2025-02-06 12:00 – 2025-02-06 13:00
CNS-PDS February: Björn Jörges & Roberto Budzinski
2025-02-06 @ 12:00 – 13:00
Speaker #1
Björn Jörges, York University
Title of the presentation:
Where are you Moving? Assessing Precision, Accuracy, and Temporal Dynamics in Multisensory Heading Perception Using Continuous Psychophysic
Bio:
Björn is currently a Postdoc at York University, Toronto, working in visuo-vestibular multisensory integration and predictive processing. He uses an interdisciplinary approach that combines behavioral tasks administered predominantly in VR and computational modelling to address the impact of online vestibular cues as well as vestibular priors on visual tasks like the estimation of time-to-contact, self-motion, or depth. He is an early adopter and advocate for Open Science practices and proud and vocal member of the LGBTIQA+ community. Most recently he has been excited about a novel paradigm from vision science called “Continuous Psychophysics”, which couples continuous stimulation and continuous participant responses. This paradigm allows to collect large amounts of data in short amounts of time and with uncharacteristically low amounts of participant suffering.
@bjorges.bsky.social
Speaker #2
Roberto Budzinski, Western University,
Title of the presentation:
Predicting traveling waves: a new mathematical technique to link the structure of a network to the specific patterns of neural activity
Roberto is a physicist by training, working at the intersection of network theory, computational neuroscience, and AI. He earned his PhD in Physics from the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil, in 2021. After that, he moved to Canada to join Lyle Muller’s lab at Western University, where he is currently a postdoctoral researcher at both Western University and the Fields Institute. His research focuses on understanding the relationship between the connectivity patterns in a network and the resulting dynamics. Recently, he developed a new mathematical approach that shows the importance of structural connectivity and time delays in generating specific traveling waves in brain networks. More broadly, he is interested in studying spatiotemporal dynamics in neural systems and exploring their potential computational role.
X : @budzinski_r
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/3217374850132/WN_Judvgbe9T6-z8k6xoNIr7A
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/3217374850132/WN_Judvgbe9T6-z8k6xoNIr7A
Canadian neuroscience post-docs
seminars@can-acn.org
2025-03-06 12:00 – 2025-03-06 13:00
Canadian Neuroscience Seminars – Post-doc series March 6 Wendy Xin & Georgina Craig
2025-03-06 @ 12:00 – 13:00
9.00-10.00 Pacific time, 12.00 -13.00 EST, 13.30 -14-30 NST
Speaker #1
Wendy Xin, University of California San Francisco
Title: Regulation of cortical circuit maturation and plasticity by oligodendrocytes and myelin
Bio: She obtained a BSc at the University of Toronto and a PhD in Neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her current research focuses on the influence of oligodendrocytes and their myelin sheaths on neuronal circuit function and plasticity. Wendy will present evidence that the progression of myelination is modulated by sensory experience during postnatal development and, in turn, regulates the ability for cortical neurons to undergo experience dependent plasticity. These results establish a crucial role for oligodendrocytes in shaping the maturation and stabilization of cortical circuits and support the concept of developmental myelination acting as a functional brake on neuronal plasticity.
Speaker #2
Georgina Craig, University of Toronto
Title: Oligodendrocyte dysfunction drives human cognitive decline
Bio: Dr. Georgina Craig completed her PhD in 2021 from The University of Melbourne, Australia and the Multiple Sclerosis Division at the Florey Institute for Neuroscience. During her PhD, Georgina investigated the dynamics of oligodendrocyte proliferation in animal and human myelinating organoid models, and researched the consequences of early life experience on myelin development in the central nervous system. In 2022, Georgie joined the lab of Professor Veronique Miron, where she researches how early life cognition impacts myelin integrity and oligodendrocyte function in human ageing.
Webinar link:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/3217374850132/WN_6ZpwI7HOTcqz6hok-iCJhQ
Canadian neuroscience post-docs
seminars@can-acn.org
2025-04-03 12:00 – 2025-04-03 13:00
Canadian Neuroscience Seminars – Post-doc series April 3: Patcharaporn Srisaikaew & Abassi Etienne
2025-04-03 @ 12:00 – 13:00
Speaker #1
Patcharaporn Srisaikaew, University Health Network
Maladaptive Neuroplasticity in Cortico-limbic Structures: Insights from Surgical Pain Relief in Chronic Neuropathic Facial Pain.
My name is Patcharaporn, or you can call me Nok. I am a 4th-year postdoctoral researcher at the Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, in Toronto. My postdoc research is focused on studying the neural mechanism of limbic structure alterations (e.g., amygdala, hippocampus, fornix, and corticolimbic regions, etc.) – at both macro/microstructural levels in patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN), a severe chronic neuropathic facial pain, and their resolution after surgical pain relief, and how these abnormalities alteration relate to the biopsychological aspect of pain (emotion and cognition) using multimodal neuroimaging techniques under the supervision of Dr. Mojgan Hodaie. In addition to my expertise in neuroimaging, I am also a neuroanatomist with expertise in fresh cadaveric dissection and fresh human brain fixation. I am passionate about leveraging my expertise to drive solutions to improve people’s lives, well-being, and quality of care through innovative research and knowledge translation.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srisaikaewp/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/SrisaikaewP
Speaker #2
Etienne Abassi, McGill University
The representation of speech conversations in the human auditory cortex
Etienne Abassi, Ph.D., is a cognitive neuroscientist specializing in the neural and behavioral mechanisms of social perception. Currently a postdoctoral researcher at McGill University’s Montreal Neurological Institute, he investigates how social and semantic contexts shape the processing of speech and music. His work sits at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and music cognition, drawing on a background that spans information technology, biomedical sciences, and cognitive neuropsychology. Etienne earned his Ph.D. in Neurosciences from Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, where his research focused on how the human brain perceives multi-person visual interactions. He has held research appointments across Europe, including Maastricht University and the CNRS in France, and is affiliated with leading research centers in music and speech perception such as BRAMS, CIRMMT, and CRBLM in Montreal. A multidisciplinary thinker and communicator, Etienne thrives in collaborative environments and enjoys bridging scientific research with real-world applications. He is actively involved in mentoring students and fostering interdisciplinary projects that inform how we understand others through sound and vision
2025-04-09 11:00 – 2025-04-09 13:00
Advocacy webinar – Bridging Science and Policy: Tools for Effective Advocacy
2025-04-09 @ 11:00 – 13:00
Description: Join Evidence for Democracy (E4D), Canada’s leading voice for science, evidence-informed public policy, and transparent decision-making, for an engaging and interactive workshop titled “Bridging Science and Policy: Tools for Effective Advocacy.” This session is designed to equip scientists and researchers with the knowledge and skills to become effective advocates for science. Participants will gain insights into the basics of science policy, the importance of evidence in policy-making, the fundamentals of science advocacy, and how to engage with elected officials. Whether you are new to advocacy or looking to enhance your existing skills, this workshop will provide valuable tools to make your voice heard and ensure science and evidence are at the forefront of public decision-making.
Recording available here:
CAN and Evidence for Democracy
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IhuvHOQlRyaUPZ9MeTDTWA#/registration
2025-05-01 12:00 – 2025-05-01 13:00
Canadian Neuroscience Seminars – Post-doc series May 1: Ghazaleh Eskandari-Sedighi & Alban Voppel
2025-05-01 @ 12:00 – 13:00
Speaker #1 Ghazaleh Eskandari-Sedighi, University of California Irvine
Unlocking the Secrets of Microglia in Neurodegenerative diseases: Mechanisms of resilience to AD pathologies
Ghazaleh Eskandari-Sedighi
Ghazaleh Eskandari-Sedighi, Ph.D., is a biochemist with a strong background in the study of protein misfolding disorders affecting the nervous system. Her research is broadly centered on the mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration, with a particular emphasis on how misfolded protein assemblies—such as prions, tau, and amyloid—contribute to disease progression. During her early postdoctoral training, she extensively utilized animal models, including transgenic mouse models of prion diseases, tauopathies, and amyloidosis, to investigate the molecular and cellular underpinnings of these disorders. Over time, her scientific interests evolved to incorporate neuroimmunology, with a specific focus on how pathological protein aggregates influence neuroimmune responses. Currently, Dr. Eskandari-Sedighi is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Irvine, where she studies the role of human microglia in neurodegenerative disease. Her work leverages cutting-edge technologies, including human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia and chimeric mouse models, to better understand the interplay between innate immune responses and disease pathogenesis in the brain, with the goal to decipher the protective microglial responses contributing to resilience in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. X: @GhazalehEsk Bluesky: @ghazeskandari.bsky.social LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ghazaleh-eskandari-sedighi-ab475a90
Speaker #2 Alban Elias Voppel McGill University
Simulating Thought Disorder: Fine-Tuning Llama-2 for Synthetic Speech in Schizophrenia
Alban Elias Voppel
I earned a BA and MA in philosophy in the Netherlands before completing an MSc in neuroscience, where I picked up coding and neuroimaging skills. I then took a PhD in psychiatry (research) with Prof. Sommer in Groningen, developing NLP approaches to clinical questions in schizophrenia. After finishing the phd and a year‑long postdoc in the same lab, I moved to Montreal and am now a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health (Douglas Institute, McGill university) under Prof. Palaniyappan. My work applies NLP to patients’ speech—tracking and predicting relapse, diagnostic categories, gauging symptom severity, evaluating treatment response, and mapping neural correlates—with the goal of making language a practical biomarker in psychiatric care.
2025-05-21 -2025-05-24
2025 CAN meeting
Join us for the 2025 Canadian Neuroscience Meeting!
Meeting Chair: Matt Hill
2025-06-05 12:00 – 2025-06-05 13:00
Canadian Neuroscience Seminars – Post-doc series – June 5: Vincent Hervé & Dotun Adeyinka
2025-06-05 @ 12:00 – 13:00
Speaker #1
Dotun Adeyinka, Acadia University
Investigating the Neurobiology and Neurophysiology of Psilocybin Using Drosophila melanogaster as a Model System.
I have a PhD in Neurobiology from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, where my work focused on the interplay between neural stem cell state transitions and the cell cycle in the brain, using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. I also worked briefly as a researcher at King’s College London & Imperial College London, UK, on stem cell regeneration and cell fate. I am presently a postdoctoral researcher in the Faraone group, department of chemistry, Acadia University- where I am investigating how psilocybin influences important neurotransmitters like serotonin- which modulates stress, decision-making, and behaviour, using Drosophila melanogaster as a model. My research combines behavioural assays, genetic tools, and in vivo imaging to understand the neural basis of mental health conditions. My research endeavours centres on neurodevelopment, neuropharmacology and behavioural studies. Twitter/ X handle: @dotun_adey
Speaker #2
Vincent Herve, Université de Montréal
The Direct Impact Of Amyloid-beta Oligomers On Neuronal Activity And Neurotransmitter Releases On In Vivo Analysis.
Vincent is a biochemist with a master’s degree in biochemistry, biotechnology, and structural biology from the University Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, France. During his studies, he contributed to research on the oxidation of amyloid beta peptides and investigated mechanisms of plant adaptation to changing environments. He moved to Canada to pursue a Ph.D. at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) in Laval, where he focused on Apolipoprotein D, exploring its role in cognitive decline and its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. In 2022, after crossing the Rivière des Prairies, Vincent began a postdoctoral fellowship at the Université de Montréal in the laboratory of Dr. Jonathan Brouillette. His current research investigates the impact of amyloid beta on neuronal hyperactivity and neurotransmitter release in the rat hippocampus, aiming to shed light on the early mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease—particularly the silent accumulation of amyloid beta peptides, which can begin 15 to 20 years before clinical symptoms emerge. Alongside his research, Vincent is deeply committed to science communication and actively contributes to various outreach and educational initiatives within the lab.
Linkedin :https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincent-herve/
Twitter : https://x.com/Vince_herve
Bluesky : https://bsky.app/profile/vincent-herve.bsky.social
Webinar link
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/3217374850132/WN_rOTKD5qZRECA2JBDof-Y6w
2025-07-17 08:00 – 2025-07-19 17:00
Montreal Conference on Pain Circuits
2025-07-17 @ 08:00 – 2025-07-19 @ 17:00
The conference will bring together scientists studying:
• Normal and neuropathic nociceptive circuit function
• The emotive and discriminatory dimensions of pain
• The interface between nociception and other somatosensory modalities
• The development and maturation of pain circuits
• How noxious stimuli are translated into behavioural responses
zoom
https://montrealpaincircuits.com
2025-09-11 12:00 – 2025-09-11 13:00
CNS-PDS Seminars: Janahan Selvanayagam & Jennifer Robinson
2025-09-11 @ 12:00 – 13:00
Announcing the return of the CAN postdoc seminar series, starting this Thursday September 11!
Register here for the first seminar series: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2017374850028/WN_tgLb5wOvT0-E19FB-5K7rQ
SEMINAR HOST: Alessandro Zanini
SEMINAR CO-HOST: Eve Honore
SPEAKER #1
Speaker Name: Janahan Selvanayagam
Institution: University of Oxford
Abstract Title:
“Neural Representations of Abstract Cognitive Maps in Prefrontal Cortex and Medial Temporal Lobe”
SPEAKER #2
Speaker Name: Jennifer Robinson
Institution: McGill University
Abstract Title:
“Unpacking the role of the medial septum in spatial coding in the medial entorhinal cortex”
Find the exciting line up of upcoming speakers below.
Canadian neuroscience post-docs
seminars@can-acn.org
zoom