Ask Anything Sessions
Hosted by neuroscientists, these informal panel sessions allow students and early career scientists to ask questions and discuss topics related to scientific training and career development. Attendance is limited to 30 trainees per sessions. Sessions will be located in the East Overlook of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Note: Attendance is limited to 30 attendees, and preregistration for these sessions is required. Please note that individuals are only able to register for one session over the duration of Neuroscience 2023.
Sunday, November 12, 2023
Ask Anything: MacVicar and Ransom
Time: 9–10 a.m. EST
Hosts: Brian A. MacVicar, PhD; Bruce R. Ransom MD, PhD
Your hosts will sketch their career trajectories. Then it is up to you to "ask anything.” They represent two species of neuroscientists: Brian MacVicar is a basic scientist and Bruce R. Ransom is a clinician-scientist. Does this impact research direction or academic strategy? You might ask how MacVicar chooses research topics, Ransom’s predictions about research funding, how they avoid lab conflicts or manage work/life balance (do you need a pet?). Why did Ransom start a journal on glial cells and how is that working out? You get the idea. Ask anything!
This informal panel session allows students and early career scientists to ask questions and discuss topics related to scientific training and career development.
Attendance is limited to 30 trainees. Preregistration for this session is required. Visit the Registration Resource Center to add a session to your Neuroscience 2023 registration.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by the hosts in this panel are their own and do not represent the views of SfN, their home institutions, affiliated organizations, or any governmental agency.
Ask Anything: Geddes and Ruffin
Time: 11 a.m.–noon EST
Hosts: Rastafa I. Geddes, PhD; Vernon A. Ruffin, PhD
The Ruffin NeuroLab, LLC, a privately funded STEM program, bridges the gap between good grades and real STEM proficiency. The program emphasizes holistic academics, hands-on research, professional development, and fostering an entrepreneurial spirit within STEM to empower students for successful STEM careers and entrepreneurship. Take this opportunity to ask two underrepresented neuroscientists about professional development and STEM careers.
This informal panel session allows students and early career scientists to ask questions and discuss topics related to scientific training and career development.
Attendance is limited to 30 trainees. Preregistration for this session is required. Visit the Registration Resource Center to add a session to your Neuroscience 2023 registration.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by the hosts in this panel are their own and do not represent the views of SfN, their home institutions, affiliated organizations, or any governmental agency.
Ask Anything: Maricq, Matta, and Roche
Time: 2–3 p.m. EST
Hosts: Andres V. Maricq, MD, PhD; Jose A. Matta, PhD; Katherine W. Roche, PhD
Synapses, circuits, and behavior: ask the hosts anything about research or careers in academia or industry. Dr. Maricq uses forward genetics to make fundamental discoveries regarding receptors, excitatory synapses, and behavior. Dr. Roche examines rare variants in receptors and adhesion molecules to understand synaptic dysfunction underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Matta leverages specificity of receptor-associated proteins to enable drug discovery of first-in-class targets.
This informal panel session allows students and early career scientists to ask questions and discuss topics related to scientific training and career development.
Attendance is limited to 30 trainees. Preregistration for this session is required. Visit the Registration Resource Center to add a session to your Neuroscience 2023 registration.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by the hosts in this panel are their own and do not represent the views of SfN, their home institutions, affiliated organizations, or any governmental agency.
Ask Anything: Poe and Varela
Time: 4–5 p.m. EST
Hosts: Gina R. Poe, PhD; Carmen Varela, PhD
Join a lively conversation where no question is off-limits; ask anything! The discussion will begin with the hosts sharing their joys and sorrows as human beings from historically excluded backgrounds traipsing the transitions of tenure-track positions. The hosts will answer any question, sharing stories of mentors, pluck, grace (yes, mistakes were made), and luck. What joys and jump-scares, peaceful peaks, and perturbing pitfalls await as one juggles life with a career in science.
This informal panel session allows students and early career scientists to ask questions and discuss topics related to scientific training and career development.
Attendance is limited to 30 trainees. Preregistration for this session is required. Visit the Registration Resource Center to add a session to your Neuroscience 2023 registration.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by the hosts in this panel are their own and do not represent the views of SfN, their home institutions, affiliated organizations, or any governmental agency.
Monday, November 13, 2023
Ask Anything: Haber, Phillips, and Yendiki
Time: 11 a.m.–noon EST
Hosts: Suzanne N. Haber, PhD; Mary Phillips, MD; Anastasia Yendiki, PhD
How do we really know the neural connections in the human brain and how (and if) they change in disease? Come and find out how the hosts transition from the ground truth of anatomy to imaging to clinical application. It has been famously said that Ginger did everything Fred did, but backwards and in heels. What if you have to climb the academic ladder backwards and in heels? How can the right collaborations help you and your science along the way? These three women can answer all your burning questions about this - and about brain connectomics.
This informal panel session allows students and early career scientists to ask questions and discuss topics related to scientific training and career development.
Attendance is limited to 30 trainees. Preregistration for this session is required. Visit the Registration Resource Center to add a session to your Neuroscience 2023 registration.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by the hosts in this panel are their own and do not represent the views of SfN, their home institutions, affiliated organizations, or any governmental agency.
Ask Anything: Shamma and Woolley
Time: 2–3 p.m. EST
Hosts: Shihab Shamma, PhD; Sarah M. N. Woolley, PhD
The hosts will share their research paths, including marching to the beat of their drums. They are auditory neuroscientists driven by their interests in how sound and the brain enables people to communicate with others through speech and music, and in understanding traits that are shared between humans and other species. The discussion will include how diverse backgrounds and interests inspire biologists, engineers, psychologists, and physicians to study the auditory brain and behavior.
This informal panel session allows students and early career scientists to ask questions and discuss topics related to scientific training and career development.
Attendance is limited to 30 trainees. Preregistration for this session is required. Visit the Registration Resource Center to add a session to your Neuroscience 2023 registration.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by the hosts in this panel are their own and do not represent the views of SfN, their home institutions, affiliated organizations, or any governmental agency.
Ask Anything: Bañuelos, Morrison, and Rapp
Time: 4–5 p.m. EST
Hosts: Cristina Bañuelos, PhD; John H. Morrison, PhD; Peter R. Rapp, PhD
Join the hosts in conversation about what they learned as trainees and what informed their choices. Cajal distilled his advice into seven themes: The only thing in your power is your preparation. Be suspicious of “brilliance.” Be appropriately respectful of authority, but no more. Balance concentration and relaxation. Don’t worry about what it’s good for. Favor independence over resources. Embrace scientific Panglossian. The hosts will discuss how these themes apply today.
This informal panel session allows students and early career scientists to ask questions and discuss topics related to scientific training and career development.
Attendance is limited to 30 trainees. Preregistration for this session is required. Visit the Registration Resource Center to add a session to your Neuroscience 2023 registration.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by the hosts in this panel are their own and do not represent the views of SfN, their home institutions, affiliated organizations, or any governmental agency.
