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Get to know the Bernstein Network!

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Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience

Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience

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Bernstein Conference 2026

Bernstein Conference 2025

Bernstein Conference

Bernstein Conference

Welcome

The Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience connects experimental and theoretical scientists. It comprises more than 200 research groups and 450 individual scientists from all over the world who combine experimental neuroscientific approaches with theoretical models and computer simulations.

The Bernstein Network was launched in 2004 through a major funding initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) which aimed at advancing the transfer of theoretical knowledge to clinical and technical applications. The network is named after the German physiologist and biophysicist Julius Bernstein (1839-1917).

News

Cologne, Germany – September 26, 2026

Can sadness be measured?

Researchers at the University of Cologne are heading a new collaborative project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space to investigate how technologies are changing our understanding of sadness, anxiety, and pain.

Cologne, Germany – September 21, 2026

What flies, mice, and humans have in common when it comes to movement

A study published in PNAS reveals a common principle underlying joint movement, and shows that ageing weakens the propulsive strength in all species studied. New open-source software enables movement patterns to be compared across species.

Bern, Switzerland – September 17, 2026

Novel learning mechanism for brain-inspired networks

A research team led by the University of Bern has developed a novel learning mechanism for neural networks modeled after the human brain. “Spike-based Alignment Learning” uses random fluctuations in the activity of artificial neurons to reveal asymmetric connections, allowing synapses that are far apart to autonomously align with one another without communicating directly. This approach could help us better understand learning processes in the brain and develop robust, energy-efficient, brain-inspired computer systems.

Frankfurt am Main, Germany – September 16, 2026

International brain researchers gather in Frankfurt for the Bernstein Conference 2026

From September 28 to October 1, 2026, more than 600 researchers from around the world will gather at Goethe University Frankfurt to discuss current questions in Computational Neuroscience. Highlights include the presentation of the Valentin Braitenberg Award to Xiao-Jing Wang and a special evening event celebrating the 100th birthday of the award’s namesake.

Events

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Wanting What is Needed – From Homeostatic Control to Adaptive Behavior (SAB 2026)

19.10. – 19.10.2026

Berlin, Germany

Workshop

Classical reinforcement learning and cognitive models often begin with externally specified rewards. Biological organisms, by contrast, are autonomous learning agents whose behavior is constrained by the need to sustain their own viability. This workshop asks how internal physiological regulation can ground decision-making, value formation and motivated behavior. We aim to foster a shared interdisciplinary conversation across machine learning, artificial intelligence, robotics, neuroscience, biology, physiology, ethology and control theory. The goal is to clarify how homeostatic and allostatic regulation can contribute to adaptive behavior in both biological organisms and artificial agents.

Bernstein Conference

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Detailed Schedule

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Bernstein Conference 2026

Become a Member

The Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience supports science, research and education in computational neuroscience, and disseminates research themes and findings to the public. Everyone who is active in the field of computational neuroscience or related subjects can become a member of the Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience.

Job Offers

Postdoc positions

Postdoctoral Researcher in Computer Vision and Multimodal AI for the Early Detection of Parkinson’s Disease

Postdoc positions

Postdoc position in Computational Neuroscience/NeuroAI

Faculty positions

Assistant Professor – Computational Neuroscience – Department of Neuroscience

Further Job Offers

Stay informed

As a quarterly digest, the public bulletin informs about exciting new topics in computational neuroscience and summarizes the news of the Bernstein Network for the scientifically interested public. The public bulletin is in German only. Register now!

Calls

Scholarships for doctoral students

Are you looking for funding to realise your doctoral project? Do your previous study and examination achievements demonstrate a special ability with regard to academic work? Is your work making a significant contribution to research? Then become a doctoral scholarship holder of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom! We support around 150 doctoral students from all disciplines annually who are working on a convincing and innovative research project and have been admitted to a doctoral programme at a university.

Deadline: 31.10.2026

Mahowald-Mead Prizes for Neuromorphic Engineering

The Mahowald-Mead Prize (MMP) recognizes outstanding research in neuromorphic engineering, worldwide. The Prize is named for the late Misha Mahowald and Carver Mead, the most influential pioneers of the field of neuromorphic engineering. The award is considered annually. The Mahowald Early Career Award (MECA) has been established for individual Master's, PhD, and early postdoctoral students. It is open for submissions year-round, and evaluated once per year. Individuals or groups are invited to submit a description of their work, or nominate the work of others, for consideration by the jury of world-leading figures in the field.

Deadline: 31.10.2026

Forschungsstipendien für promovierte Nachwuchswissenschaftlerinnen und -wissenschaftler (Postdoc-Programm) – Kurzstipendien

Ziel des Programms ist es, hochqualifizierten Nachwuchsforscherinnen und -forschern die Durchführung eines selbstgewählten Forschungsvorhabens im Ausland und damit einen wichtigen Qualifizierungsschritt für die spätere Berufslaufbahn in Wissenschaft, Wirtschaft oder im Kulturbereich in Deutschland zu ermöglichen. Gefördert werden Forschungsaufenthalte (3-6 Monate) in allen Fachrichtungen an einem selbst gewählten Gastinstitut im Ausland. Innerhalb des Förderzeitraums sind Aufenthalte in mehreren Ländern oder in mehreren wissenschaftlichen Einrichtungen innerhalb eines Landes möglich.

Deadline: 06.11.2026