NENS actively supports higher education in Neuroscience, and currently promotes a number of actions. A first draft of
the NENS Strategic Plan will be e-mailed to you in February. Your comments on this will be taken into consideration in
order to develop the final plan, which will be discussed at the FENS Executive Committee in April.
NENS Schools Directory – update
To date, 160 Master and PhD programs in 28 countries are registered. In recent months, all schools were contacted
directly and requested to update the description of their program on the
NENS website
. We are currently processing this
information, and will e-mail you shortly when the updated information will be available.
Publication of international training program/fellowship announcements on the NENS website
NENS will soon post your international training program/fellowship announcements on its website, to make it available
to all members of the NENS community. If you wish to publish an announcement please e-mail us at
nens-office@unil.ch
NENS Stipends
Are you a student in a NENS program who would like to gain international experience? The NENS Stipends are intended for
Master and PhD students registered within NENS member schools. Applicants are expected to spend a period of one to three
months at a NENS member school of their choice, in a different European country, for the purpose of methodological
training. Stipends will cover travel and accommodation costs up to 2,000 €.
For application forms and details please visit the
NENS Stipends website
or contact:
nens-office@unil.ch
Next deadline is
February 15th, 2012
Brain Team grants to attend the FENS Forum 2012
The Dana Alliance for the Brain offers 4 grants of 400 € to attend the FENS Forum in Barcelona, for young scientists
involved in outreach activities, like the Brain Awareness Week. The winners will be requested to present a poster
explaining their outreach activities at the special Brain Team event during the NENS AGM meeting (July 17th, 18:45-20:30). More information about
these grants in the next NENS News, on May 15th.
Obituary Laia Acarin (1970-2011)
It is with great sadness that we inform the European Neuroscience community of the unexpected decease of our loved and
admired colleague Laia Acarin. Dr. Acarin was an Associate Professor of Histology at the Medical School of the
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain. She was a brilliant scientist and exceptional human being. During the last
year, she was one of the most active members of the Local Host Committee of the FENS Forum 2012 (Barcelona, July
14-18th), being responsible for the organization of an extensive and attractive program of activities for young
investigators. We have lost an extraordinary colleague and a friend, who will be missed in so many ways.
NENS activities at the FENS Forum 2012 in Barcelona
Satellite event on Professional Development
Friday July 13th 2012, all day FENS and SENC, host society of the FENS Forum 2012, propose a day-long Professional Development symposium focused on
science communication, leadership and professional skills, specifically oriented to PhD students and young post-doctoral
fellows. The program will be coordinated with the workshop “Building your career”. NENS encourages doctoral students who
have not such a training available in their program to register to this of symposia, and ask their school to consider
these training activities for credits in their program.
Registration deadline: February 5th 2012.
More information here.
Workshop “Building your career” Sunday July 15th 2012, 18:45-20:30
Three speakers will present career opportunities in industry and science communication. The evening will end with a
networking dinner, allowing job seekers to meet with private companies and institutions seeking different job profiles.
A service for booking meetings between job seekers and job givers during the meeting will be set up, with an electronic
agenda accessible on-line and availability of a meeting place for interviews.
Registration deadline: March 5th 2012.
More information here.
NENS AGM
Tuesday July 17th 2012, 18:45-20:30
The NENS Annual General Meeting will focus on the recent development of NENS activities and will invite the 160 PhD and
MSc programs that are members of NENS. It will also allow for NENS Alumni and for members of the Brain Team to share
their experiences. The NENS Strategic Plan for the next 5 years will be presented and discussed. The new NENS Committee
will be announced. Registration is required at:
nens-office@unil.ch
YITP research stays in Spanish laboratories
Do you want to carry out a short research stay in one of the leading Spanish neuroscience institutions before or after
attending the FENS Forum?
The FENS and the SENC, host society of the FENS Forum 2012, propose short stays of 2-4 weeks for young investigators in
Spanish laboratories before or after the Forum. You can choose between more than 90 different positions in more than 70
different laboratories across Spain, covering a variety of neuroscience interests.
The criteria to apply are:
You are a PhD student or young postdoctoral fellow (age limit: 35 at the time of registration)
You are not working in a Spanish laboratory
You have submitted an abstract as first author to the FENS 2012 forum
