Postdoc-Junior-PI Retreat

This workshop brings together postdoctoral researchers and junior principal investigators (PIs) in neuroscience from across (and around) Europe. Although postdocs and junior PIs often have comparable experience in the academic system, junior PIs have recently taken the step toward academic independence. Our goal is to foster exchange around career transitions, support career development, and spark future collaborations.

We aim to create a dynamic environment where participants can build scientific networks, collaborate on future projects, and develop competitive grant applications./

Workshop Highlights

  • Grant Application Workshop: Learn practical strategies for securing funding.
  • Postdoc-to-PI Transition Workshop: Gain insights and share experiences about the critical leap to independence.
  • Breakout Sessions: Small group discussions to brainstorm collaborative grant ideas and project proposals.

In the ideal outcome, participants will find peers with shared interests and initiate applications for networking grants (e.g., COST Actions) or collaborative research grants such as the Wellcome Trust Mental Health Awards, DFG Collaborative Research Centers and Research Units, or ERC Synergy Grants.

Key Details

  • Location: Villa Neupitz, 1 hour from Berlin, Germany
  • Dates: 1-3 Sept 2025 (Arrival Sept 1st mid-day, Departure Sept 3rd mid-day)
  • Cost: Full coverage of travel, accommodation, and meals for accepted participants
  • Application Deadline: 31st May 2025

Eligibility Criteria

  • Postdoctoral researcher (minimum 1 year experience) or Junior PI (within ~6 years of starting first independent PI position)
  • Main academic affiliation in/around Europe (part of EU’s Horizon’s program, i.e., EU and affiliated countries)
  • Active research focus in neuroscience
  • Research on neural mechanisms of psychoactive substances or mental disorders (see below)
  • Strong motivation to initiate new collaborations and research networks beyond the workshop

Research Focus

We seek participants working on:

  • Neural underpinnings of symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, and/or psychosis
  • Neural mechanisms of psychoactive substances
  • Projects bridging basic, preclinical, and/or clinical research
  • Research approaches suited for translational work across species (e.g., from animal models to humans)
  • Eligible model systems include studies in humans and/or animals.

Organizers

Jelena Brasanac

Jelena Brasanac is a postdoctoral researcher at the Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Charité —Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Her research focuses on the interplay between psychiatric symptoms and the immune system, the development of innovative clinical trial models, and the exploration of altered states of consciousness as potential treatments for mental health disorders.

Torben Ott

Torben started his neuroscience lab at Humboldt University in Berlin 3 years ago, working on the neural mechanisms of decision-making and the impact of psychedelics on behavior and perception. Research projects primarily employ computational and systems neuroscience methods in rats and occasionally back-translate behavior approaches to humans. Torben’s research is funded by the Emmy Noether program (DFG) and ERC Starting Grant.

Funding

We are grateful for support from Berlin University Alliance and their Hit The Jackpot program for funding our retreat.

If you have questions don’t hesitate to reach out to Jelena or Torben!