BonnBrain 2026

From Genes to Circuits and Behavior

The 8th BonnBrain Conference will be held March 23–25, 2026, at the DZNE in Bonn. Keynote speakers include Cori Bargmann (Rockefeller University), Edvard Moser (Kavli Institute), Rosa Paolicelli (UNIL), Maude Baldwin (MPI Biological Intelligence), and Zachary Knight (UCSF).

The international BonnBrain Conference brings together experts from diverse fields to explore how neural circuits control behavior. As an interdisciplinary meeting, BonnBrain highlights groundbreaking research and encourages lively discussions and informal exchanges among scientists at all career stages.

The conference features a diverse lineup of speakers and discussion leaders from leading institutions worldwide. In addition to symposia and keynotes, it offers poster sessions, short talks selected from submitted abstracts, a student-organized symposium, and networking opportunities across disciplines. Jointly hosted by the University of Bonn, DZNE, and the Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar, the event aims to strengthen the local neuroscience community while fostering global collaborations.

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Invited Speakers

Opening Keynote

Cori Bargmann

(The Rockefeller University)

Learning & Memory

Edvard Moser

(Kavli Institute / NTNU)

Dmitriy Aronov

(Columbia University)
Abhilasha Joshi

Abhilasha Joshi

(National Center for Biological Sciences (NCBS) - TIFR, Bangalore)

Inna Slutsky

(Tel Aviv University)

Neuroglia Interactions

Rosa Paolicelli

(Université de Lausanne)

Rune Enger

(University of Oslo)

Ania Majewska

(University of Rochester)

Long-Jun Wu

(University of Texas)

Neuromodulation

Zachary Knight

(UCSF)

Joshua Dudman

(HHMI Janelia)

Sarah Melzer

(Medical University Vienna)

Carolina Rezaval

(University of Birmingham)

Sensing

Maude Baldwin

(MPI Biological Intelligence)

Laura Busse

(LMU)

Kishore Kuchibhotla

(John Hopkins University)

Ruben Portugues

(TUM)

Career Session

Leonie Welberg

(Nature Neuroscience)

Sponsors

Scientific Committee

  • Sabine Krabbe (DZNE)
  • Bettina Schnell (MPINB)
  • Martin Fuhrmann (DZNE)
  • Tobias Rose (UKB)

Art Competition

Art and science have always been intertwined, and at BonnBrain we celebrate this connection through our traditional Art Exhibition & Competition. We invite you to share artworks that capture the beauty and fascination of Neuroscience, pieces that inspire wonder and excitement, or creatively provide insight into a Neuroscience topic of your choice.

Your submission does not need to be professional art. All original interpretations are welcome: experiments, photographs, paintings, drawings, movies, 3D prints, or sculptures. We simply want to see how you see neuroscience!

All registered BonnBrain attendees may submit one piece of art along with a brief description (details provided during submission of the art contribution). The deadline for entries is February 15, 2026.

All artworks will be displayed during the BonnBrain conference. Winners will be selected by popular vote from the conference attendees, and prizes will be awarded at the conference.