Cian O'Donnell
@cianodonnell.bsky.social
Computational neuroscientist.
Senior Lecturer at Ulster University in the Great City of Derry, Northern Ireland.
"not articulate enough"
https://odonnellgroup.github.io
Senior Lecturer at Ulster University in the Great City of Derry, Northern Ireland.
"not articulate enough"
https://odonnellgroup.github.io
I lived in the US for three years and was continually impressed by these kinds of shortcutty sentence constructions which were so exotic to my little Irish ears... are you decaf? we inkin' this weekend? beer me. etc
Hey @bcdreyer.social how do we feel about Pittsburgh’s dropping the infinitive? It’s bad enough when you hear people say “X needs done” but it even bleeds into COUNTY documents.
“if your tax bill making address needs revised…” 😱
“if your tax bill making address needs revised…” 😱
February 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM
I lived in the US for three years and was continually impressed by these kinds of shortcutty sentence constructions which were so exotic to my little Irish ears... are you decaf? we inkin' this weekend? beer me. etc
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
NEW: Read this terrific piece @virginiaheffernan.bsky.social for @thenerve.news in which she unpicks Edge.org, the hugely influential 'salon' funded by Epstein & threaded through with race science & eugenics.
1/
www.thenerve.news/p/epstein-bi...
1/
www.thenerve.news/p/epstein-bi...
The billionaires' eugenics project: how Epstein infiltrated Harvard, muzzled the humanities and preached master-race science
Edge - Jeffrey Epstein's favourite intellectual salon - was sold to me as a gathering of the world's finest minds, writes Virginia Heffernan. The files reveal it was something far darker: a decades-lo...
www.thenerve.news
February 15, 2026 at 11:18 AM
NEW: Read this terrific piece @virginiaheffernan.bsky.social for @thenerve.news in which she unpicks Edge.org, the hugely influential 'salon' funded by Epstein & threaded through with race science & eugenics.
1/
www.thenerve.news/p/epstein-bi...
1/
www.thenerve.news/p/epstein-bi...
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
This rules. I love how delighted they all look!
February 14, 2026 at 4:59 PM
This rules. I love how delighted they all look!
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
Behavioral biases drift in individuals.
• Drift happens on many timescales
• Drift rate depends on genetics and neuromodulators
• It might be adaptive for rapidly changing environments
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
• Drift happens on many timescales
• Drift rate depends on genetics and neuromodulators
• It might be adaptive for rapidly changing environments
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
Drift in Individual Behavioral Phenotype as a Strategy for Unpredictable Worlds
elifesciences.org
February 12, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Behavioral biases drift in individuals.
• Drift happens on many timescales
• Drift rate depends on genetics and neuromodulators
• It might be adaptive for rapidly changing environments
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
• Drift happens on many timescales
• Drift rate depends on genetics and neuromodulators
• It might be adaptive for rapidly changing environments
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
I'm a bit late with this, but awesome to see it out in the wild! A real tour de force from @dozenoaks.bsky.social @timcraggs.bsky.social An amazing example of why we need to think more about flexibility in our biological questions! www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
Kinesin-1 is highly flexible and adopts an open conformation in the absence of cargo
Kinesin-1 is an essential anterograde microtubule motor protein. The core kinesin
motor is a homodimer of two heavy chains; N-terminal motor domains hydrolyse ATP and
walk along microtubules, whilst a...
www.cell.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:28 AM
I'm a bit late with this, but awesome to see it out in the wild! A real tour de force from @dozenoaks.bsky.social @timcraggs.bsky.social An amazing example of why we need to think more about flexibility in our biological questions! www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
New paper alert! 🚨
We found that the brain's compass is remarkably stable at two scales
1️⃣ the system maintains its internal organization for weeks
2️⃣ It "remembers" its orientation for weeks, even after a single visit
This may be key to how the brain aligns its other maps.
Paper: rdcu.be/e3waP
We found that the brain's compass is remarkably stable at two scales
1️⃣ the system maintains its internal organization for weeks
2️⃣ It "remembers" its orientation for weeks, even after a single visit
This may be key to how the brain aligns its other maps.
Paper: rdcu.be/e3waP
February 11, 2026 at 5:52 PM
New paper alert! 🚨
We found that the brain's compass is remarkably stable at two scales
1️⃣ the system maintains its internal organization for weeks
2️⃣ It "remembers" its orientation for weeks, even after a single visit
This may be key to how the brain aligns its other maps.
Paper: rdcu.be/e3waP
We found that the brain's compass is remarkably stable at two scales
1️⃣ the system maintains its internal organization for weeks
2️⃣ It "remembers" its orientation for weeks, even after a single visit
This may be key to how the brain aligns its other maps.
Paper: rdcu.be/e3waP
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
The lesson for all the students out there is that science is a community project. Most of us make individually small contributions to this project. Success is measured at the collective level. Many of our professional (and personal) dysfunctions could be fixed by more fully embracing this view.
February 7, 2026 at 11:20 AM
The lesson for all the students out there is that science is a community project. Most of us make individually small contributions to this project. Success is measured at the collective level. Many of our professional (and personal) dysfunctions could be fixed by more fully embracing this view.
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
Our paper is out in @natneuro.nature.com!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We develop a geometric theory of how neural populations support generalization across many tasks.
@zuckermanbrain.bsky.social
@flatironinstitute.org
@kempnerinstitute.bsky.social
1/14
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We develop a geometric theory of how neural populations support generalization across many tasks.
@zuckermanbrain.bsky.social
@flatironinstitute.org
@kempnerinstitute.bsky.social
1/14
February 10, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Our paper is out in @natneuro.nature.com!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We develop a geometric theory of how neural populations support generalization across many tasks.
@zuckermanbrain.bsky.social
@flatironinstitute.org
@kempnerinstitute.bsky.social
1/14
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We develop a geometric theory of how neural populations support generalization across many tasks.
@zuckermanbrain.bsky.social
@flatironinstitute.org
@kempnerinstitute.bsky.social
1/14
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
If you work at the intersection of computational neuroscience and machine learning, consider applying for this postdoc position (January 2027 start date):
academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/15868
An opportunity to work with a great group of people across Harvard, MIT, and UC Berkeley.
academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/15868
An opportunity to work with a great group of people across Harvard, MIT, and UC Berkeley.
February 10, 2026 at 7:36 PM
If you work at the intersection of computational neuroscience and machine learning, consider applying for this postdoc position (January 2027 start date):
academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/15868
An opportunity to work with a great group of people across Harvard, MIT, and UC Berkeley.
academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/15868
An opportunity to work with a great group of people across Harvard, MIT, and UC Berkeley.
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
'One potential option to streamline the REF process could lie in the adoption of artificial intelligence tools.'
Mai oui! The answer is of course AI. Because we have no evidence to base its use on in this context, and when we do test it, will use datasets for a small number of STEM disciplines. 2/2
Mai oui! The answer is of course AI. Because we have no evidence to base its use on in this context, and when we do test it, will use datasets for a small number of STEM disciplines. 2/2
February 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM
'One potential option to streamline the REF process could lie in the adoption of artificial intelligence tools.'
Mai oui! The answer is of course AI. Because we have no evidence to base its use on in this context, and when we do test it, will use datasets for a small number of STEM disciplines. 2/2
Mai oui! The answer is of course AI. Because we have no evidence to base its use on in this context, and when we do test it, will use datasets for a small number of STEM disciplines. 2/2
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
Same task, different strategy ↔️
Why do identical neural network models develop separate internal approaches to solve the same problem?
@annhuang42.bsky.social explores the factors driving variability in task-trained networks in our latest @kempnerinstitute.bsky.social Deeper Learning blog.
Why do identical neural network models develop separate internal approaches to solve the same problem?
@annhuang42.bsky.social explores the factors driving variability in task-trained networks in our latest @kempnerinstitute.bsky.social Deeper Learning blog.
🤖📊 NEW in the Deeper Learning blog: @annhuang42.bsky.social & @kanakarajanphd.bsky.social break down their recent work examining how #RNNs solve the same task in different ways, and why that matters. Joint work with @satpreetsingh.bsky.social & @flavioh.bsky.social bit.ly/4kj4fVd #NeuroAI
Measuring and Controlling Solution Degeneracy Across Task-Trained Recurrent Neural Networks - Kempner Institute
Despite reaching equal performance success when trained on the same task, artificial neural networks can develop dramatically different internal solutions, much like different students solving the sam...
bit.ly
February 9, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Same task, different strategy ↔️
Why do identical neural network models develop separate internal approaches to solve the same problem?
@annhuang42.bsky.social explores the factors driving variability in task-trained networks in our latest @kempnerinstitute.bsky.social Deeper Learning blog.
Why do identical neural network models develop separate internal approaches to solve the same problem?
@annhuang42.bsky.social explores the factors driving variability in task-trained networks in our latest @kempnerinstitute.bsky.social Deeper Learning blog.
100%, and it's completely the same as Musk's takeover of twitter
These billionaires want to tell us what to think, and it's working
These billionaires want to tell us what to think, and it's working
This debate or discourse or discussion about why Bezos is dismantling WaPo or whether or not more subscriptions or boycotts could change things or how he could fund it easily is pointless. It’s moot.
Bezos bought the Post to control the narrative and push his agenda. Financials don’t matter.
Bezos bought the Post to control the narrative and push his agenda. Financials don’t matter.
February 4, 2026 at 9:07 PM
100%, and it's completely the same as Musk's takeover of twitter
These billionaires want to tell us what to think, and it's working
These billionaires want to tell us what to think, and it's working
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
There is a new Postdoctoral Research Associate position available in my group, to work on computational analysis of human neuroimaging workflows to develop robust, interpretable and scalable biomarkers of cognitive brain health.
Closing date 10th Feb 2026.
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
Closing date 10th Feb 2026.
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
Description
Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities ment...
www.imperial.ac.uk
January 27, 2026 at 4:48 PM
There is a new Postdoctoral Research Associate position available in my group, to work on computational analysis of human neuroimaging workflows to develop robust, interpretable and scalable biomarkers of cognitive brain health.
Closing date 10th Feb 2026.
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
Closing date 10th Feb 2026.
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
Tech giants Meta, Google and TikTok are before the Oireachtas Media Committee today... as was long flagged, X has refused to take part.
X even went so far as to reject a written request from the Taoiseach to appear before the Committee.
X even went so far as to reject a written request from the Taoiseach to appear before the Committee.
February 4, 2026 at 9:04 AM
Tech giants Meta, Google and TikTok are before the Oireachtas Media Committee today... as was long flagged, X has refused to take part.
X even went so far as to reject a written request from the Taoiseach to appear before the Committee.
X even went so far as to reject a written request from the Taoiseach to appear before the Committee.
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
Why don’t neural networks learn all at once, but instead progress from simple to complex solutions? And what does “simple” even mean across different neural network architectures?
Sharing our new paper @iclr_conf led by Yedi Zhang with Peter Latham
arxiv.org/abs/2512.20607
Sharing our new paper @iclr_conf led by Yedi Zhang with Peter Latham
arxiv.org/abs/2512.20607
February 3, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Why don’t neural networks learn all at once, but instead progress from simple to complex solutions? And what does “simple” even mean across different neural network architectures?
Sharing our new paper @iclr_conf led by Yedi Zhang with Peter Latham
arxiv.org/abs/2512.20607
Sharing our new paper @iclr_conf led by Yedi Zhang with Peter Latham
arxiv.org/abs/2512.20607
I did this once and it was great in the off-teaching period but my mistake was that I didn't dial down the research work enough during the teaching block - in fact I took on extra event organisation etc - which meant I nearly burnt out.
But a cleverer more self-aware person could enjoy it
But a cleverer more self-aware person could enjoy it
I wonder if faculty mental health would be boosted if we were all given the option to load up all our teaching in one crazy busy semester per year, leaving the other as essentially a mini-sabbatical (i know i know, service commitments would still be there). #AcademicChat 🧪
February 3, 2026 at 2:52 PM
I did this once and it was great in the off-teaching period but my mistake was that I didn't dial down the research work enough during the teaching block - in fact I took on extra event organisation etc - which meant I nearly burnt out.
But a cleverer more self-aware person could enjoy it
But a cleverer more self-aware person could enjoy it
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
I wonder if faculty mental health would be boosted if we were all given the option to load up all our teaching in one crazy busy semester per year, leaving the other as essentially a mini-sabbatical (i know i know, service commitments would still be there). #AcademicChat 🧪
February 2, 2026 at 5:20 PM
I wonder if faculty mental health would be boosted if we were all given the option to load up all our teaching in one crazy busy semester per year, leaving the other as essentially a mini-sabbatical (i know i know, service commitments would still be there). #AcademicChat 🧪
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
Taking the #GRCBasalGanglia Oath ✋🏼
I acknowledge that the go/no-go model of the BG was useful but it is outdated and incorrect, or at least incomplete. I pledge not to use the go/no-go model as a strawman to motivate my work.
I acknowledge that the go/no-go model of the BG was useful but it is outdated and incorrect, or at least incomplete. I pledge not to use the go/no-go model as a strawman to motivate my work.
February 2, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Taking the #GRCBasalGanglia Oath ✋🏼
I acknowledge that the go/no-go model of the BG was useful but it is outdated and incorrect, or at least incomplete. I pledge not to use the go/no-go model as a strawman to motivate my work.
I acknowledge that the go/no-go model of the BG was useful but it is outdated and incorrect, or at least incomplete. I pledge not to use the go/no-go model as a strawman to motivate my work.
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
1/7 Can infants recognise the world around them? 👶🧠 As part of the FOUNDCOG project, we scanned 134 awake infants using fMRI. Published today in Nature Neuroscience, our research reveals 2-month-old infants already possess complex visual representations in VVC that align with DNNs.
February 2, 2026 at 4:00 PM
1/7 Can infants recognise the world around them? 👶🧠 As part of the FOUNDCOG project, we scanned 134 awake infants using fMRI. Published today in Nature Neuroscience, our research reveals 2-month-old infants already possess complex visual representations in VVC that align with DNNs.
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
Being interdisciplinary mostly means everyone agrees your work is interesting but not for their journal.
February 2, 2026 at 10:39 AM
Being interdisciplinary mostly means everyone agrees your work is interesting but not for their journal.
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
Leaks everywhere and finally we get an official statement, one that somehow manages to say a lot while; No timelines. No clarity. No acknowledgement of impact on ECRs whose careers depend UKRI funding.
“Later this year” isn’t a plan. And the sector deserves better than reassurance without detail.
“Later this year” isn’t a plan. And the sector deserves better than reassurance without detail.
Today, we're sharing an open letter from our Chief Executive, Professor Sir Ian Chapman, outlining changes to UKRI investment approach, and addressing concerns about research funding and the financial position of STFC. Read his letter here: www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
Open letter from Ian Chapman to research and innovation community
UKRI Chief Executive outlines changes to UKRI investment approach, addressing concerns about research funding and the financial position of STFC.
www.ukri.org
February 1, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Leaks everywhere and finally we get an official statement, one that somehow manages to say a lot while; No timelines. No clarity. No acknowledgement of impact on ECRs whose careers depend UKRI funding.
“Later this year” isn’t a plan. And the sector deserves better than reassurance without detail.
“Later this year” isn’t a plan. And the sector deserves better than reassurance without detail.
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
Full disclosure: Nathan was a collaborator on my first paper in 2015. Other notable history: after taking a job at UK ARIA (their DARPA), he seems to have left after just nine months and is now perhaps doing some sort of stealth startup. He also appears to have a new ongoing Stanford affiliation!
January 31, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Full disclosure: Nathan was a collaborator on my first paper in 2015. Other notable history: after taking a job at UK ARIA (their DARPA), he seems to have left after just nine months and is now perhaps doing some sort of stealth startup. He also appears to have a new ongoing Stanford affiliation!
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
This is Nathan Wolfe. Nathan is a virus hunter. Nathan has a bit of a reputation. Through the years, I've told multiple journalists stories I've heard, like "Nathan thanks Jeffrey Epstein in his book." Somehow no one ever wrote anything up. Want to see what Nathan was up to in today's Epstein files?
January 31, 2026 at 12:03 AM
This is Nathan Wolfe. Nathan is a virus hunter. Nathan has a bit of a reputation. Through the years, I've told multiple journalists stories I've heard, like "Nathan thanks Jeffrey Epstein in his book." Somehow no one ever wrote anything up. Want to see what Nathan was up to in today's Epstein files?
Reposted by Cian O'Donnell
At least the physicists are standing up for themselves. Still waiting for the senior leaders of biological sciences to say anything at all about MRC/BBSRC actions.
Nobel winner and senior scientists slam cuts to UK physics
“These cuts are the inevitable consequence of the government’s choices,” Nobel winner Andre Geim tells me
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
“These cuts are the inevitable consequence of the government’s choices,” Nobel winner Andre Geim tells me
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Nobel winner and senior scientists slam cuts to UK physics - Research Professional News
Science and Technology Facilities Council’s £162 million cost-saving measures “will have catastrophic consequences”, government warned
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:00 PM
At least the physicists are standing up for themselves. Still waiting for the senior leaders of biological sciences to say anything at all about MRC/BBSRC actions.