Transatlantic Behavioural Neuroscience School 2026

Aug 11-22nd 2025, Mikołajki, Poland

We are happy to announce the fifth edition of our Transatlantic Behavioural Neuroscience School! This year we are coming back to Nencki Research Station in Mikołajki.

We have one: to teach young researchers everything they need to design and build their own behavioural setups, conduct complex experiments and analyze their data using open software and hardware.

Our school is divided in five blocks:

  • 3D printing, where you will have an opportunity to learn the theory necessary to take full advantage of this technique and how to use Autodesk Fusion software to design elements of your behavioural setup
  • Electronics and Arduino, that is intended to provide the skills necessary to understand the design of devices used in behavioural research; it will also teach how to build and program such devices – among others, optogenetics laser controllers, automated doors, stimulus delivery systems and devices used for synchronizing data streams
  • Bonsai module that aims at teaching you how to use Bonsai to track your animals, conduct closed-loop experiments with Arduino and analyze your data
  • Deeplabcut and machine learning, where you will gain an in-depth understanding of the DL tools used in behavioural science and learn how to apply them to extract interesting information from your data
  • Project is the module where you will apply all the knowledge gained during the course to build a 3D-printed setup for studying phototactic behaviour in Drosophila, conduct experiments and analyze the data

School will be also composed of a series of lectures by researchers studying animal behaviour on different model systems and with different approaches.

PhD students and early-stage researchers are especially encouraged to apply. We provide partial or full travel grants and fee waivers for participants who cannot cover the costs. This year, thanks to collaboration with FENS, European students will be also able to obtain travel grants and fee waivers.

Where, when and how

The school will be organized on Aug 11-22nd 2025 in Mikolajki, Poland. The fee is EUR 1500 and covers the cost of accomodation, bfood for the whole length of the school and the transport to the school venue. Please let us know if you need a fee waiver or a travel grant in an application form.

You can find the application form here. The deadline for application is March 15th 2025. We will let you know about the results of your application before March 30th. If you have any questions, contact us at openlab@nencki.edu.pl.

TA’s:

  • Alejandro Cámera ((University of Buenos Aires, CONICET)
  • Anna Chrzanowska (Paris Brain Institute)
  • Konrad Danielewski (Nencki Institute)
  • Lautaro Duarte (University of Buenos Aires)
  • Verónica de la Fuente ((University of Buenos Aires, CONICET))
  • Cecilia Herbert (Open Ephys)
  • Mateusz Kostecki (Heidelberg University)
  • Olivia Pedroncini (Crick Institute)
  • Luigi Petrucco (Afliant)
  • Urszula Włodkowska (Nencki Institute)