Early Career Training Programme (ECTP) at the FENS Regional Meeting 2025

FENS is pleased to announce the Early Career Training Programme (ECTP), in connection with the Norwegian Research School in Neuroscience (NRSN) and the Norwegian Artificial Intelligence Research Consortium (NORA) Research School. The ECTP is generously supported by FENS and the IBRO-Pan European Regional Committee (PERC).

Early Career Researchers (ECRs) from around the world can apply to participate in visits to host laboratories at the University of Oslo (UiO) on June 16th, 2025. Additionally, successful applications will be invited to attend NRSN and NORA's meeting that takes place on June 14th-15th, prior to the FENS Regional Meeting (FRM). This is the perfect opportunity to prepare for the FRM by meeting other ECRs in neuroscience and to practice your conference and presentation skills in a friendly atmosphere.

Successful applicants will receive a stipend of up to € 1000 to help cover costs related to the visit. The stipend will be transferred upon completion of the ECTP and attendance and poster presentation at the FRM 2025.

APPLY HERE

ECTP eligibility

• Applicants must qualify as an ECR. ECRs are defined as postgraduate students undertaking MSc, MD, PhD, or assistant/trainee in the clinical sciences, or researchers within the first five years of completing their highest degree (e.g., BSc, MSc, MD, PhD, or other professional doctorate) or, for clinical psychologists, the first five years after starting work as a clinical psychologist.
• Applicants must not be currently working in a laboratory in Norway. Norwegian citizens who are not based at institutions in Norway may apply if they have been working outside of Norway for at least 18 months.
• Applicants must be registered to attend the FRM 2025.
• Applicants must have a first author abstract submitted to FRM 2025.

Please note that applicants are eligible to receive one stipend for FENS activities per year (e.g., either a FENS Forum travel grant or an ECTP stipend).

Host labs

Center of Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition
Webpage
The Center of Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition in Oslo is excited to host a half-day workshop on simultaneous EEG-fMRI. This hands-on event will take place at our state-of-the-art facility featuring a 3T Siemens Prisma scanner. Participants will gain practical experience with structural and functional brain imaging and EEG preparation for simultaneous data collection in the scanner. The workshop includes a demonstration of a localizer paradigm to distinguish visual processing in the BOLD signal, as well as handling MR artifacts in EEG data. To wrap up, we will cover basic steps for cleaning EEG signals and analyzing BOLD responses. While no prior experience is required, familiarity with either technique will enhance your understanding of combined imaging methods.
Time: 16th of June 2025, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM CEST
Location: Intervention Center, Rikshospital, Oslo University Hospital
Capacity: up to 10 students

GliaLab
Webpage
GliaLab is a research group based at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences at the University of Oslo. We study astrocytes and their functions in health and disease. In particular we are interested in the roles of astrocytes in sleep. To achieve this, we use various techniques, including long-term EEG recording, and different types of two-photon microscopy in rodents.

We are looking forward to hosting a half-day workshop on two-photon imaging of the sleeping brain in these animal models. The workshop will take place in our lab at Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, and participants will receive an introduction to two-photon imaging, sleep physiology, and a brief introduction to the challenges associated with the analysis of such data. No prior experience is required.
Date and time: 16th of June 2025, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM CEST
Location: Glia Lab, Domus Medica, University of Oslo
Capacity: Up to 10 students