The CIFAR Neuroscience of Consciousness Winter School is a unique, three-day event where tomorrow’s neuroscience leaders work closely with world-class researchers studying the neuroscience of consciousness.

This year, our theme is “Why Consciousness Matters”. We want participants to consider and develop this theme from multiple angles during the course, including:

  • why consciousness might matter for ascribing moral status to others,
  • why we might value consciousness and subjective experience for ourselves,
  • why consciousness may have arisen evolutionarily, and
  • why consciousness science is important for humanity to consider - and get right - for societal, technological and other reasons.

Participants will:

  • Engage in interactive lectures from top scientists
  • Network with peers and world-renowned scientists
  • Participate in immersive workshops on grant proposal development, collaborative science, and other areas of professional development
  • Explore diverse perspectives on why consciousness matter for individuals, groups, and societies
  • Engage with Neuromatch AI Sentience Scholars

Travel and accommodation for all successful applicants will be paid for by CIFAR

Interested applicants must be senior PhD students (i.e., approaching or having achieved advancement to candidacy/upgrade, not just starting), or post-docs. Applicants are required to submit a CV as well as a 500-word discussion of their research that details how the school would benefit their future scientific careers.

Selection

All applications will undergo an internal screening for basic eligibility before being evaluated by members of the Brain, Mind & Consciousness program. Applicants are assessed based on their research statement, professional track record, and alignment with the neuroscience of consciousness.

CIFAR is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for the global research community. We welcome and encourage applications from institutions and researchers across the globe.

Dates

Application deadline: June 10, 2026

Notification of decision: September 2026

Winter School: December 3-5, 2026