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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

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.

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.

Göttingen, Germany – September 3, 2026

Early-career researchers from University Medical Center and University of Göttingen receive prestigious European research grants

The European Research Council (ERC) is supporting scientists Prof. Dr. Elisa Oberbeckmann, Dr. Sophie de Vries and Dr. Tristan Manfred Stöber with ERC Starting Grants of €1.5 million each for a period of five years.

Events

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Developing Minds: “From Embodied Language Grounding to Systematic Generalization: Developmental Origins of Compositionality in Robots” (Jun Tani)

01.10. – 01.10.2026

Online

Lecture series

In 1950, Alan Turing asked "Instead of trying to produce a programme to simulate the adult mind, why not rather try to produce one which simulates the child's?" Today, 75 years later, constructing a computer program that can learn like a child and that develops a human-like general intelligence and consciousness is still considered a grand, if not the ultimate, challenge for artificial intelligence (AI). An interdisciplinary community of scientists from AI, Cognitive Science, Psychology, Engineering, and Neuroscience are tackling this grand challenge. In the Developing Minds global lecture series we showcase the progress being made. It is organized by the Developmental AI Task Force of the IEEE Technical Committee on Cognitive and Developmental Systems of the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society. See also: IEEE Int. Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL), IEEE Transactions on Cognitive and Developmental Systems (TCDS).

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

Faculty positions

Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Neuromorphic Systems (Tenured Professor/Associate Professor position)

Postdoc positions

Two postdoc positions available in the Tchumatchenko group

PhD-student positions

PhD student for a cognitive-computational neuroscience project

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

Tenure Track Professorship

Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft’s Tenure Track Professorship program supports German universities in appointing and onboarding international talents for tenure track positions by funding the first years of the professorship.

Deadline: 30.09.2026

Scholarship Program of the Daimler and Benz Foundation for the Promotion of Postdocs and Junior Professors

Each year, the Foundation awards twelve scholarships (two of them in cooperation with the Reinhard Frank-Foundation) to selected postdoc researchers, junior professors, and heads of junior research groups. The objective is to reinforce the autonomy and creativity of the up-and-coming generation of scientists and to pave the way for the committed researchers’ careers during their productive postdoc phase. The funding amounts to €40,000 per scholarship for a period of two years and can be used for various purposes, for example to finance scientific assistants, technical equipment, research trips or participation in conferences.

Deadline: 01.10.2026

Klaus Tschira Boost Fund

A joint program by GSO and Klaus Tschira Stiftung offering flexible funding and career development to promote researchers in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geosciences, Mathematics, Neurosciences and Physics. Through the Klaus Tschira Boost Fund, we promote excellent researchers by providing flexible funding for independent, explorative, risky, and interdisciplinary projects; support in building (international) collaborations and networks; targeted workshops, coaching, and peer support on professional and personal development. The Boost Fund gives postdoctoral researchers greater flexibility in shaping their career paths, accelerating their careers, and promoting early independence.

Deadline: 01.10.2026