New Board of Directors Elections for the BraYn Association Ets

Dear BraYn member, my name is Enrica Boda and I've been part of the BraYn Scientific Committee since the very first days of this adventure! Here I propose my candidacy as a member of the Executive Board of the BraYn Association. If I'll be elected, while sustaining the growth of the BraYn association in line with its fundamental and original goals, I’ll spend my energies to implement BraYn activities dedicated to (Senior) PostDocs, and specifically to:

• create an updated and shared collection of national and international opportunities for funding for Senior PostDocs in Neuroscience;
• collect money for a >10,000 EUR BraYn Grant to support PostDoc research and facilitate their transition toward independency;
• promote access of PostDocs/Young PIs to lab leadership courses and mentoring programs.

Funding opportunities for people at this stage of career are lacking. PostDocs are not eligible for most of the calls, whatever their actual scientific maturity is. They frequently write proposals as “ghostwriters” for their PIs, without formal recognition. Plus, lab leadership courses (e.g. the EMBO lab leadership course) and mentoring programs are relatively unknown and marginally attended by Italian PostDocs/Young PIs, partly due to their high costs (not supported by institutional fundings), but they can be important to get essential skills and create a supporting network to establish an independent research group.

Dear Member, I address you as the founder of BraYn and as someone deeply passionate about this extraordinary initiative that I have built alongside my friends and colleagues over the years. It is with this same spirit that I wish to put forward my candidacy as a member of the new board of directors, as I firmly believe in the potential that the BraYn project still holds and in the importance of continuing to nurture it. For years, I have used the term "project" alongside the name BraYn to convey a constant sense of care and passion that I have dedicated to the cause. Since the inception of the BraYn Conference and later the BraYn Association Ets, I have strived to make our project an exemplar of innovation, scientific relevance, and unparalleled opportunities for young neuroscientists. Every effort, every idea, every decision made has been guided by the desire to stand by the side of the young researcher. If entrusted with the responsibility to serve on the board once again, I commit to continuing the path of innovation that has always defined BraYn. I will work to introduce new activities both within the conference framework, by implementing new forms of communication and data presentation, and within the association, through new initiatives aimed at fostering scientific collaborations and providing a stronger and more accessible financial support to colleagues. Furthermore, I will engage in two fundamental processes for the future of the BraYn project: internationalization and institutionalization. Internationalization is crucial for our project; I will strive to make BraYn a reference platform for young European colleagues, extending our commitment to excellence beyond national borders. In terms of institutionalization, I believe that the BraYn Association Ets has the potential to become a significant partner for Italian institutions, such as the Ministry of Health or the University and Research. I intend to initiate a dialogue with these institutions to: • Propose the BraYn Association Ets as the promoting body for a discussion table addressing the issue of quality in research. Quality pathways should characterize laboratory practice, aiming to increase the coherence and quality of scientific results. • Propose the BraYn Association Ets as a bridge observatory between institutions and the scientific community, useful for supporting proposals, ideas, and other submissions to the Legislature with the aim of improving the economic and working conditions of young neuroscientists. I sparked the BraYn initiative years ago and have managed the project transparently, involving dozens of colleagues over the years. BraYn is an experiment conducted by experimenters, and as a possible member of the new board of directors, I will continue to enhance the characteristics of each member, giving them a voice and working to make BraYn a grassroots project. Sincerely, Giovanni Ferrara

Dear Members, Here, I am re-proposing my candidacy as a member of the BraYn Association. BraYn represents a unique opportunity for young researchers, and it is essential to continue to nurture this project. Therefore, I am committed to: - create specific training opportunities for young researchers, such as workshops, seminars, and courses on topics relevant to their areas of study. This will allow them to interact with experts in the field, offering guidance and advice on developing their careers. - Provide financial support to promote young researchers' participation in conferences or training at other laboratories, ensuring that they have the opportunity to present their work, connect with other professionals in the field, and acquire more skills necessary for advancing their scientific careers. Sincerely, Margherita Romeo

Dear members, I enthusiastically propose my candidacy for the Executive Board of the BraYn Association, scheduled for May 11th. In recent years the BraYn Association has grown a lot and I feel I have contributed to this growth by guaranteeing constant and passionate commitment, which I would be happy to confirm also for the next few years. In recent years, I have personally taken care of some funding dedicated to young researchers (i.e. Placido Illiano Grant and Travel Grant) and I made grant applications for the BraYn Conference (i.e. Company of Biologists, IBRO and Banca d’Italia). I was also part of the local committee of two BraYn Conferences (online 2020 and Pisa 2021). To increase the involvement of participants, I proposed the inclusion of the Audience Award. In my opinion, the Association should aim to increase the international component and the support for young researchers, through dedicated funding. Moreover, I believe that it is important to innovate the program of the BraYn Conference. My program, therefore, is to:

i) increase the funding dedicated to young researchers throughout the year;
ii) make the BraYn Association more international;
iii) innovate the BraYn Conference program.

In particular, I will deal with i) increase the funding possibility; ii) support an edition of the conference outside Italy, possibly through partnerships with important European research centers; iii) propose sessions of the Conference in which there is a greater possibility of exchange between participants; iv) make it possible for participants to propose symposiums. Lastly, I would like to support researchers with children, looking for solutions that can allow them to participate in the BraYn Conference without thoughts – creating a sort of nursery/nursery for the entire duration of the conference. Lastly, if my position is confirmed, I make myself available to be contacted from members that would like to submit ideas and/or suggestions to the Executive Board of the BraYn Association. Your sincerely, Eleonora Vannini