29th Annual NEUROSCIENCE AT STORRS SYMPOSIUM
On behalf of the Neuroscience Steering Committee, you are cordially invited to the 29th ANNUAL NEUROSCIENCE AT STORRS SYMPOSIUM on Thursday, October 29th, 2026, in The Dodd Center / Bousfield Building on the Storrs campus. Please scroll to the bottom of the page to register for attendance, poster presentations and short-format talks.
This annual event brings together the neuroscience community at UConn from across diverse departments and schools including the Departments of Physiology and Neurobiology, Psychological Sciences, Neuroscience (UCHC), Biomedical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences. The 28th Annual NEUROSCIENCE AT STORRS is packed with an inspiring keynote lecture, exciting short-format research talks, and poster presentations.
All events are open to interested undergraduates, grad students, postdocs, staff and faculty from across UConn departments and schools and fellow Universities across the New England region.
Keynote Speaker:
Michael Kilgard, PhD, Professor, Neuroscience at Texas University in Dallas
Seminar Title: "Directing Synaptic Plasticity to Treat Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders"
Dr. Kilgard trained in biochemistry and genetics at the University of California at Berkeley, and in neuroscience at the University of California San Francisco. He is the Margaret Fonde Jonnson Professor and leads the Texas Biomedical Device Center. Dr. Kilgard has published in Nature, Science, Neuron, and Stroke and holds 25 U.S. patents. His work is supported by DARPA, NINDS, NIDCD and other Foundations. His research is focused on understanding the mechanisms that regulate neural plasticity in order to develop clinical tools to treat neurological and psychiatric conditions using precisely targeted synaptic plasticity. Over the last decade, his lab has developed treatments for spinal cord injury, tinnitus, PTSD, and stroke that employ brief bursts of vagus nerve stimulation paired with sensory stimulation or movement to direct therapeutic plasticity.
https://profiles.utdallas.edu/michael.kilgard
In addition, on October 29th, starting at 3:30 pm, we will be hosting a Data Blitz, consisting of short-format podium presentations from grad students and postdocs. Students and postdoctoral fellows are enthusiastically encouraged to participate in the poster and data blitz presentations.
Data Blitz: Trainees from UConn and UConn HEALTH will present their research in a concise manner to a diverse audience. Each talk is 3 minutes long and limited to 3-4 PowerPoint slides. The bell will be rung at the end of the 3 minutes. There will be 2 minutes for Q & A. ** Registration for Data Blitz is open. **
Poster Session: During the poster session, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers from across UConn will present their work in poster format. All attendees are welcome. Refreshments will be provided during the poster session. ** Registration for the Poster Session is open. For late additions to the roster of presenters, please contact Dr. Heather Read (heather.read@uconn.edu) via email. **
For general inquiries about the event, please contact Heather Read, PhD (heather.read@uconn.edu) in the Dept. of Psychological Sciences.
Itinerary, October 29th, 2026:
3:30-4:15 PM -- Student/Postdoc data blitz (Dodd)
4:15-4:30 PM -- Coffee break (Dodd)
4:30-6:00 PM -- Keynote Speaker, Michael Kilgard, PhD (Dodd)
6:15-8:30 PM -- Poster Session (Bousfield Atrium)
Final Program, Keynote Lecture, and List of Data Blitz & Poster Presentations:
The final program will be added soon.