for PhD students and early postdocs working in Primate Systems Neurophysiology

The fourth instantiation of this European Summer School will bring together PhD students, early postdocs, and an international list of faculty for an intense training programme in primate cognitive and systems neuroscience. It will provide an outstanding training opportunity for young scientists working with non-human primates.

Teaching will focus on cognitive processes in primate sensory and motor systems as well as in social settings and decision making, and will include important and novel results and methodologies. Topics of animal welfare, ethics, and media outreach will also be covered. Each faculty member will teach for about one half-day and furthermore will be available for individual scientific discussions, career planning advice, and scientific networking. Participants are expected to present their ongoing work in a poster presentation.

Selection of applicants is competitive, and a limited number of travel grants is available for international participants.

Please note: Due to the currently relaxated situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we do not require, but highly recommend that all faculty and students are adequately vaccinated for this event. 

1. Sensory Cognition. Neural signal routing and network configuration, Visual search, Visual attention, Subcortical control of attention, Plasticity in visual perception, Visual Consciousness

2. Motor Cognition. Spatial motor cognition, Hand grasping control, Thalamo-cortical interactions, Cognitive cerebellum, Dimensionality reduction of neural population activity, Neural population changes with learning, Neural control of reaching and reflexes,  Cognitve motor control with sensory feedback

3. Decision Making and Social Cognition. Perceptual decision making, Decision making and the superior colliculus, Attention and decision making in space and time, Multisensory integration and decision making, Social decision making

Thanks to external funding sources, the costs for the Summer School are largely covered. However we require a participation fee of 1000 Euro for the twelve days of scientific training. Funding supports the costs of:

• Course
• Accomodation in twin shared rooms
• All meals and coffee breaks
• Selected social activities (kayaking, BBQ, guided tour, ...)

Travel has to be arranged and covered by the participants themselves. 
A very limited number of travel grants might be available for international students in special situations. Please attach a reasoned request to your application.

To apply, download, fill out, and submit this application form to GTPN(at)dpz.eu
The application deadline is: February 28, 2026.

• are expected to present a poster about their current project at the summer school (Format: A0 portrait)
• need to transfer the participation fee (1000 Euro) prior to the meeting.