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John Downey

@johndowney.bsky.social
690 followers 124 following 27 posts

Developing brain controlled robotic arms at the University of Chicago. Part of the Cortical Bionics Research Group and Sensorimotor Bionics.

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John Downey @johndowney.bsky.social · 15h
I'm looking forward to this discussion put together by the Industry Committee of the @bcisociety.bsky.social. We have perspectives on the transition to industry from across continents and across industry roles.
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BCI Society @bcisociety.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The BCI Society is opening the call for speakers for the Global BCI Session at the 12th International BCI Meeting to empower researchers from low- and middle-income countries. Help us to reach the right people! Please share this post to your network. #BeGlobalBCI #BCI2027
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Pedro Lopes @pedrolopes.org · 01/10/2026
We’re hiring at UChicago Computer Science! We’re looking for tenure-track Assistant Professors with particular interests in Robotics, Embodied Intelligence, AI, and Systems. Come help shape our growing CS department in Chicago: apply.interfolio.com/193574 share widely!
Photo of our building
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Andrew Pruszynski @andpru.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Happy to announce that I am searching for for a graduate student, starting Fall 2027. If you want to study the neural mechanisms of reaching and grasping, come join us in the rich environment of the Sensorimotor Superlab. For details: www.pruszynskilab.com/positions.html
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BCI Society @bcisociety.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Thinking about a career beyond academia? Join our next webinar on Nov. 24 for From Academia to Industry: Making the Transition. Hear directly from researchers who have made the move and learn about their experiences. Register: bcisociety.org/bci-thursday... #BCI #Neurotech #AcademiaToIndustry
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Pedro Lopes @pedrolopes.org · 29/09/2026
Join us Dec. 3 for the Neurotechnology Frontier Symposium at UChicago: AI, brain-computer interfaces, and adaptive therapies. Keynotes from Emily Graczyk, Helen Mayberg, John Rogers, and Frank Willett. 9am–6pm, KCBD 1103 neuroscience.uchicago.edu/neurotechnol...
Flyer of the event: https://neuroscience.uchicago.edu/neurotechnology-frontier-symposium
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Mark Histed @markhisted.org · 23/09/2026
These people inside NIH working on grants are really the best of the country, people who are not being paid big bucks but care about the mission; care about something bigger than themselves.
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TK (Takashi DY) Kozai @bioniclab.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
15 speakers across mouse, monkey, and human ICMS. Hands-on modeling clinic with code you keep. NSF travel awards cover registration, travel, and lodging. $75 for trainees, meals included. Abstracts due March 1. stim.bioniclab.org #BCI #neurotech #neuroscience #UPNExT #NeuralEngineering #NSF
stim.bioniclab.org
BRIDGE-STIM Workshop
About The Workshop
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BCI Society @bcisociety.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Partner with the BCI Society in Croatia! Sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities are now open for the 12th International BCI Meeting, June 7–10, 2027, in Šibenik. Explore the packages: bcisociety.org/bci-meeting/... #BCI2027 #BCISociety #Neuroscience
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John Downey @johndowney.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I'm proud to be part of the new group of investigators in the Neuroscience Institute at UChicago. I look forward to many great collaborations.
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Pedro Lopes @pedrolopes.org · 14/09/2026
neuroscience.uchicago.edu/meet-new-mem... I joined the Neuroscience Institute at the U of Chicago, incredible group of people alongside new members: Julia Cox, John Downey, Charles Greenspon, Joshua Jacobs, Sumin Jang, Adam Martersteck, Samuel Muscinelli, Marcella Noorman Lucas Pinto, Zinan Zhou!
neuroscience.uchicago.edu
Meet the new members of the Neuroscience Institute 2025-2026
The Neuroscience Institute is pleased to welcome 11 faculty memberships to the team. Julia Cox, John Downey, Charles Greenspon, Joshua Jacobs, Sumin Jang, Pedro Lopes, Adam Martersteck, Samuel Muscine...
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BCI Society @bcisociety.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
September is here - time to learn, collaborate, and reconnect. Concurrent Session Proposals (previously “Workshops”) for the 12th International BCI Meeting open today! Head to the BCI website to see the new format and proposal requirements: bcisociety.org/concurrent-p... #BCISociety #BCI #BCI2027
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Giacomo Valle @giacomovalle.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
🎉I’m grateful that my project #BionicDexterity has been awarded a 2.5M € ERC Starting Grant! 🧠🦾 Over 5 years, we’ll investigate at #Chalmers how to create a multimodal #iBCI capable of restoring dexterity after paralysis @erc.europa.eu
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BCI Society @bcisociety.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Three leading voices in BCI. One unforgettable meeting. We're honored to welcome Leigh Hochberg, Amy Orsborn, and Gernot Müller-Putz as plenary speakers at the 12th International BCI Meeting, June 7-10, 2027, in Croatia. Learn more: bcisociety.org/bci-meeting/ #BCI2027
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Society for Neuroscience @sfn.org · 21/08/2026
Scientific peer review must remain the primary foundation of NIH funding. SfN is concerned about NIH's proposed changes to grant review and funding decisions. Read our statement: vist.ly/5fpaa
Society for Neuroscience logo with 'SfN' in a blue square.
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Jonathan A. Michaels @jonathanamichaels.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Looking for a postdoc in motor control / systems neuroscience? I'm seeking candidates to develop a Connected Minds Fellowship proposal with me at York University: $70K/yr for 2 years + benefits, plus an $8.5K/yr research allowance. Deadline: Sept 27, 2026. 🧵
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Joel Voss @vosstacular.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Cluster neuroscience faculty hiring at University of Chicago! This first year focused on circuit interventions and restorative neuroscience. Goal of ~20 hires over 5 years with different themes each year. #NeuroJobs #neuroscience apply.interfolio.com/190756
apply.interfolio.com
Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
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Ran Blekhman @blekhman.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Huge faculty recruitment effort at the University of Chicago -- a division-wide, open-rank search looking to hire about 20 faculty across 5 research areas in biology. Come be our colleague! Full announcement: uchicago.app.box.com/s/ckih9zv3rj...
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Britton Sauerbrei @brittonsauerbrei.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
The Sauerbrei Lab at Case Western Reserve University is recruiting a postdoctoral scholar to work on neural dynamics and motor control: apply.interfolio.com/189987
apply.interfolio.com
Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
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Andrew Pruszynski @andpru.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
We're hiring! Postdoc position to study the neural control of reaching using high-density multi-area electrophysiology. 5 years of funding, great collaborative environment. Please share with anyone who may be interested. For details, see: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com
Pruszynski Postdoc 2026
Postdoctoral Researcher, Control Policies in the Primate Motor Circuit Pruszynski Lab @ Sensorimotor Superlab​ The Pruszynski Laboratory at Western University is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to j...
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Paul Gribble 🇨🇦 @gribblelab.org · 24/07/2026
This week's sensorimotor superlab reading list is out superlab.ca/posts/2026-07-24-list34… @andpru.bsky.social @diedrichsenjorn.bsky.social @gribblelab.org #neuroskyence #psychscisky #Sensorimotor
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Science Magazine @science.org · 20/07/2026
Intracortical microstimulation electrodes are safe and produce consistent sensations for as long as a decade in patients with spinal cord injury, supporting their utility in #BrainComputer interface interventions. Learn more in #ScienceTranslationalMedicine: scim.ag/4fmHddQ
scim.ag
Long-term safety and efficacy of intracortical microstimulation in humans
Intracortical microstimulation in humans is safe and efficacious for up to 10 years.
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The vOICe vision BCI 🧠🇪🇺 @seeingwithsound.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Long-term safety and efficacy of intracortical microstimulation in humans www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... "electrodes maintained sufficient activity for 2 to 10 years; #ICMS #BCI #NeuroTech
science.org
Long-term safety and efficacy of intracortical microstimulation in humans
Intracortical microstimulation in humans is safe and efficacious for up to 10 years.
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BCI Society @bcisociety.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Reminder: Sponsorship opportunities remain available for the 2026 BCI Society SfN Social! Connect with leading BCI researchers, clinicians and industry professionals on November 16 at WILD DAYS in Washington, DC. Learn more: bcisociety.org/bci-social-a... #SfN2026 #BCI
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Joshua Glaser @joshuaiglaser.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Excited to share this work, led by Andrew Zimnik and Sherry An, from @mchurchland.bsky.social and my labs! www.cell.com/neuron/fullt... 1/2
cell.com
Sparse component analysis: A method that uncovers separable computations within neural population activity
Zimnik et al. provide a new, interpretable, unsupervised dimensionality approach for neural population activity. Their approach, sparse component analysis (SCA), reveals the latent factors correspondi...
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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
We're looking for a motivated intern to join us this summer! Find the details below for this exciting opportunity to work on developing a neurotech podcast 🧠 🦾 Deadline is Monday 15th June (11:00am BST), so apply soon!
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BCI Society @bcisociety.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
One year from now, you’ll be in Šibenik. Learning from world leaders. Debating ideas over dinner. Building connections that last. Join the global BCI community at the 12th International BCI Meeting at Convention Centre Šibenik, Croatia from June 7 – 10, 2027 #BCI #BCI2027
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Jeff Yau 姚明穎 @jeffmyau.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
🚨PREPRINT ALERT!🚨 I’m delighted to share new work from Yau Lab @bcmneurosci.bsky.social addressing thermotactile interactions. What happens when your hands get cold? A common experience is for your sense of touch to be impaired by coldness. 1/n
static.klipy.com
Frozen Hands Close-Up
ALT: Frozen Hands Close-Up
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BCI Society @bcisociety.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
We’re excited to welcome Gestala back as a Gold Sponsor for this year’s BCI Society SfN Social in Washington, DC! Thank you for your continued partnership and support of the BCI community. Sponsorship opportunities available: bcisociety.org/bci-social-a... #BCI #SfNSocial #SfN2026
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Giacomo Valle @giacomovalle.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
After more than 5 decades of parallel development, #corticalstimulation for artificial #vision & artificial #touch is beginning to converge rdcu.be/flRzh Our new @natrevbioeng.nature.com review brings together shared principles and modality-specific strategies across both fields
rdcu.be
Restoring vision and touch with cortical microstimulation
Nature Reviews Bioengineering - Cortical sensory prostheses aim to restore vision and touch by stimulating primary visual and somatosensory cortices. This Review examines shared challenges and...
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Science Magazine @science.org · 29/05/2026
The White House today announced it plans to make major changes in how the U.S. government manages research funding. scim.ag/43HgW4s
scim.ag
White House seeks to tighten political oversight of grantmaking
Sweeping proposed rule, now open for comments, would also restrict foreign collaborations and remove federal funding for open-access fees
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Paul Gribble 🇨🇦 @gribblelab.org · 22/05/2026
This week's sensorimotor superlab reading list is out superlab.ca/posts/2026-05-22-list33… @andpru.bsky.social @diedrichsenjorn.bsky.social @gribblelab.org #neuroskyence #psychscisky #Sensorimotor
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BCI Society @bcisociety.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
We’re excited to welcome Blackrock Neurotech as a Gold Sponsor for this year’s BCI Society SfN Social! Thank you for your continued support in helping bring the BCI Society together in Washington, DC. Sponsorship opportunities: bcisociety.org/bci-social-a... #BCI #SfNSocial #SfN2026
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
WSJ op-ed from leaders at Johns Hopkins and the University of Kansas about slow grant-making. [Gift Link] www.wsj.com/opinion/get-...
wsj.com
Opinion | Get the Federal Science Money Flowing
The NIH has been holding back grants from funds Congress has already approved.
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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Hot off the presses, this study is now out in the Journal of Neuroscience! A quick write-up: www.jneurosci.org/content/46/2... And the full paper: www.jneurosci.org/content/46/2...
jneurosci.org
This Week in The Journal
Toward Improving Brain–Computer Interfaces Ryan A. Canfield, Tomohiro Ouchi, Hao Fang, Beatrice Macagno, Lydia I. Smith et al. (see article e1965252026) Researchers are working on improving motor ...
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Giacomo Valle @giacomovalle.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
NEW PREPRINT OUT! Happy to share that our #preprint on how the human #brain encodes #touch: biorxiv.org/content/10.6... We investigate how touch is encoded in the human #somatosensory and #motor cortices recorded via #microelectrode arrays across different tactile conditions
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BCI Society @bcisociety.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
The BCI Society SfN Social returns Nov 16, 2026 at Wild Days DC. A members-only evening of networking with leading researchers, clinicians, and early career voices in BCI. Sponsorships now open: bcisociety.org/bci-social-a...
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Paul Gribble 🇨🇦 @gribblelab.org · 01/05/2026
This week's sensorimotor superlab reading list is out superlab.ca/posts/2026-05-01-list33… @andpru.bsky.social @diedrichsenjorn.bsky.social @gribblelab.org #neuroskyence #psychscisky #Sensorimotor
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BCI Society @bcisociety.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Board elections are more than a formality—they shape our community’s future. BCI Society voting is now open. Make your voice count. #BCI #Neuroscience bcisociety.org/about/electi...
bcisociety.org
Elections | bcisociety.org
Become a BCI Member
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Paul Gribble 🇨🇦 @gribblelab.org · 24/04/2026
This week's sensorimotor superlab reading list is out superlab.ca/posts/2026-04-24-list33… @andpru.bsky.social @diedrichsenjorn.bsky.social @gribblelab.org #neuroskyence #psychscisky #Sensorimotor
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BCI Society @bcisociety.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
BCI Society Board Elections are now open! All active members can vote—your voice helps shape the future of our field. #BCI #Neuroscience bcisociety.org/about/electi...
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27 UNIHTED @27unihted.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
We are excited to sponsor the “Future of Public Research for Behavioral Sciences” Town Hall hosted by NIH Alumni & Bethesda Declaration Signers including Saturday, April 25th, 10am, in Chicago following Society for Behavioral Medicine Meeting (SBM) www.27unihted.org/events/futur...
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Eliza Bliss-Moreau @eblissmoreau.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Spread the word! We are recruiting for 6 new research professors at UC Davis' California National Primate Research Center. Open rank, open area, but must leverage 🐒 resources. recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07561
recruit.ucdavis.edu
6 Positions - Assistant, Associate, Full Professional Researcher
University of California, Davis is hiring. Apply now!
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Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
NEW: Spending on new medical research by the National Institutes of Health has fallen roughly $1 billion behind the pace of years past, delaying thousands of scientific projects. @benjmueller.bsky.social @irenatfh.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/04/22/s...
nytimes.com
Pace of N.I.H. Funding Slows Further in Trump’s Second Year
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Giacomo Valle @giacomovalle.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Join us at the the Neural Bionics Lab to work on neural #prosthetics and restore sensorimotor function using #neurotechnology! ⚡ 🧠 🦾 PhD position: www.chalmers.se/en/about-cha...
chalmers.se
Vacancies
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Raeed Chowdhury @raeedcho.com · 15/04/2026
New preprint! 🧵🧪🧠 doi.org/10.64898/202... Upshot: somatosensory cortex contains both feedback *and* intended movement signals (a.k.a. corollary discharge). These two signals exist orthogonally in neural space, flexibly allowing both fast state estimation and external perturbation detection. 1/
Neural trajectory plot showing neural activity moving through orthogonal corollary discharge and feedback signal subspaces
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IEEE Spectrum @spectrum.ieee.org · 14/04/2026
More people have gone to space than have received advanced brain-computer interfaces. Meet the pioneers.
spectrum.ieee.org
What It’s Really Like to Live With an Experimental Brain Implant
For people with paralysis, brain implants offer new independence—but also real limits. Early BCI users explain what the technology gives and what it takes.
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TK (Takashi DY) Kozai @bioniclab.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
🚨 Congress held NIH and NSF budgets roughly flat. Scientists celebrated. Here is what actually happened. NIH awarded 4,641 fewer grants in FY2025 than the 4-year avg. New awards dropped 14%. Over $1.3B never reached investigators. NSF awards fell 22%. The money was there.
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Mark Histed @markhisted.org · 29/03/2026
This is only true for people who understand neither science nor economics. The NIH budget for this year is FIFTY times larger than OpenAI’s $1B pledge. The foundation of US science & innovation is public funding. The private sector cannot replace it. US science is being killed
roon @tszzl
the private sector has been remaking its own versions of NIH, ARPA etc as these public science institutions have seen structural decline and defunding and it will be supercharged by the funding NPV of machine intelligence and its firepower at allocation decisions
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Amy Orsborn @neuroamyo.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
If you're interested in emerging ideas in neural interfaces, I humbly suggest my lab's latest: www.nature.com/articles/s42... Neural interfaces create dynamic interactions between the brain & devices. This means mean we need new engineering approaches beyond typical ML to "decode" a static brain
nature.com
Computational framework to predict and shape human–machine interactions in closed-loop, co-adaptive neural interfaces - Nature Machine Intelligence
Madduri et al. introduce a computational framework grounded in control and game theory to model co-adaptation between users and decoders in neural interfaces. This framework enables a principled desig...
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