Ben Saunders
@bensaunders.bsky.social
3.4K followers 170 following 560 posts
Neuroscientist and gardener Lab site- saunderslab.com
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bensaunders.bsky.social
Very excited to share this major update to our paper delineating VTA GABA neuron encoding of valence and decision conflict. Studies led by the amazing @margestelzner.bsky.social. We leaned in here, taking the opportunity to add a lot of cool new data. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
bensaunders.bsky.social
Yessss been waiting for this
Reposted by Ben Saunders
bensaunders.bsky.social
Reposting this information for our neuroscience graduate program virtual open house events with a fixed QR code - you can also register directly at this link - forms.gle/zJDcZBteMtsD...
Minnesota neuroscience graduate program virtual open house events October 6th and 30th.
Reposted by Ben Saunders
ampolter.bsky.social
Government shutdowns hit the DC area very hard. Consider throwing some money at Capital Area Food Bank-they are already struggling to keep up in the face of rising demand and food costs and reduced support. They will be busy in the days and weeks to come. give.capitalareafoodbank.org
Capital Area Food Bank Monthly
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give.capitalareafoodbank.org
Reposted by Ben Saunders
kurtfraser.bsky.social
Happy to play a small part in this really impressive effort to assess the strength of evidence for almost every phenomenon in associative learning. Heroic effort by Dominik Bach
psyarxivbot.bsky.social
Benchmarks for Associative Learning Models: https://osf.io/qsgz8
Reposted by Ben Saunders
zachtpennington.bsky.social
Excited to share that I landed my dream job!🎉🎉🎉 The Pennington Lab will be opening at the University of British Columbia in January 2026!
@ubcpsych.bsky.social @dmcbrainhealth.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Saunders
Reposted by Ben Saunders
katrinvogt.bsky.social
How is valence computed in the brain? Check out our new preprint about a single cell that integrates excitatory and inhibitory input across modalities according to valence and impacts behavioral decisions. An exciting collaboration across many labs. Enjoy reading!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A multisensory, bidirectional, valence encoder guides behavioral decisions
A key function of the brain is to categorize sensory cues as repulsive or attractive and respond accordingly. While we have some understanding of how sensory information is processed in the sensory pe...
www.biorxiv.org
Reposted by Ben Saunders
lizmillermacroevo.bsky.social
2nd year grad students are no longer eligible to apply. Currently enrolled grad students must be in their first year, whether in a MS, BS-MS, or Ph.D.
Reposted by Ben Saunders
flscitriguy.bsky.social
Reminder starting in October NIH NOFOs won’t be posted in the Guide for grants and contracts.

Tips on how to search for opportunities & set up a subscription for custom searches here: grants.nih.gov/news-events/...
New Tool to Explore NIH Grant Opportunities | Grants & Funding
grants.nih.gov
bensaunders.bsky.social
Okay I think I've landed on my subway take - gravy should be a standard condiment at fast food restaurants
Reposted by Ben Saunders
jeremymberg.bsky.social
This paper does a great job with a "It's a Wonderful Life" scenario about NIH, supposing the consequences of the bottom 40% of the funding NIH grants never existed.

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

tl:dr The world would lose a lot, but directly and indirectly
What if NIH had been 40% smaller?
Replaying history with less NIH funding shows widespread impacts on drug-linked research
www.science.org
Reposted by Ben Saunders
martinowk.bsky.social
We have several positions open at various levels (Research Assistant, Research Associate, Postdoctoral Fellow) across our highly interactive teams in the Division of Translational Neuroscience 🧠🔬🧪 @lieberinstitute.bsky.social

www.libd.org/careers/

Links to individual positions in the thread below.
Careers at LIBD | Medical Research Jobs | Lieber Institute
View our career opportunities with Lieber Institute for Brain Development including investigators, medical research jobs, scientists, & lab techs
www.libd.org
Reposted by Ben Saunders
jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social
Please share with anyone who cares about NSF support for graduate students and take 30 seconds to sign and leave a comment.

The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP

jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
An Open Letter to U.S. STEM Leadership on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
An Open Letter to U.S. STEM Leadership on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io
Reposted by Ben Saunders
blakeprof.bsky.social
UCLA’s funds reinstated after yesterday’s court order! Thanks to the brave researchers and their amazing counsel, including Dean Chemerinsky, who brought suit. This is just another turn in the ongoing fight, but a great result for now.
Reposted by Ben Saunders
bachynski.bsky.social
This is huge: “A drug that provides near-perfect protection against H.I.V. with shots just twice a year will be made available at $40 per patient annually in low- and middle-income countries, offering new hope… making lenacapavir a realistic choice in countries with constrained resources.”
Philanthropies Strike a Promising Deal to Turn Back H.I.V.
www.nytimes.com
bensaunders.bsky.social
Reposting this information for our neuroscience graduate program virtual open house events with a fixed QR code - you can also register directly at this link - forms.gle/zJDcZBteMtsD...
Minnesota neuroscience graduate program virtual open house events October 6th and 30th.
Reposted by Ben Saunders
martinowk.bsky.social
In the early years of my PhD I remember being asked if we'd ever treat or cure diseases like HIV or Huntington's. I remember saying maybe, but not knowing if I believed. Seeing research pay off as real impact on human lives is - incredible.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

www.bbc.com/news/article...
Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time
One of the most devastating diseases finally has a treatment that can slow its progression and transform lives, tearful doctors tell BBC.
www.bbc.com
Reposted by Ben Saunders
daylab.bsky.social
Excited to share this new work from the lab, in collaboration with @jtuscher.bsky.social & Rob Sorge! Here, we used single cell transcriptional profiling to define molecular adaptations induced by chronic pain and opioid experience, which often occur in conjunction.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Ben Saunders
bensaunders.bsky.social
For those interested in a neuroscience PhD - the University of Minnesota Graduate Program in Neuroscience www.neuroscience.umn.edu is hosting virtual open house events coming up on Oct 6th and Oct 30th. Learn about the program and meet students and faculty! Register here: forms.gle/kANEp4Fmd3ut...
Information flyer for graduate program in neuroscience at the University of Minnesota. Virtual open house events on October 6th and 30th.
bensaunders.bsky.social
Ty Alicia that is a huge compliment I love Sunset magazine
bensaunders.bsky.social
5 pounds of tomatillos and other bounty after a hot September
Beans, tomatoes, peppers, squash and tomatillos on a table