Our mission is to understand the brain and to apply that knowledge to improve human health and well-being.

Cambridge, MA
We are heartbroken to learn of Ursula von Rydingsvard's death. SCIENTIA is more than sculpture to us. A gift from Lore Harp McGovern to MIT's Public Art Collection, it is part of our identity, a towering welcome to all who come through our entrance. 🌺 nytimes.com/2026/10/27/arts/…
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McGovern Investigator Fan Wang has been honored by MIT graduate students as “Committed to Caring,” an annual award that celebrates faculty members who have served as exceptional mentors to PhD students.  🥰 Congrats Prof Wang! @mitbrainandcog @ScienceMIT mcgovern.mit.edu/2026/10/21/…
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Congrats to @AnnMGraybiel for winning the Review Paper of the Year from the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society! Read the award-winning paper, "Surprises from the Basal Ganglia: Stop and Go Have New Meaning," below: movementdisorders.onlinelibr… @movedisorder
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She PHinisheD! Congrats to @fernanda_dltr from @JoshHMcDermott lab for successfully defending her thesis "Evaluating new models of auditory perception and brain response." She may have broken the record for number of people attending a thesis defense! 🥰
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Machine learning networks can learn without detailed instructions from a designer, according to a new study by computational neuroscientists at MIT. Those that do, may offer insight into how the brain reorganizes itself during learning. mcgovern.mit.edu/2026/10/05/…
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An amazing opportunity to work with a team of supportive and groundbreaking scientists!
Postdoc opening in my lab to work on NeuroAI approaches to improve prosthetic devices for human hearing. We offer a great training environment and strong mentorship. Prior expertise in machine learning and signal processing are essential. Apply here: careers.peopleclick.com/care…
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Congrats to @devarda_a, named one of the 2026 #STATWunderkinds by @statnews! Andrea is doing groundbreaking work in @ev_fedorenko + @roger_p_levy labs to understand how brains and machines process language. Learn more: statnews.com/wunderkinds/and… @mitbrainandcog @ScienceMIT
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Congrats to Mehrdad Jazayeri for winning the 2026 Robert A. Wurtz Award in Systems Neuroscience from the @NIH and @NatEyeInstitute! 👀 mcgovern.mit.edu/2026/10/05/… @mitbrainandcog @hhmi_science
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Despite how effortlessly humans move in everyday situations, scientists don't yet fully understand the mathematical principles that govern how our brains and muscles work together to create efficient + adaptive movement. We're trying to solve this mystery.

ALT Man speedwalking on a street.

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In Nidhi Seethapathi's lab, researchers are analyzing human movement data from activities like walking, reaching, and grasping using advanced tracking technology. Below: @jillrcrittenden wears movement-tracking sensors that generate her digital avatar (right) in a recent study.
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Congrats to @Shiwei_MW who defended his doctoral thesis on a new imaging technique that makes nanoscale structures on cell surfaces visible. Developed with @eboyden3, the tech could reveal new targets for treating conditions like Alzheimer's. @mitbrainandcog @broadinstitute
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A new tool developed by MIT researchers can identify suicide warning signs in text conversations with crisis counselors. With further validation, it could help experts better understand who may need urgent support. mcgovern.mit.edu/2026/09/23/…
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Patricia and James Poitras '63 are fueling the future of mental health research: their $10M gift establishes 50 two-year fellowships for early-career scientists studying major mental illness at the McGovern Institute. Meet the inaugural cohort: mcgovern.mit.edu/2026/09/22/…
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The McGovern Institute is seeking an exceptional faculty member to pioneer the future of translational neuroscience. Learn more and apply online: academicjobsonline.org/ajo/j… @mitbrainandcog
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Register now for our fall symposium! Decoding Addiction: Breaking New Ground in Research and Clinical Care Date: Friday, October 23, 2026 Location: Singleton Auditorium (46-3002) Time: 1:00pm - 5:15pm, reception to follow calendar.mit.edu/event/2026-…
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