PhD Symposium 2025 – „Consensus“

The Bernstein PhD Symposium is an opportunity for junior researchers to meet their peers, share their experiences and make new connections. It is organized entirely by PhD students. We strive for an inclusive and informal environment that fosters discussions and allows for an open exchange of ideas. Master students are very welcome to participate!

At this year’s PhD Symposium, we’re putting the spotlight on consensus: where we agree, where we don’t, and if and why that matters. In a hands-on way, we will explore how different interpretations of fundamental neuroscience concepts shape the science we do every day.

Date

Sunday, Sept 28 (morning and afternoon)

Location

Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS)
Ruth-Moufang-Straße 1
60438 Frankfurt am Main
Germany

Organizers

Lisa Haxel | BCCN Tübingen, University of Tübingen
Jonas Elpelt | Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS)
Mattia Chini | University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
Irina Pochinok | University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

Format

The event begins with an interactive unconference session, followed by a collaborative, team-based hackathon. Participants will explore a curated, anonymized dataset to identify and quantify the impact of conceptual variability on research outcomes. Rather than aiming to develop new methods or establish a singular viewpoint, our objective is to systematically measure how diverse implementations of the same concept can yield substantially different results.

This symposium is designed to foster collaboration, curiosity, and critical dialogue among participants. Regardless of your background—whether experimental or computational, experienced coder or beginner—your insights will be valuable! Join us in testing assumptions and contributing to a more transparent and reproducible neuroscience.

Please note: You need to book this event during your registration for the Bernstein Conference. The event has limited capacity.