Summer Workshop on the Dynamic Brain

Program Type: Educational workshop for early-career neuroscience researchers

An intensive summer workshop designed for upper-level PhD students and postdocs to develop research skills in computational and experimental neuroscience related to brain dynamics.

Eligibility

• Required: Must have completed at least one year of a PhD program by the time of the course
• Career Stage: Upper-level PhD students and postdocs
• Interdisciplinary: Applicants from math, computer science, physics, bioengineering, and other non-neuroscience departments are encouraged to apply
• Industry: Applicants with a completed PhD, relevant research, and equivalent postdoc-level career stage are eligible
• International: Applications welcome from any nationality or residence; no additional cost for international participants
• Not Eligible: Final-year undergraduates (must have graduated and started graduate school), professors, non-scientists without professional research pursuit

What is Provided

• Housing during the workshop
• Food during the workshop
• Transportation between Seattle and Friday Harbor
• University of Washington dorm accommodations for students traveling day before/after workshop
• For Python Bootcamp participants: UW dorm accommodations, food, and transportation to Allen Institute

What is NOT Provided

• Travel funding to/from Seattle, Washington (students responsible for their own travel)

Selection Criteria

The Allen Institute seeks applicants who:

• Are early-career researchers with active research related to course topics
• Have relevant background knowledge and skills (no prior Python experience required)
• Would significantly benefit from participation in terms of skills and career development
• May have primarily experimental, primarily computational, or mixed backgrounds

Note: Acceptance rate is typically around 10%; many more qualified applications are received than can be accepted.

Additional Notes

• No coding experience required; Python bootcamp available for those without prior coding experience
• All applicants will be notified of application decisions
• Waitlist selected from application pool at time of acceptance decisions

Required Materials

1. Letter of Interest
   • One page maximum
   • No fixed format required
   • Address research interests and how the course aligns with career goals
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
   • Standard academic CV format
   • Do NOT submit NIH/NSF-style biosketch
   • May list publications in CV but do not submit supplemental materials
3. Two Letters of Recommendation
   • Exactly two letters required (no more, no fewer)
   • Due by the application deadline
   • Should come from writers who can speak to research interests and skills
   • Recommended (but not required) that at least one comes from current or former advisor
   • Co-written letters are acceptable and still count as one of the two required letters

Submission

• Late applications will NOT be accepted
• No revisions to application materials accepted after deadline
• Application must be submitted before checking on letter of recommendation status

Timeline for Letters of Recommendation

• Applicants can email dynamicbrain@alleninstitute.org within the week before deadline to check status
• Allen Institute staff cannot see letter submission status until you have submitted your application

Application Deadline

• In 2022, deadline was February 1
• Subscribe to Allen Institute newsletter (select Brain Science option) for email notifications when applications open

What NOT to Submit

• Supplemental materials like publications (list in CV instead)
• More than two letters of recommendation
• NIH/NSF-style biosketch
• Late applications