It's Science Appreciation Day & we are feeling the love thanks to Wellington High School and Eagles Landing Middle School students who took the time to send thank you notes and slides to our researchers and education staff, thanking them for their work. We're grateful for our community's support!

Congratulations to Dr. Carina Arnold, the latest grad from our joint MPFI/FAU IMPRS PhD program! Carina completed her doctoral work in the Blakely Lab at Florida Atlantic University, advancing our understanding of how serotonin signaling shapes behavior at the molecular level. Congrats, Dr. Arnold!

We’re still catching our breath from Sunposium 2026! From deciphering neural circuits to showcasing bidirectional neurotech, the summit reiterated that amazing breakthroughs arise through global collaboration. Explore the highlights: www.mpfi.org/sunposium-20...

Today is our last day of #Sunposium2026 and we would like to recognize one of our signature sponsors, @thorlabs.bsky.social, for your support! We enjoyed learning about new advances in Mini2P Imaging and other exciting advanced imaging technology. Learn more about Thorlabs at buff.ly/e8PhxoN

Excited to be here at the @mpfneuro.bsky.social #Sunposium26 where we are demonstrating our Mini2P with Spark Lasers. If you're nearby, visit us at booth 102!🔬

Thank you to @zeiss-microscopy.bsky.social, one of our signature sponsors of #Sunposium2026. From exhibiting at the event to presenting captivating technology talks, ZEISS has been a big part of making our event a success! Learn more about their innovative microscopy solutions at buff.ly/YysjhJx

Sunposium 2026 starts today! We look forward to welcoming more than 450 neuroscientists for 3 days of talks, exhibits, posters, networking, and more! If you are joining us, please have your QR code ready at check in, which was sent to the email you used to register.

Through March, gifts to Ask Max will be matched 100% (up to $50k!), thanks to the generosity of Donald & Penny Pray & the Stiles-Nicholson Foundation. Your support brings real scientists into local classrooms. Make a gift today: bit.ly/3OpqgG0

Today is the LAST CHANCE to register for Sunposium 2026! Join us in West Palm Beach, FL, March 9-11 for this innovative conference of global leaders in basic neuroscience. Learn more and register today: www.mpfi.org/events/sunpo...

What does a Bach masterpiece have to do with 86 billion neurons? At our February #ScienceMeetsMusic, Dr. Moritz Helmstaedter spoke on a journey from the intricate "cables" of the brain to the timeless Goldberg Variations. We explored how our synapses sculpt memories as we listen. buff.ly/qJwgklv

Join us for Science Meets Music on March 24! Dr. Sarah Stern will discuss how the brain, hormones, and modern life shape eating habits. Featuring musical selections by Arnaud Sussmann and the Palm Beach Chamber Music Society. Register now: www.mpfi.org/smmmar26/

How is technology reshaping the future of care? Dr. David Fitzpatrick joined healthcare leaders at Invest: Palm Beach to discuss "The Future of Healthcare," where he highlighted how breakthrough tools like optogenetics and AI have their roots in neuroscience. #Neuroscience #HealthcareInnovation

We were thrilled to have @watanabelab.bsky.social from Johns Hopkins University speak today at MPFI about his recent findings on axon morphology and their implications for function and plasticity. Thank you, Dr. Watanabe!

Join us for a Science Meets Music concert, Feb. 11! Dr. Moritz Helmstaedter, Dir. at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research & classical pianist, will discuss how the brain processes expectations & empowers music recall. Register now: www.mpfi.org/smmfeb26/

Join us for a Science Meets Music concert on Feb. 11! Dr. Moritz Helmstaedter, Dir. at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research & classical pianist, will discuss how the brain processes expectations & empowers music recall. Register now: www.mpfi.org/smmfeb26/

What a great talk today with Zixuan Deng from the University of Chicago! She shared her research on how our brains compute motion in natural scenes. It turns out our visual circuits work differently when we look at the real world compared to simple lab stimuli. Thank you for sharing your science!

Applications for our high school internship program are due soon! This program gives students the opportunity to accelerate their academic and scientific careers by working with MPFI researchers and technical experts. Don't miss out on this opportunity, visit buff.ly/J8NNheS to learn more & apply!

Join us for Science Meets Music, Jan. 28! Dr. Ivan De Araujo, Director at @mpicybernetics.bsky.social, will discuss how signals made in the GI tissue impact our psychological states. Classical guitar selections by the Eden Stell Guitar Duo. Register now: www.mpfi.org/smmjan26/

Thank you to Dr. Sang Jeong Kim for visiting today and for a wonderful seminar on his latest findings on cerebellar homeostatic plasticity. Want to learn more? Listen to Max Planck Florida's Neurotransmissions podcast episode Pain and Plasticity With Sang Jeong Kim buff.ly/d4wtSHZ

Join us for Science Meets Music, Jan. 28! Dr. Ivan De Araujo, Director at @mpicybernetics.bsky.social, will discuss how signals made in the GI tissue impact our psychological states. Classical guitar selections by the Eden Stell Guitar Duo. Register now: www.mpfi.org/smmjan26/

Applications are open for our 6-week paid summer internship program! High school students will get experience in research, mechanical engineering, or data science, working alongside MPFI researchers. New this year, we've added a coding for public engagement track! Learn more at buff.ly/QIgug8A

‼️ The deadline to submit your abstract for Sunposium is tomorrow‼️ Don't miss your chance to showcase your work, receive feedback, and network in West Palm Beach, Florida! 🌴☀️ buff.ly/UihPE5a

Scientists at MPFI have uncovered how the brain navigates without visual cues, identifying distinct ramping-based patterns of brain activity unique from well-described place-based coding. These patterns mark the start of movement and encode how far an animal has traveled. Learn more: buff.ly/P96KJMo

We had a fantastic talk today with @ZhenggangZhu on "The Dopamine Pedal"! He presented fascinating research on how our brains drive us to overeat. Thank you for the insightful presentation! #Neuroscience #Dopamine #BrainResearch

Congrats to Dr. Ilika Ghosh of MPFI’s Rangaraju Lab, who was selected to speak at #CellBio2025 and awarded an ASCB Travel Grant! Attending the meeting? Don’t miss her Dec 8 talk in the Compartmentalized Signaling in Neurons symposium.

We were thrilled to welcome Dr. Ashok Litwin-Kumar from Columbia University as part of our seminar series today and hear about his latest research on connectome-constrained neural networks.

In @thetransmitter.bsky.social's 2025 State of Neuroscience Report, @lintianphd.bsky.social shares her perspective on 3 three topics: - Multidisciplinary research - The future of training - Impacts of funding cuts on neuroscience education Explore her insights: bit.ly/4pPi3s9

Scientists have discovered that genetically eliminating Centaurin-α1, a specific brain protein previously associated with Alzheimer’s disease progression, can lessen many of the cognitive deficits and brain damage caused by the disease in mice. Learn more: buff.ly/Pc1kbEu

Nature research paper: Integrator dynamics in the cortico-basal ganglia loop for flexible motor timing go.nature.com/4oX2rmq

Application deadline approaching: December 1st The International Max Planck Research School for Synapses and Circuits (IMPRS-SC) —a fully funded Neuroscience PhD program by MPFI and FAU- is seeking passionate trainees who want to push the boundaries of neuroscience. Apply: buff.ly/6PIKoMp

Save the date for the free 2026 Science Meets Music concert/lecture series! 🎶 Jan. 28: “The Secret Pathways of Appetite, Immunity & Thought” 🎶 Feb. 11: “Bach & Brain” 🎶 March 24: “How the Brain, Hormones & Modern Life Shape Our Eating Habits” Register now: bit.ly/4rjn1ir

That’s a wrap on #SfN2025! Did you miss an MPFI session? Have questions about our programs? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us today: mpfi.org/institute/co...

How does the brain keep time? MPFI researcher Dr. Zidan Yang explains.

MPFI Scientists have discovered how two brain areas work together like an hourglass to flexibly control movement timing. Their findings are published in @nature.com today. buff.ly/rZI0MHV Read the original publication here. buff.ly/63VJYQa

#SfN2025 attendees! Don't miss these Wednesday sessions: ⭐ Maria Smirnova, MSc ⭐ Carolyn Von-Walter ⭐ Goksu Oz

#SfN2025 attendees: Curious about PhD options? Visit MPFI at the SfN Graduate School Fair at Neuroscience 2025, Booth 81: Tuesday, Noon-2pm

Curious about PhD opportunities? Visit MPFI at the SfN Graduate School Fair at Neuroscience 2025, Booth 81: Monday – Tuesday: Noon-2pm

#SfN2025 Day 3! Don't miss this Monday session: Zhe Zhao, # BB15, 1-5pm. Zhe won the TPDA, which recognizes trainees who demonstrate scientific merit and excellence in research. Learn about the award: bit.ly/3JHbkkB

Curious about PhD opportunities? Visit MPFI at the SfN Graduate School Fair at Neuroscience 2025, Booth 81: Sunday – Tuesday: Noon-2pm #SfN2025

#SfN2025 Day 2! Don't miss these Sunday sessions: ⭐️Jad Barchini, # J11, 8am-noon ⭐️Augusto Lempel, # J12, 8am-noon ⭐️Alexandra Gribizis, # J13, 8am-noon ⭐️ Landon Lee, # MM16, 8am-noon ⭐️ Kori-Anne Citrin, # KK13, 1-5pm

Attending #SfN2025? Curious about PhD opportunities? Visit MPFI at the Graduate School Fair at Neuroscience 2025, Booth 81: ⭐️Saturday: 1-3pm ⭐️Sunday – Tuesday: Noon-2pm

#SfN2025 attendees: Add this special poster session to your Saturday schedule! Zhe Zhao, # FF12, 7-9pm: Zhe won the prestigious TPDA, which recognizes trainees who demonstrate scientific merit and excellence in research. Learn about the award: bit.ly/3JHbkkB

Attending #SfN2025? Add these sessions with our neuroscientists & PhD students to your schedule! ⭐ Zhe Zhao - TPDA winner ⭐ Jad Barchini ⭐ Augusto Abel Lempel ⭐ Alexandra Gribizis ⭐ Landon Lee ⭐ Kori Citrin ⭐ Maria Smirnova ⭐ Carolyn Von-Walter ⭐ Goksu Oz

Heading to #SfN2025? Seeking a PhD program? We'd love to meet you! Visit us at the Graduate School Fair at Neuroscience 2025, Booth 81: ⭐ Saturday: 1-3pm ⭐ Sunday – Tuesday: Noon-2pm

In the IMPRS-SC PhD program, Ceylin Zeybek is exploring outlying questions about learning & memory. She chose MPFI because of our curiosity-driven environment. Looking for a cutting-edge neuroscience PhD program? We’re accepting applications through December 1: www.mpfi.org/training/imp...

Yesterday, MPFI hosted PhD student Luis Gomez Wulschner from @cumedicalschool.bsky.social for our NeuroMEETS series. He shared his impactful research on how acetylcholine and nicotine shape silent synapses and the implications of prenatal nicotine exposure on the developing brain. Thank you, Luis!

We’re thrilled to announce that Dr. Xin Jin has been named the 2026 Peter Gruss Young Investigator. Her pioneering work developing high-throughput in vivo screening strategies is unraveling the genetic mechanisms of neurodevelopmental disorders. buff.ly/RI9emVa

Looking for a cutting-edge neuroscience PhD program? IMPRS Alum, Professor Akshay Naraine, says choose one that aligns with your values: "It makes the tough days easier & keeps you satisfied long term." Apply for our IMPRS for Synapses and Circuits PhD program through Dec. 1: bit.ly/4hBHV7P

A huge thank you to Dr. Nicole Wong @strontiumpup.bsky.social from Brandeis for kicking off our NeuroMEETS talk series by sharing her exciting work on the key role of neuronal primary cilia in cortical homeostatic plasticity. Learn more about the NeuroMEETS trainee seminar series buff.ly/1kHaiNL.

Join us in celebrating Dr. Zidan Yang, who has officially earned her PhD through the IMPRS-SC program! In addition to her impactful research into how the brain keeps time, her dedication, curiosity, and collaborative spirit embody the spirit of our training community! Congratulations Dr. Yang!