Announcements

Postdoc Opening at University of Western Ontario’s Centre for Brain and Mind

Dr. Marc Joanisse at the University of Western Ontario is currently recruiting new postdoctoral fellows funded by the Western Postdoctoral Fellowship program. They’re seeking talented recent PhDs interested in working in the area of language and reading processing, where their work focuses on the intersection of cognition, neuroimaging and computation. Work could target any aspect of development, processing and disorders. This might be of particular interest to someone who has developed expertise in one of these areas and wants to expand their toolkit.
Fellowships will provide a minimum stipend of $70,000/year (pending any association agreement changes), plus recoverable benefits and a $5,000/year research allowance for two years. A successful candidate can start the position sometime between July 2026 – June 2027 (without exception). However, there is a relatively short internal deadline (March 20), but the PI is willing to work with the right candidate to build a successful application.

Details about the lab are here: https://lrcn.uwo.ca/

Details about the Centre for Brain and Mind including available facilities and other PIs: https://www.uwo.ca/bmi/

Western PDF Program details are here: https://www.ssc.uwo.ca/research/postdoctoral_scholars/western_postdoctoral_fellowships_program.html

Please spread the word!

Accepting Applications for IBACS E-Lab Manager Position (Electrophysiology & Eye Tracking)

We invite applications for the E-Lab Manager position for the academic year 2026/2027 with possible summer 2026 funding.

In this 10-hour / week position, the E-lab (Electrophysiology and Eye Tracking) manager assists lab users with training of lab members, scheduling, inventory, troubleshooting equipment, and enforcing lab policies & procedures.

APPLY HERE

Application Deadline: March 9, 2026

Learn more about the E-Lab on our webpage. If you have questions, please email the IBACS Coordinator, Crystal Mills at crystal.mills@uconn.edu.

Spring 2026 IBACS Seed Grant Applications Due 4/8

The Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (IBACS) seed grant application is now open. Seed Grants provide funding to eligible affiliates for interdisciplinary projects and research initiatives consistent with the IBACS mission. Successful applications typically involve collaborations that require expertise across laboratories and traditional disciplinary boundaries. IBACS prioritizes projects that will provide pilot data in support of applications for external funding and publications. Seed funding is intended to support direct research costs such as supplies, participant fees, animal costs, and student support. Please submit letters of intent as soon as possible, but at least 2 weeks prior to the seed grant application deadline (by 3/25/26), to allow time for review and feedback prior to submission of the full proposal.

Open to: Faculty and postdoctoral affiliates. UCH investigators are eligible to apply so long as a Storrs collaborator is listed as a Co-PI. Please view the webpage for full eligibility requirements.

Key Application Dates: Large awards (>$10K) spring deadline: April 8, 2026. Our small seed grant awards (<$10K) are accepted on a rolling basis, but funds have been exhausted. However, we encourage those who wish to submit a small seed grant proposal to still do so following the large seed grant deadline.

Current Priorities:

  1. Given the current funding landscape, we will be prioritizing proposals on topics of federal priority and relevance to brain and cognitive science fields such as critical and emerging technologies (AI), Health, and more.
  2. Applications with more efficient budgets will be prioritized so we can fund as many projects as possible. You are encouraged to request only funds that are critical to the proposed project (rather than aiming for the maximum allowable funding amount).

For full details on the seed grant program, including the letter of intent application, full seed grant application, and allowable costs, please check our seed grant webpage.

Any questions should be directed to the Institute Coordinator, Crystal Mills at crystal.mills@uconn.edu or (860) 486-4937.

IBRAiN Research Software Engineer Role – Apps Due 2/23

The Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (IBACS) is inviting graduate students to apply for the IBACS-BIRC Research Assistantships in Neuroimaging (IBRAiN) Program for the Research Software Engineer role ONLY. These graduate assistantships are for 10 hours per week during the Fall (2026) and Spring (2027) semesters at the Brain Imaging Research Center Core (BIRC). During the first year, assistants will be trained in neuroimaging methods, data science, and reproducibility. They spend the remaining allocated hours at BIRC, supporting users of the facilities. Examples of work include:
  • Helping design and implement experimental procedures for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalogram (EEG), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), etc.
  • Advising users on how to effectively prepare research participants.
  • Advising users on data analysis.
  • Overseeing use of equipment by others.
  • Training undergraduate students with basics of equipment use.
Applicants will be expected to commit to the full duration of the assistantship (fall & spring). Research assistants may also be eligible for summer funding and an allocation of 20 hours of resource time to be used at BIRC during the fellowship.

Students will participate in common training activities but will primarily specialize in one of three roles at BIRC. Note – this call is for the Research Software Engineer role ONLY

  1. Research Software Engineer. This role assists researchers in using BIRC facilities including equipment training, data analysis, sing existing software, and engineering and implementing new analytic tools when needed, implement changes to BIRC webpage when necessary. Qualified candidates will have demonstrated proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or Julia, as well as Unix-like computing environments.

Key Application Dates: Opened on Feb. 2, 2026 and will close on Feb. 23, 2026

Subject to funding constraints, these assistantships could be renewed for a further year. Please view full details on our IBRAiN webpage before applying. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Institute Coordinator, Crystal Mills at crystal.mills@uconn.edu. 

IBACS Outreach Fellowship Applications Due 2/20

The Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (IBACS) is pleased to offer summer fellowships of $5K each for up to four graduate students to be part of our Science Alliance Mobile (SAM) Outreach Team this year thanks in part to a generous donation. This fellowship offers affiliated graduate students the chance to inspire the next generation of brain and cognitive sciences scholars.
 

Students will be expected to participate in SAM’s outreach events, leading demos and engagement activities. We hope these activities can relate to fellows research interests or methods they are familiar with. Our goal is to host events and provide opportunities in areas with underrepresented populations to increase interest in education within the brain and cognitive science fields. During the academic year, time will need to be spent developing plans for demos and educational activities for all ages, but we expect the majority of outreach events to take place in the summer (3-4 in the summer and 1-2 per semester). Events will be on campus on Fairfield Way, at regional campuses, or at various other locations within the state. We understand that fellows will not be able to attend all events due to scheduling conflicts.

Preference may be given to students who (1) are members of a group that is underrepresented at the University of Connecticut; (2) have overcome obstacles such as socioeconomic, educational, or other societal disadvantages (arising, for example, through prejudice and/or discrimination); or (3) have worked with such groups to help overcome these or other obstacles.

Application Deadline: The application  will close on 2/20/26

Please view all details, including eligibility and conditions, on the Outreach Fellowship webpage prior to applying.

Questions about the fellowship or application/selection process can be directed to Crystal Mills at crystal.mills@uconn.edu. 

IBACS Sponsored Talk: Dr. Matthew Sacchet on 2/2

Talk Sponsored by The Institute for the Brain & Cognitive Sciences (IBACS): Dr. Matthew Sacchet from Harvard Medical School and Mass General

Date/Time: February 2, 2026, at 12:20pm (during TalkShop)

Location: SHH 101

Bio: Dr. Matthew D. Sacchet, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Meditation Research Program at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital (Mass General). Dr. Sacchet and his team study advanced meditation: states, stages, and endpoints of meditative development and mastery. He has authored more than 150 publications that have been cited more than 10,000 times, and his work has been presented more than 170 times at international, national, regional and local venues including at Cambridge, Harvard, Oxford, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale Universities, and the United Nations. His research has appeared in leading scientific journals in the mind and brain sciences and psychiatry, including American Journal of Psychiatry, Biological Psychiatry, Cerebral Cortex, JAMA Psychiatry, Journal of Neuroscience, Molecular Psychiatry, Nature Mental Health, Neuropsychopharmacology, Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and World Psychiatry. He has received generous support from numerous foundations and repeat awards from federal funding bodies in the United States, including the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. His work has appeared in many major media outlets where it has been viewed many millions of times, including in 10% Happier, CBC, CBS, Forbes, Men’s/Women’s Health, NBC, New Scientist, NPR, Scientific American, TIME, Vox, and Wall Street Journal, and Forbes named him one of its “30 Under 30.” Dr. Sacchet is an Associate Editor of the leading meditation academic journal Mindfulness, and a Research Fellow of the Mind & Life Institute. He has been nominated for mentorship awards five times in the last five years.

Talk Abstract: Mindfulness has gained considerable momentum globally as an intervention for improving health and wellbeing. Beyond mindfulness, advanced meditation includes states, stages, and endpoints that result from mastery of meditation. Matthew D. Sacchet Ph.D. (Harvard/Mass General) will provide an overview of current directions in advanced meditation research that characterize the third wave of meditation research. The study and practice of advanced meditation promise incredible new opportunities for elevating human potential in diverse clinical and non-clinical contexts. See the Meditation Research Program’s website for more information: https://meditation.mgh.harvard.edu/

Welcome Back, IBACS Affiliates!

Please find below some very important Spring 2026 reminders about our services:  
 

Staffing and Research Support 

 
IBACS affiliates can work with I-BRAIN Fellows, who offer specialized skills to support projects that use the Brain Imaging Research Core’s facilities. Please email us at ibacs@uconn.edu if interested.  
 

Research Facilities 

 
E-Lab is a shared research facility administered by IBACS. It offers space, equipment, training, and support for researchers who wish to monitor the human body’s physiological responses to a wide range of stimuli. Current equipment includes EEG (32 and 64 channel), eye-tracking, and tDCS.
 
MBNF is a shared research facility administered by IBACS. It provides behavioral phenotyping services for engineered mouse models and other mouse models with human clinical relevance.  
 
This shared facility is a mobile laboratory for research, community outreach, training, and clinical services. It is available to anyone in the UConn community by reservation. Click on the link above to view photos and the fee structure. IBACS affiliates can apply for awards to use SAM if funds are not available. 
 

Other Resources & Services 

 
Desks in Arjona 311 Available  
There are desk spaces available for graduate students, post-docs, visiting scholars, and sponsored undergraduates working in IBACS-affiliated labs in Arjona 311. Desks can either be signed out individually or if you plan to use the space sporadically, access can be provided to use our flex-space desks. Access to our kitchen/lounge and meeting rooms will also be provided. Please contact Crystal to sign out a desk.  
  
Arjona Meeting Space Available   
IBACS has three Arjona meeting/classroom spaces available for use by affiliates, including recent technology additions for hybrid participation. Please email Crystal to inquire about access to the spaces and making reservations (Arjona 324, 340, and 307 with capacity up to 22 people).    
 
Facilities, Resources, & Equipment Documentation for NIH/NSF Applications
The Institute offers extensive documentation of facilities, resources, and equipment that can serve as a template for your external grant application. Email Crystal to request a copy.
 
EAR supports faculty affiliates applying for competitive external awards. IBACS-affiliated investigators can submit their proposal drafts for formal review by an advisory committee, who will make recommendations for the final proposal. Additionally, external advisors with domain-specific expertise can provide input to significantly enhance the likelihood of achieving a fundable score.  
Open to: Faculty affiliates  
Key Application Dates: accepted on a rolling basis 
 
Seed Grants provide funding to eligible faculty for interdisciplinary projects and research initiatives. Successful applications typically involve collaborations that require expertise across laboratories and traditional disciplinary boundaries. We prioritize projects that will lead to publications and external awards. 
Open to: Faculty and postdoctoral affiliates 
Key Application Dates: Large awards (>$10K) spring deadline: April 1, 2026.
A reminder: All proposals with a UCH investigator must also have at least one Storrs investigator. We hope this will change as we negotiate future support from UCHC.  
 
IBACS offers funding for one-time or recurring meetings, workshops, and conferences that support the Institute’s mission.  
Open to: Faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral, and external affiliates  
Key Application Dates: accepted on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted 
 
IBACS affiliates can apply for awards to use our Science Alliance Mobile (SAM) for research or outreach. Please visit the webpage for more information and use the meeting/event support form to apply. 
 
This award provides funding for undergraduate students conducting an independent research project. The student’s project must contribute to the Institute’s mission. Students can apply for awards of up to $1,000.  
Open to: Undergraduate students working with an IBACS-affiliated faculty member  
Key Application Dates: spring deadline is February 2, 2026.  
 
This award provides funding for undergraduate students conducting an independent research project. The student’s project must contribute to the Institute’s mission. The award consists of $5,000  or a single summer. Students may use up to $3,500 of the award on fellowship funds to covering living expenses and remaining funds to purchase materials and equipment in support of the research project.    
Open to: Undergraduate students working with an IBACS-affiliated faculty member  
Key Application Dates: closes on January 30, 2026.  
 
These awards provide up to $500 to be used for meeting/conference travel expenses where data will be presented that aligns with the IBACS mission.  
Open to: Graduate student and postdoctoral affiliates; undergraduate students who are members of an IBACS-affiliated lab 
Key Application Dates: accepted on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted 
 
Have something you want to share with our affiliates? Please submit to the IBACS soapbox! Anyone can submit on topics such as events, training opportunities, course announcements, talks, funding opportunities, and more. Our soapbox is sent out to our listserv every other Monday at 2pm.  
  
The Institute is always looking to expand our base of University affiliates, helping researchers network and connect to generate collaborative research.  If you know of others in your department that would like to be affiliated with the Institute, please forward this email or recommend they check out the benefits of affiliation by clicking on the link above.   
 
Join the IDEA Committee
The IBACS Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee meets monthly and focuses on facilitating activities and events that offer discussion around these topics for undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, post-docs, staff, and more in the brain and cognitive sciences community. All are welcome to join our committee to plan and run these events. Email us if you are interested!
   
Best wishes for a safe and productive semester ahead!  
  
Emily Myers, Director of Training, IBACS 
John Salamone, Director of Communication and Outreach, IBACS  
Holly R. Fitch, Interim Director of Research, IBACS 
Crystal Mills, Institute Coordinator, IBACS  

IBACS Undergraduate Summer Research Award Apps Due 1/30/26

IBACS is offering another year of the undergraduate summer research awards! Please share with the undergraduate students in your labs.
 
Note: The summer award is different from the academic year research supply award application for up to $1,000 which is still open – the spring deadline is 2/2/26. See separate email for details. 
 
This summer award provides funding for undergraduate students conducting an independent research projectover the summer consistent with the Institute’s mission. Funds can be used for research supplies and a stipend to support students over the summer. Students can apply for awards of up to $5,000.
 
Open to: Undergraduate students working with an IBACS-affiliated faculty member. Students who received academic year funding are eligible to apply for the summer research grant program, provided that they are still a UConn student at the time.
Key Application Dates: The summer application deadline is January 30, 2026.
Applicants must fill out the online application including a research plan, budget, and letter of support from a faculty sponsor. The funding is meant to defray the research-related costs such as materials & supplies, software, animal or participant-related costs. The budget should reflect these expenditures.
The IBACS undergraduate award academic year applications are reviewed based on the following criteria:
  • The project description is well-written and clearly explains the project and the project timeline is feasible.
  • The project clearly focuses on a research area associated with the IBACS mission.
  • The budget is itemized, appropriate to the project described, and reports the total cost of the project (even if it exceeds the funding requested).
  • The faculty advisor is familiar with the student’s project and rates the student’s work to date highly.
  • Students are expected to develop the submission with the mentorship of their research advisor, and research mentors are encouraged to provide feedback to applicants, but the submission should be primarily the student’s own work. Where project applications are equally meritorious, the reviewers will take note of how the student’s project will contribute to the advisor’s research goals.
  • The student and his/her project meet the eligibility criteria.
  • The student has secured research compliance approval(s) if necessary for the project. No award will be issued until documentation of approval(s) is received.
Please visit the award webpage for more information and contact our Institute Coordinator, Crystal Mills at crystal.mills@uconn.edu f you have any questions.

Reminder: IBACS Undergraduate Research Supply Award Apps Due 2/2/26

A reminder that the Institute for the Brain & Cognitive Sciences (IBACS) undergraduate research supply award spring 2026 deadline is February 2, 2026. Please share with the undergraduate students in your labs.
 
This academic year award provides funding for undergraduate students conducting an independent research project consistent with the Institute’s mission. Students can apply for awards of up to $1,000.
 
Note: The academic year supply award is different from the undergraduate summer research award, which is for up to $5,000 as it includes funds to support student living expenses over the summer. The application deadline for the summer award is 1/30/26. See separate email for details. 
 
Open to: Undergraduate students working with an IBACS-affiliated faculty member. Recipients cannot apply for another grant within the same academic year, however, are eligible for the summer research grant program, provided that they are still a UConn student at the time.
Key Application Dates: The fall deadline has passed; spring deadline is February 2, 2026.
Applicants must fill out the online application, and also submit via the online application, a relatively short research plan (maximum of 6,000 characters, approximately 3 pages). The funding is meant to defray the research-related costs such as materials & supplies, software, animal or participant-related costs. The budget should reflect these expenditures.
The IBACS undergraduate award academic year applications are reviewed based on the following criteria:
  • The project description is well written and clearly explains the project.
  • The project clearly focuses on a research area associated with the IBACS mission.
  • The budget is itemized, appropriate to the project described, and reports the total cost of the project (even if it exceeds the funding requested).
  • The faculty advisor is familiar with the student’s project and rates the student’s work to date highly.
  • The student and his/her project meet the eligibility criteria.
 
Please visit the award webpage for more information and contact our Institute Coordinator, Crystal Mills at crystal.mills@uconn.edu if you have any questions.