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Ilenna Jones

@ilennaj.bsky.social
2.7K followers 409 following 37 posts

| Cellular/Molecular-turned-Computational Neuroscientist | | What do neurons even do?? | Neural Computation with Dendrites | | Biophysical Optimization | AI <-> Neuro | | Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Harvard Kempner Institute | | www.ilenna.com

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Ilenna Jones @ilennaj.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
What does synapse position buy a neuron? We trained a dendritic network to place its own synapses on a covariance task. It clustered correlated inputs onto shared branches, and shuffling that placement destroyed performance while every weight stayed intact. Preprint: arxiv.org/abs/2607.24503 🧵-->
arxiv.org
Synaptic clustering emerges from learning and supports covariance discrimination
Functional synapse clusters (FSCs) are synapses with correlated presynaptic activity that are colocalized on the same neuronal dendritic branch. FSCs have been observed after learning in cortical and ...
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jordan @jordan.matelsky.com · 15/06/2026
so I just realized I forgot to #skeetprint my Contactomes paper... (is that what we're calling it?) www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... @kordinglab.bsky.social @dacolon.bsky.social smithneurallab.weebly.com @jhuapl.bsky.social #academicsky #preprint #neuroscience
a single dendritic spine with a handful of synaptic partners but a HUGE number of contact partners
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Roy Eyono @royeyono.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
How do neural circuits in the brain implement normalization? 🧠 In our new paper, we show that just normalizing sensory input isn't enough. Crucially, we must also normalize the error signals! 🧵👇 Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2603.17676
arxiv.org
Inhibitory normalization of error signals improves learning in neural circuits
Normalization is a critical operation in neural circuits. In the brain, there is evidence that normalization is implemented via inhibitory interneurons and allows neural populations to adjust to chang...
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Ilenna Jones @ilennaj.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
My memory sucks. Note-taking is my superpower. I decided to upgrade this superpower by making a living knowledge base for research, powered by Claude Code (or any context agent). Here's a github template so you can do the same too. 🧵 github.com/ilennaj/obsidian-scientist-knowledge-template
github.com
GitHub - ilennaj/obsidian-scientist-knowledge-template: Template for keeping a living scientific knowledge database using obsidian and claude code.
Template for keeping a living scientific knowledge database using obsidian and claude code. - ilennaj/obsidian-scientist-knowledge-template
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Konrad Kording @kordinglab.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
In two hours we (with gunnar blohm and jordan matelsky) will run a webinar talking about our philosophy for doing good science and becoming good at science. And the tool planyourscience.com I wrote to help. If you want to join us you can sign up here:t.co/OJOQe1Ly18
planyourscience.com
Scientific Paper Planner - AI-Powered Research Planning
Structure your scientific research with AI-powered guidance. From hypothesis to methodology, plan your research paper with intelligent mentoring.
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Kempner Institute at Harvard University @kempnerinstitute.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
🧠What do neurons “want”?✨ Kempner researchers @binxuwang.bsky.social and Carlos Ponce have developed a way for neurons to train AI image models to match their “preferences.” Read more about the research, out now in @natneuro.nature.com, here: bit.ly/4bz47hw #neuroscience #NeuroAI
bit.ly
Kempner Researchers Harness Generative AI to Reveal What Neurons "Want" - Kempner Institute
How can scientists figure out what visual information a neuron really responds to? For decades, neuroscientists have tried to answer this question by showing animals pictures — of faces, trees, […]
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Maria Geffen @geffenlab.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
The deadline to apply for the Brain Prize Cajal summer course in Computational Neuroscience has been extended to March 9! We’re excited for you to join us in sunny Lisbon! Please do not hesitate to send in an application and learn about computational neuroscience! @gjorjulijana.bsky.social
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Ilenna Jones @ilennaj.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
Thanks for highlighting this interview Ben! At the Deep Learning Indaba 2025 (Urunana!) I chatted with the EIC of iafrikan.com about the importance of summer schools like Neuromatch Academy for accessing Comp Neuro and NeuroAI training! @deeplearningindaba.bsky.social @neuromatch.bsky.social
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The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Dendritic arbors provide neuroscience with an ideal opportunity to study how individual neurons interact with their broader circuitry and are the field’s best bet to bridge cellular and systems neuroscience, writes @justinkohare.bsky.social. #neuroskyence www.thetransmitter.org/dendrites/de...
thetransmitter.org
Dendrites help neuroscientists see the forest for the trees
Dendritic arbors provide just the right scale to study how individual neurons reciprocally interact with their broader circuitry—and are our best bet to bridge cellular and systems neuroscience.
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Konrad Kording @kordinglab.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
This paper on how the brain may do gradient descent is very cool: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Vectorized instructive signals in cortical dendrites - Nature
Mice learning a neurofeedback brain–computer interface task show neuron-specific teaching signals in cortical dendrites, consistent with a vectorized solution for credit assignment in the brain.
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willydorrell.bsky.social @willydorrell.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Cosyne Viewing Parties Visas, costs, care responsibilities, and environmental concerns all limit Cosyne attendance. Luckily, the talks are livestreamed; but watching alone is the high road to an aneurism. Hence: viewing parties! Gather regionally to watch Cosyne talks! More info: shorturl.at/3DHZX.
shorturl.at
Will's Wild Website
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taylr @taylordahlin.com · 27/01/2026
brass solidarity band performing “stand by me” in the streets of whittier next to alex pretti’s memorial. the crowd started chanting “the people united will never be defeated” so they incorporated it into the song. i love minneapolis
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Simons Computational Neuroscience Imbizo @imbizo.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
A massive shoutout to our incredible mentors and TAs! 🙌 They delivered 6 wonderful tutorials. Their energy and dedication make this school special. 💻🧠 🇿🇦 @spiroschav.bsky.social | Will Dorrell | @kiradust.bsky.social | @isabelmaria-c.bsky.social | @colleenjg.bsky.social | @rherzoga.bsky.social
Mentors/TAs are giving their tutorials. Spiros Chavlis introduces Python with the LIF model, Will Dorrell on neural computation, Kira Düsterwald on Probability Theory, Isabel Cornacchia on Dynamical Systems, Colleen Gillon on Reinforcement learning, and Rubén Herzog on information theory applied to neural data.
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Spiros Chavlis @spiroschav.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
The venue is quiet tonight, but the anticipation is electric. ⚡️ Tomorrow, this space fills with students ready to gather and share knowledge. This is why we are here. We are Imbizo, and we love what we do. #imbizo2026
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Jakob Macke @jakhmack.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Come work with us!!!
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Neuromatch @neuromatch.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
Today is #GivingTuesday! Join us in helping to make computational science education accessible to everyone, everywhere! Since, 2021, Neuromatch Academy and Climatematch Academy have supported nearly 14,000 learners from 135 countries. Your support makes this possible. neuromatch.io/donate/
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Kempner Institute at Harvard University @kempnerinstitute.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
Applications are now open for our #KempnerInstitute Research Fellowships! Postdocs studying the foundations of #intelligence or applications of #AI are encouraged to apply. Learn more and apply by Oct. 1: bit.ly/3UvpSpe #LLMs #NeuroAI #ML @shamkakade.bsky.social
bit.ly
Kempner Research Fellowship - Kempner Institute
The Kempner brings leading, early-stage postdoctoral scientists to Harvard to work on projects that advance the fundamental understanding of intelligence.
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Ilenna Jones @ilennaj.bsky.social · 23/08/2025
Finishing my 2 weeks of travel to #CCN2025 in Amsterdam, Netherlands and @deeplearningindaba.bsky.social #DLI2025 in Kigali, Rwanda. I saw tons o stellar research and ideas grounded in urgent real world applications of AI to improve people's lives. Now it's time to recuperate back home in Boston 😌🫠😊
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ML for Science @ml4science.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Together with #AIMS, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, we have an exciting position to fill: The AIMS - Tübingen Junior Research Chair in Machine Learning for Science! 1/2
Formulas and numbers from the field of machine learning written in white chalk on a blackboard
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Ilenna Jones @ilennaj.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
The Harvard @kempnerinstitute.bsky.social spotlights me and my efforts there and at @imbizo.bsky.social in this article! Check it out!
kempnerinstitute.harvard.edu
With “Lunch and Learn,” the Kempner Offers a New Forum for Knowledge Building, Teaching, and Collaboration - Kempner Institute
Kempner Research Fellow Ilenna Jones studies dendrites, exploring how the computational properties of these structures in biological neurons can contribute to the next generation of brain-inspired AI....
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Ilenna Jones @ilennaj.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
Today, @hhmi.org stopped all competitions supporting ECRs when we needed it most. As an FGLI undergraduate 2014/2015 HHMI EXROP participant, a 2020 Gilliam Fellow, and applicant for the now paused 2025 HGF program - I was a consistently supported by HHMI throughout my career. Please reconsider!
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Kate Cavanaugh @katecavanaugh.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
I am a proud HHMI Gilliam Fellow alumn. The HHMI funded me at a critical time in my career - a real inflection point that made me realize that I had a place and future in science. I always looked to the HHMI as a safety net to those historically excluded by academia, 1/4
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Ilenna Jones @ilennaj.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Testing this briefly felt like this gamifies the writing and planning process especially since there's a rating system that comes with the feedback- honestly fun to use to expand on fledgling projects!
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Konrad Kording @kordinglab.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
I have seen folks waste so much time by not properly planning research. Missed literature, missing controls, ignored hypotheses, etc. Lack of planning also produces bad science (e.g. analysis until significant). So I am writing an app. Looking for feedback. scientific-paper-planner-test.vercel.app
scientific-paper-planner-test.vercel.app
Scientific Paper Planner
Scientific Paper Planner Application
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Lisa Schmors @lisaschmors.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
🧠🤖 Computational Neuroscience summer school IMBIZO in Cape Town is open for applications again!   💻🧬 3 weeks of intense coursework & projects with support from expert tutors and faculty   📈Apply until July 1st! 🔗https://imbizo.africa/
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Ilenna Jones @ilennaj.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
It feels so good to see Imbizo students doing great things! @imbizo.bsky.social #imbizo
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Thomas Yeo @bttyeo.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
While the world burns, we cook up a new preprint! doi.org/10.1101/2025... Biophysical modeling is a key tool to derive mechanistic insights into the brain. These models are governed by biologically meaningful parameters (unlike artificial neural networks), but the dirty secret ... 1/N
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Roman Makarov @roman-makarov.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
We are thrilled to host a tutorial on biophysical modeling with Jaxley & DendroTweaks at #CNS2025! 📍 Florence, July 5 — looking forward to seeing you there! www.cnsorg.org/cns-2025 @cnsorg.bsky.social
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Mozes Jacobs @mozesjacobs.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Traveling waves of neural activity are observed all over the brain. Can they be used to augment neural networks? I am thrilled to share our new work, "Traveling Waves Integrate Spatial Information Through Time" with @andykeller.bsky.social! 1/13
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cogscikid.bsky.social @cogscikid.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Are you interested in comparing modern AI/RL agents to Humans? To make it easier for researchers spanning cognitive science, multi-agent RL, and HCI to do this, I've made nicewebrl github.com/wcarvalho/ni...
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Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 04/02/2025
Modern-Day Oracles or Bullshit Machines? Jevin West (@jevinwest.bsky.social) and I have spent the last eight months developing the course on large language models (LLMs) that we think every college freshman needs to take. thebullshitmachines.com
thebullshitmachines.com
INTRODUCTION
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Athena Akrami @athenaakrami.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
A bit late, but just to say how lucky I feel that I could spend a week at #Imbizo2025 summer school @imbizo.bsky.social, hanging out w/ this group of absolutely brilliant students, their dedicated TAs & other faculty. Watch out for this pool of talent! & consider applying/contributing next rounds
Group picture of students, TAs and faculty at the #imbizo2025 course
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Simons Computational Neuroscience Imbizo @imbizo.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
🎉 Exciting day at #Imbizo2025! Dr. Dan Wetmore & Dr. Garrick Orchard from Meta’s Reality Labs shared their industrial insights on designing top-notch AI/ML experiments, including innovative BCI applications 🤖💡 Students showcased creative solutions for EMG, sleep, wind, epilepsy monitoring & more! 🌟
Dr. Dan Wetmore giving a lecture Students at Imbizo working hard on their presentationStudent presentation on designing ML solutions to understand cardiac rhythms Student presentation on designing ML solutions to sleep paralysis
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Konrad Kording @kordinglab.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Dendrites doing AI problems, so great to see the increased activity! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Dendrites endow artificial neural networks with accurate, robust and parameter-efficient learning - Nature Communications
Artificial neural networks, central to deep learning, are powerful but energy-consuming and prone to overfitting. The authors propose a&nbsp;network design inspired by biological dendrites, which offe...
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Dr. Nathan A Smith @drnathanasmith.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Honoring Dr. King today by reflecting on his powerful speech "What’s Your Blueprint?" delivered to students in 1967. He challenged us to consider our purpose and legacy. Let's ask ourselves: what is our blueprint for a better world? Together, we can create a future that embodies his values. #MLKDay
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Ilenna Jones @ilennaj.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
It was great to meet @therealdrdukes.bsky.social at the Computational Neuroscience Imbizo this week! From reflecting on who we are, to the state of equity in academics, she gave an incredibly inspiring and immediately applicable lecture for all. We're thankful for all you do Dr. Dukes! #BlackInNeuro
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Jorge Mejias @jorgefmejias.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Just gave my lecture at @imbizo.bsky.social summer school today. What an amazing school both in terms of science and social impact --and the place is breathtaking! Now, time to enjoy the summer time with @therealdrdukes.bsky.social, @arifahamid.bsky.social, and all the students and tutors 🏖️
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Joe Raimondo @joeraimondo.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
Annual cockroach spike 🪳 fun at the @imbizo.bsky.social! @simonsfoundation.org @ibroorg.bsky.social @backyardbrains.bsky.social
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anil oza @aniloza.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
this profile, by @usha.bsky.social is well worth your while Kafui Dzirasa is trying to understand the electrical basis for mental health disorders while creating a more equitable research environment than the one he came up in 🧪🔬 #medsky @blackinneuro.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2025/01/13/k...
statnews.com
‘My life’s purpose’: A neuroscientist wants to rewire mental illness treatment and remake the field he loves
Duke neuroscientist Kafui Dzirasa wants nothing less than to reengineer the brain’s electrical patterns to treat anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
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Marcus Ghosh @marcusghosh.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
Join us in Zambia for the third TReND-CaMinA course: computational neuroscience & machine learning in Africa. 📆Applications open until 15.01. 🧠🧪 trendinafrica.org/trend-camina/
A poster advertising the TREND CAMINA summer school.
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Jim Woodgett @jwoodgett.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
A long read from 2017 but well worth the time for any scientist who both loves their job and and often finds themselves questioning their life decisions. www.danielnettle.org.uk/wp-content/u...
danielnettle.org.uk
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Michael Deistler @deismic.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
I will talk about our efforts to train biophysically detailed neuron models at the CMC Learning Club today (2pm CET). Zoom link sent upon empty email to virtual-talk-link-request@cmclab.org. Thanks a lot @neuroprinciplist.bsky.social for organizing this!
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Ben de Bivort @debivort.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
It's a good time to build local communities. Starter pack for neuroscientists at Harvard. I am sure I'm missing many folks; let me know. go.bsky.app/VcFhesD
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Dr. Ari Kozik @drkozik.bsky.social · 12/11/2024
Here's a starter pack of Black Scientists and Organizations (currently STEMM disciplines)! go.bsky.app/Ao3Qt9a
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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · 12/11/2024
Fun to see this place coming a bit more alive! I tried my hand at a starter pack for neural engineering & computationally-leaning (systems) neuroscience. Super not exhaustive, so if you want to be added (or removed), just ping me. I'm still working on finding folks here. go.bsky.app/Ty3ftme
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Laurel Joy Gabard-Durnam @laurelgd.bsky.social · 23/09/2024
Slides from my talk today on preparing for the faculty job market are live on our resources page! Advice & tips I've tailored after helping to hire 10+ fantastic colleagues in the last 3 years! www.plasticityinneurodevelopmentlab.com/resourcesfor...
plasticityinneurodevelopmentlab.com
Job Market Resources — Plasticity in Neurodevelopment Lab
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Blake Richards @tyrellturing.bsky.social · 12/09/2024
1/ Here's a critical problem that the #neuroai field is going to have to contend with: Increasingly, it looks like neural networks converge on the same representational structures - regardless of their specific losses and architectures - as long as they're big and trained on real world data. 🧠📈 🧪
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Talia Lerner @talialerner.bsky.social · 10/11/2024
A starter pack! Some of my favorite women in neuroscience (sorry if I forgot you, I will add!) go.bsky.app/SCFmKoC
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Ilenna Jones @ilennaj.bsky.social · 10/11/2024
After finishing my PhD, I was recently awarded the APICAL Award for Persistent Involvement in Community And Leadership my graduate program, the UPenn NGG. They asked me to give a speech - I wrote one sharing much of my personal journey to #PhD. Here is that speech: www.ilenna.com/apical-speec...
ilenna.com
APICAL Award Speech | Ilenna Jones
This August 2024 I was awarded the Award for Persistent Involvement in Community And Leadership (APICAL) from the UPenn Neuroscience Graduate Group's Graduate Led Initiatives and Activities (GLIA) com...
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