophaya and the Remote Nation Institute: With over 20+ years’ experience leading remote teams, Mari Anne is a recognized remote work thought leader. Her company, Sophaya, helps organizations optimize remote work programs and her Remote Nation Institute is re-writing leadership best practices and standardizing remote work business training to educate today’s remote/distributed professionals. Her book, The Remote Work Handbook, provides practical, real-world advice for achieving success with remote/distributed teams.
Katie Sharkey, MD, PhD: As director of the Office of Women in Medicine and Science in the Division of Biology and Medicine, Katie develops programming aimed at fostering academic achievement and professional development of women faculty, house officers, students, and trainees. She chaired the Mentoring Committee of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) from 2019-2023 and now represents AMWA on the steering committee of the Women’s Wellness through Equity and Leadership (WEL) leadership training program. Katie is also a past chair of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) Young Investigator Research Forum, which aims to position early-career investigators for a successful research career.
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May24:00pm
NSGP Seminar Bench to Bedside Series Presents: Towards Gene Modulation Therapy in Neurodegeneration: Lessons from ALS
Sidney E. Frank Hall for Life Sciences, Rm Rm. 220/Maruvitz AuditoriumMore Information Biology, Medicine, Public Health, ResearchRobert H. Brown, Jr., DPhil, MD
Donna M and Robert J Manning Chair in Neurosciences
Professor of Neurology
UMass Chan Medical SchoolHost: Dr. Gregorio Valdez
Organized by the Brown University Center for Translational Neuroscience
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May312:00pm - 1:00pm
CAAS Rounds: Dr. Tara White - Dignity Neuroscience: Application to Addiction
121 South Main Street, Rm Room 245More InformationCAAS Rounds presents: Dr. Tara White - Dignity Neuroscience: Application to Addiction
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May32:00pm - 3:30pm
Social & Cognitive Science Brown Bag Seminar Series: Amit Goldenberg
Metcalf Research Building, Rm 305More InformationLocation: Dome Room and Zoom (https://brown.zoom.us/j/95166664847)
Speaker: Amit Goldenberg, Asst. Prof., Harvard University
Title: Homophily and Acrophily as Drivers of Political Segregation
Abstract: Political segregation is a significant social problem in the U.S., increasing polarization, sowing division and discord, and impeding effective governance. Most prior work views the central driver of political segregation to be political homophily, the tendency to associate with others with similar political views. Here, however, we propose that in addition to being driven by political homophily, people’s decisions about who to affiliate with are also driven by political acrophily, the tendency to associate with others with more extreme (rather than more moderate) political views than one’s own. We evaluated our homophily and acrophily predictions using both an experimental tie-selection paradigm and analysis of social media data. We found that both liberal and conservative participants’ decisions reflected a mix of homophily and acrophily. These studies identify a previously overlooked tendency in political tie formation, uncover a mechanism driving that tendency, and model how this tendency may increase levels of segregation in political networks. -
May38:00pm - 11:30pm
Verano Vibes: Latinx Grad/Med Mixer (LGC x SACNAS)
Graduate Center C, Rm Graduate Student LoungeRegister to eventMore Information Identity, Culture, Inclusion, Student Clubs, Organizations & ActivitiesAll Brown University graduate, medical, and post-doctoral students are invited to join the celebration at the Graduate Student Lounge on May 3rd, where they will welcome the summer and say farewell to the semester!
Event Date /Time: May 3rd, 2024 (8:00 pm - 12:00 am)
Event Address: Graduate Student Lounge, 90 Thayer St, ProvidenceRSVP is required for all participants and guests, and drink tickets will be provided upon entry. Please note that this event is exclusively for Brown University graduate, medical, and post-doctoral students. Valid legal ID (21+) and Brown Student ID are required for entry, and Brown students are permitted to bring one registered guest (non-Brown student). Don’t miss out on this opportunity to unwind and enjoy the company of fellow peers and student leaders.
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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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May8More Information Biology, Medicine, Public Health, Mathematics, Technology, Engineering, Research
We are pleased to invite you to a virtual workshop on the Human Neocortical Neurosolver (HNN), jointly organized by the Stephanie Jones Lab and MetaCell, scheduled for May 8th. The workshop is aimed at researchers and clinicians with an interest in neuroscience but without formal computational modeling or coding experience. It will offer a detailed exploration of HNN, a tool designed to interpret the neural origins of human MEG/EEG data.
Workshop Highlights:
- Comprehensive Overview: The workshop will begin with a didactic presentation on the background and development of HNN, providing a foundation for its application in neuroscience research.
- Practical Application: Participants will learn how to utilize the HNN graphical user interface (GUI) to investigate the circuit origins of commonly measured signals, including event-related potentials (ERPs) and low-frequency brain rhythms.
- Advanced Interface Training: Discover how to use the HNN-core Python interface.
Workshops Hosts:
- Stephanie Jones, PhD
- Mainak Jas, PhD
- Nicholas Tolley
- Ryan Thorpe
- Dylan Daniels
About the Workshop Content:
MEG/EEG signals are correlated with several healthy and pathological brain functions. However, it is still extremely difficult to infer their underlying cellular and circuit level origins. This limits the translation of MEG/EEG signals into novel principles of information processing, or into new treatment methods for pathologies. To address this limitation, we have built the Human Neocortical Neurosolver (HNN): an open-source software tool to help researchers and clinicians without formal computational modeling or coding experience interpret the neural origin of their human MEG/EEG data.
HNN provides a graphical user interface (GUI) and a programmable Python interface to an anatomically and biophysically detailed model of a neocortical circuit, with layer specific thalamocortical and cortical-cortical drives. Tutorials are provided to teach users how to begin to study the cell and circuit level origin of sensory event related potentials (ERPs) and low frequency rhythms in the alpha, beta and gamma band, based on our prior publications.
Unique to HNN is an underlying neural model that accounts for the biophysics generating the primary electric currents underlying EEG/MEG signals, enabling visual and statistical comparison of model output to source localized data from a single brain area (in nAm). Users can change model parameters in the GUI for testing hypotheses on signal differences under varied experimental conditions. Further, visualizations are shown of detailed circuit activity including layer-specific responses, cell spiking activity, and membrane voltages.
We look forward to introducing you to our one-of-a-kind tool for cell and circuit interpretation of MEG/EEG!
Registration Information:
The workshop will take place online on Wednesday, May 8th from 9am to noon ET. It is limited to 20 participants to ensure a productive learning environment. Given the specialized nature of this workshop, we anticipate high interest. To secure your participation, we recommend registering as soon as possible. A registration fee of $25.00 is required to help us cover the costs of organizing the event.
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May8More Information Biology, Medicine, Public Health, Psychology & Cognitive Sciences
Scaling Single Session Interventions to Bridge Gaps in Mental Health Ecosystems
Jessica L. Schleider, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Departments of Medical Social Sciences, Pediatrics and Psychology
Northwestern University
Wednesday, May 8, 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:
• Understand the concept of ‘single-session interventions’ (SSIs) for youth mental health
• Describe state-of-the-art research on how, why, and for whom SSIs can reduce mental health problems
• Identify tools and create an implementation plan for using evidence-based SSIs in real-world practice
Financial Relationship Disclosure: Dr. Schleider has the following financial relationships to disclose: Research Funding: Kooth LLC, Founder: Single Session Support Solutions -
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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May102:00pm - 3:30pm
Social & Cognitive Science Brown Bag Seminar Series: Semir Tatlidil
Metcalf Research Building, Rm 305More InformationLocation: Dome Room and Zoom (https://brown.zoom.us/j/95166664847)
Speaker: Semir Tatlidil, Grad Student, CLPS
Title: How do people create abstract representations of causal events?
Abstract: TBA -
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