bergelsonlab
@bergelsonlab.bsky.social
Official account for the Bergelson Lab at Harvard, sporadically maintained by the PI:).
Just a lab, trying to figure out how babies learn language, somehow caught in the crosshairs of gov't admin battles.
Just a lab, trying to figure out how babies learn language, somehow caught in the crosshairs of gov't admin battles.
These pandemic kids are built different. Just gave a bog standard wug test and this feral toddler replied “those are wuglies!” I’m not even mad. 🐦🐦
January 16, 2026 at 1:21 PM
These pandemic kids are built different. Just gave a bog standard wug test and this feral toddler replied “those are wuglies!” I’m not even mad. 🐦🐦
but my fave grant advice is write it for the tired grumpy rev who’s scoring at least 6-10 of these for little to no $ instead of doing their own science. Make the things they need to summarize in little boxes on their forms dead easy to find. don’t insult their intelligence or make their life hard
Yes! And you can use color! I like to make each aim heading its own color and then maintain that across figures tables etc (text or background color)
I'm writing a grant right now, and I'd love to hear your grant writing Hot Takes:
Here's my favorite:
Try to put a figure or table on every page. They provide anchor points for the eyes of tired reviewers. I love a conceptual figure.
Here's my favorite:
Try to put a figure or table on every page. They provide anchor points for the eyes of tired reviewers. I love a conceptual figure.
January 15, 2026 at 8:15 PM
but my fave grant advice is write it for the tired grumpy rev who’s scoring at least 6-10 of these for little to no $ instead of doing their own science. Make the things they need to summarize in little boxes on their forms dead easy to find. don’t insult their intelligence or make their life hard
Yes! And you can use color! I like to make each aim heading its own color and then maintain that across figures tables etc (text or background color)
I'm writing a grant right now, and I'd love to hear your grant writing Hot Takes:
Here's my favorite:
Try to put a figure or table on every page. They provide anchor points for the eyes of tired reviewers. I love a conceptual figure.
Here's my favorite:
Try to put a figure or table on every page. They provide anchor points for the eyes of tired reviewers. I love a conceptual figure.
January 15, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Yes! And you can use color! I like to make each aim heading its own color and then maintain that across figures tables etc (text or background color)
Reposted by bergelsonlab
There is no virus that “only” causes serious harm in people who are high-risk. And even if there were, it would still be important to protect yourself and others. Please take steps to prevent getting and spreading illness in order to protect your own health and the health of others.
January 14, 2026 at 6:56 PM
There is no virus that “only” causes serious harm in people who are high-risk. And even if there were, it would still be important to protect yourself and others. Please take steps to prevent getting and spreading illness in order to protect your own health and the health of others.
Reposted by bergelsonlab
Me, reading LinkedIn posts.
January 14, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Me, reading LinkedIn posts.
loved this op-ed, might even assign it for my cognition class! Another case where channeling preschoolers is the right move: talking to others (yes, strangers too!) helps us learn and grow cognitively and socially.
There's good evidence that talking is declining. I explore the cognitive and social consequences of this shift in the Washington Post. wapo.st/4pz96CG
Opinion | Gen Zers aren’t talking — and it could cost them
The problem runs deeper than social awkwardness.
wapo.st
January 14, 2026 at 2:35 PM
loved this op-ed, might even assign it for my cognition class! Another case where channeling preschoolers is the right move: talking to others (yes, strangers too!) helps us learn and grow cognitively and socially.
Reposted by bergelsonlab
We're hiring! The Computational Clinical Science Lab @ Yale is seeking a full-time lab manager/research coordinator to start in early summer 2026.
For more information about the position and to apply: forms.gle/LtQwVgPUfaGk...
Please share widely & consider applying!
For more information about the position and to apply: forms.gle/LtQwVgPUfaGk...
Please share widely & consider applying!
forms.gle
January 13, 2026 at 4:45 PM
We're hiring! The Computational Clinical Science Lab @ Yale is seeking a full-time lab manager/research coordinator to start in early summer 2026.
For more information about the position and to apply: forms.gle/LtQwVgPUfaGk...
Please share widely & consider applying!
For more information about the position and to apply: forms.gle/LtQwVgPUfaGk...
Please share widely & consider applying!
Reposted by bergelsonlab
My department, Duke Neurobiology, is searching for a new chair. Ad below. Come work with me, @jmgrohneuro.bsky.social @ennatsew.bsky.social @jorggrandl.bsky.social @jnklab.bsky.social @sbilbo.bsky.social @neurocircuits.bsky.social and many other amazing folks! @dukemedschool.bsky.social
Department Chair, Duke Neurobiology - Duke University, Durham job with Duke University - School of Medicine | 12852576
The Duke University School of Medicine (SOM) seeks a distinguished neuroscientist to serve as the next Chair of the Department of Neurobiology.
www.nature.com
January 13, 2026 at 1:21 AM
My department, Duke Neurobiology, is searching for a new chair. Ad below. Come work with me, @jmgrohneuro.bsky.social @ennatsew.bsky.social @jorggrandl.bsky.social @jnklab.bsky.social @sbilbo.bsky.social @neurocircuits.bsky.social and many other amazing folks! @dukemedschool.bsky.social
sure i probably have a polyanna attitude ab preprints where we're freeing the science for all & shaking our fists at the big profiting publishing houses but this weird turn where it's all going into profit-driven environment-wrecking LLMs for funsies is truly the upside down. #AcademicSky
January 13, 2026 at 4:28 PM
sure i probably have a polyanna attitude ab preprints where we're freeing the science for all & shaking our fists at the big profiting publishing houses but this weird turn where it's all going into profit-driven environment-wrecking LLMs for funsies is truly the upside down. #AcademicSky
hey is there a kind of license i can select for my preprints on @cos.io that would *not* allow people to scrape my old preprints into their study, saying they "applied custom AI models on it in accordance with the terms of the preprint license" & want my take on the "ideas" AI had ab my work!?
January 13, 2026 at 4:20 PM
hey is there a kind of license i can select for my preprints on @cos.io that would *not* allow people to scrape my old preprints into their study, saying they "applied custom AI models on it in accordance with the terms of the preprint license" & want my take on the "ideas" AI had ab my work!?
when I was a postbacc at umdling Norbert was chair. He was amazing, walked around every afternoon w/a box of cookies & offered 1 to every1 he came across, spent a minute hearing what they were up to. Would go to defenses, claim he knew nothing then ask extremely incisive ?s. Yay for this book award!
The LSA Bloomfield Book Award Committee is pleased to announce that Norbert Hornstein has been selected as the winner of the Leonard Bloomfield Book Award in 2026 for his book, The Merge hypothesis: A theory of aspects of syntax (Cambridge University Press, 2024)! #LSA2026 #NewOrleans #Bloomfield
January 13, 2026 at 1:20 AM
when I was a postbacc at umdling Norbert was chair. He was amazing, walked around every afternoon w/a box of cookies & offered 1 to every1 he came across, spent a minute hearing what they were up to. Would go to defenses, claim he knew nothing then ask extremely incisive ?s. Yay for this book award!
Reposted by bergelsonlab
The Visual Attention Lab @visualattentionlab.bsky.social is recruiting for a postdoc (and this link should work!)
So, if you know an about-to-finish PhD (or recent PhD) interested in search and why we fail to find what we're looking for...
#VisionScience #PsychSciSky #CogPsych
So, if you know an about-to-finish PhD (or recent PhD) interested in search and why we fail to find what we're looking for...
#VisionScience #PsychSciSky #CogPsych
Postdoctoral Fellow Visual Attention Lab
Site: The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc. Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts t...
massgeneralbrigham.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:34 PM
The Visual Attention Lab @visualattentionlab.bsky.social is recruiting for a postdoc (and this link should work!)
So, if you know an about-to-finish PhD (or recent PhD) interested in search and why we fail to find what we're looking for...
#VisionScience #PsychSciSky #CogPsych
So, if you know an about-to-finish PhD (or recent PhD) interested in search and why we fail to find what we're looking for...
#VisionScience #PsychSciSky #CogPsych
Reposted by bergelsonlab
Gearing up to teach for the spring semester? I made some Powerpoint files with collections of activities I use in my classes--weekly checkins, warm-up activities, and exit tickets. You are welcome to download and adapt for your class! #EduSky #PsychSciSky #AcademicSky
Class Activity Slides - Google Drive
drive.google.com
January 12, 2024 at 3:54 PM
Gearing up to teach for the spring semester? I made some Powerpoint files with collections of activities I use in my classes--weekly checkins, warm-up activities, and exit tickets. You are welcome to download and adapt for your class! #EduSky #PsychSciSky #AcademicSky
Reposted by bergelsonlab
Applications still open until February 4!
Important note for US applicants: We do consider applicants with only a bachelor's degree and some research experience! You don't need a masters.
#CogSci #PsychSciSky
Important note for US applicants: We do consider applicants with only a bachelor's degree and some research experience! You don't need a masters.
#CogSci #PsychSciSky
Looking for a funded Ph.D. in #CogSci in an interdisciplinary, research-first program? Apply to CEU!
cognitivescience.ceu.edu/admission
Deadline February 4, 2026. Please share with any interested students!
#PsychSciSky #DevPsych #CogPsych
cognitivescience.ceu.edu/admission
Deadline February 4, 2026. Please share with any interested students!
#PsychSciSky #DevPsych #CogPsych
Applications Are Now Open for Academic Year 2026-2027 | Department of Cognitive Science
cognitivescience.ceu.edu
January 12, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Applications still open until February 4!
Important note for US applicants: We do consider applicants with only a bachelor's degree and some research experience! You don't need a masters.
#CogSci #PsychSciSky
Important note for US applicants: We do consider applicants with only a bachelor's degree and some research experience! You don't need a masters.
#CogSci #PsychSciSky
Reposted by bergelsonlab
With some trepidation, I'm putting this out into the world:
gershmanlab.com/textbook.html
It's a textbook called Computational Foundations of Cognitive Neuroscience, which I wrote for my class.
My hope is that this will be a living document, continuously improved as I get feedback.
gershmanlab.com/textbook.html
It's a textbook called Computational Foundations of Cognitive Neuroscience, which I wrote for my class.
My hope is that this will be a living document, continuously improved as I get feedback.
January 9, 2026 at 1:27 AM
With some trepidation, I'm putting this out into the world:
gershmanlab.com/textbook.html
It's a textbook called Computational Foundations of Cognitive Neuroscience, which I wrote for my class.
My hope is that this will be a living document, continuously improved as I get feedback.
gershmanlab.com/textbook.html
It's a textbook called Computational Foundations of Cognitive Neuroscience, which I wrote for my class.
My hope is that this will be a living document, continuously improved as I get feedback.
no they do not, thanks for coming to my tedtalk.
January 8, 2026 at 9:55 PM
no they do not, thanks for coming to my tedtalk.
*smiles in infant researcher* (condolences to the rest of you)
We should no longer trust data collected on MTurk
link.springer.com/article/10.3...
My guess is that other online data is going to drop in quality due to LLMs. This is going to be an existential crisis for the behavioral sciences.
link.springer.com/article/10.3...
My guess is that other online data is going to drop in quality due to LLMs. This is going to be an existential crisis for the behavioral sciences.
January 8, 2026 at 8:29 PM
*smiles in infant researcher* (condolences to the rest of you)
Reposted by bergelsonlab
New paper from the IMC lab! I am very excited about this one. For years, I have been arguing that one of the main claims of the so-called "simulation heuristic" is likely not true for episodic counterfactual thinking, namely that the harder it is to mentally simulate it, the less plausible (1/n)
January 7, 2026 at 11:11 PM
New paper from the IMC lab! I am very excited about this one. For years, I have been arguing that one of the main claims of the so-called "simulation heuristic" is likely not true for episodic counterfactual thinking, namely that the harder it is to mentally simulate it, the less plausible (1/n)
who spams the spammer?
just found the university-run 'spam detected' digest email in my...spam folder. very meta.
just found the university-run 'spam detected' digest email in my...spam folder. very meta.
January 7, 2026 at 9:55 PM
who spams the spammer?
just found the university-run 'spam detected' digest email in my...spam folder. very meta.
just found the university-run 'spam detected' digest email in my...spam folder. very meta.
TOTD "8 yoked bears" -> "8 yoked pairs" #CogSciSky
January 7, 2026 at 8:37 PM
TOTD "8 yoked bears" -> "8 yoked pairs" #CogSciSky
Reposted by bergelsonlab
And again, the most common harm of deep fakes & these AI image generators is non-consensual porn, typically to punish women (for having power, for rejecting a man, for existing in public). We don't have to accept this as a "pesky side effect" of technological progress. Regulation & enforcement now!
January 7, 2026 at 2:13 PM
And again, the most common harm of deep fakes & these AI image generators is non-consensual porn, typically to punish women (for having power, for rejecting a man, for existing in public). We don't have to accept this as a "pesky side effect" of technological progress. Regulation & enforcement now!
Reposted by bergelsonlab
ACADEMIC JOBS IN CANADA -- please share and repost
www.uottawa.ca/research-inn...
#PSYCHSCISKY
#neuroskyence
#neurojobs
www.uottawa.ca/research-inn...
#PSYCHSCISKY
#neuroskyence
#neurojobs
Canada Impact+ Research Chairs – Multiple Disciplines | Research and innovation
The University of Ottawa (uOttawa) is seeking top-tier scholars for the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs initiative.
www.uottawa.ca
January 6, 2026 at 10:07 PM
ACADEMIC JOBS IN CANADA -- please share and repost
www.uottawa.ca/research-inn...
#PSYCHSCISKY
#neuroskyence
#neurojobs
www.uottawa.ca/research-inn...
#PSYCHSCISKY
#neuroskyence
#neurojobs
I am “I never made a conference poster out of 8.5x11 sheets” years young but also “I never made a cloth conference poster” years old #AcademicSky
January 7, 2026 at 3:14 AM
I am “I never made a conference poster out of 8.5x11 sheets” years young but also “I never made a cloth conference poster” years old #AcademicSky
Reposted by bergelsonlab
🧵New preprint: Adults often agree with their ingroup even when evidence says otherwise. Why?
To find out, we studied kids, who show the same tendency but *before* political identities take hold. With developmental data, we can see the basic psychological ingredients.
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
1/11
To find out, we studied kids, who show the same tendency but *before* political identities take hold. With developmental data, we can see the basic psychological ingredients.
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
1/11
OSF
doi.org
January 6, 2026 at 3:03 PM
🧵New preprint: Adults often agree with their ingroup even when evidence says otherwise. Why?
To find out, we studied kids, who show the same tendency but *before* political identities take hold. With developmental data, we can see the basic psychological ingredients.
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
1/11
To find out, we studied kids, who show the same tendency but *before* political identities take hold. With developmental data, we can see the basic psychological ingredients.
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
1/11
Reposted by bergelsonlab
Copy Editing Matters, from HHS's release on the new childhood vaccine schedule: All the diseases will still be available to anyone who wants them
January 6, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Copy Editing Matters, from HHS's release on the new childhood vaccine schedule: All the diseases will still be available to anyone who wants them