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Department of Neuroscience College of Medicine
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Outreach Overview

NCF SfN Conference

Summary

Since 2010, NCF SfN has hosted an annual conference to bring members from all across North Central Florida together to share and promote our region’s neuroscience research. We are excited to announce that our local conference is back for the 16th year! Researchers at every level of training (including undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral), will have the opportunity to present their research and compete for awards!

2026 Conference Information

Mark your calendars!

The 16th Annual NCF SfN Conference will be held on February 27th, 2026.

Our keynote speaker, Dr. Geoffrey Schoenbaum, will be sharing his research on neural circuits associated with learning and decision making. There will be multiple presentation opportunities (data blitz from 9-10am and a poster session from 1-4pm) and numerous award opportunities.

Registration and abstract submission for the 2026 Conference are open until January 27, 2026. You can register and submit your abstract with the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGd5XG-viWcpogaYYiKTi432v0GcV5pDAMbdyCvOCvfYsW0Q/viewform?usp=header

Abstract Information

Abstracts must represent original research that has not been previously published in full. Preprints are acceptable. However, abstracts cannot be presented verbatim at any other meeting before the NCF SfN conference. While you may present a study that builds significantly upon previously published work, the abstract must be original. All abstracts must be written in English, and the submitting author and presenter must be listed as a co-author. 

Every abstract must contain the following components:

  1. Abstract title – limited to 20 words 
  2. Abstract text – limited to 350 words 
  3. Abstract layout – Abstracts must be submitted with the following sections: Objectives, Methods, Results, Conclusions
  4. References are not obligatory

We will announce abstract submission opening and closing dates as we approach the conference date. We expect to open abstract submissions in early November. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the conference chair (jshubin@ufl.edu) or vice chair (sercanderc@ufl.edu).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • Where is the conference located?
    • This conference is an in-person event held on University of Florida campus in Gainesville, FL. The conference will take place in the HPNP reception hall, atrium, and auditorium (1404), with lunch in the Biomedical Science building lobby.
  • When is the conference?
    • The 2026 NCF SfN Conference will be held from 9:00am-5:00pm on February 27, 2026.
      • Registration – HPNP Atrium
        • 8:15 – 9:00am
      • Data Blitz – HPNP Auditorium 1404
        • 9:00 – 10:00am
      • Panel Discussion – HPNP Auditorium 1404
        • 10:00 – 11:00am
      • Keynote Address – HPNP Auditorium 1404
        • 11:00 – 12:00pm
      • Lunch – Biomedical Sciences Building
        • 12:00 – 1:00pm
      • Poster Sessions
        • 1:00 – 4:00pm
      • Keynote Q+A – HPNP Auditorium 1404
        • 4:00 – 4:30pm
      • Awards – HPNP Auditorium 1404
        • 4:30 – 5:00pm
      • Reception – HPNP Atrium
        • 5:00 – 5:30pm
  • How do I register for the conference?
  • Is there a registration fee?
  • I submitted my abstract, when will I receive a notification acceptance?
    • Abstract acceptances will be sent out on a rolling basis. At the latest, notifications will be sent out in the week following the deadline.
  • How can I make changes to an abstract I already submitted?
    • If you need to make changes to your abstract after submitting, please re-submit your abstract form and send jshubin@ufl.edu and sercanderc@ufl an email to let them know you are submitting an updated version.
  • I need to withdraw my abstract, what should I do?
  • What award opportunities will be available?
    • There will be a number of awards available, however if you are affiliated with UF, you need to be a registered NCF SfN member to be eligible.
    • The full list of available award opportunities is listed below.
My question isn’t answered here

Award Opportunities

There will be a number of awards available, however UF-affiliated attendees need to be a registered NCF SfN member to be eligible.

Available poster award opportunities are as follows:

  • Top Postdoctoral Researcher Poster
    • Sponsored by the UF McKnight Brain Institute
  • Top Graduate Student Poster
    • Sponsored by the UF McKnight Brain Institute
  • Top Undergraduate Student Poster
    • Sponsored by the UF McKnight Brain Institute
  • Top Poster in Chemosensory Neuroscience
    • Sponsored by the Florida Chemical Senses Institute
  • Top Poster in Addiction Research
    • Sponsored by the UF Center for Addiction Research and Education
  • Top Poster in Pharmacology Research
    • Sponsored by the UF Pharmacology and Therapeutics Department
  • Top Poster in Basic and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Research
    • Sponsored by the UF Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease
  • Top Poster in Cognitive Aging and Memory
    • Sponsored by the UF Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory
  • Top Poster in Brain Injury, Rehabilitation, and Neuroresilience Research
    • Sponsored by the UF Brain Injury, Rehabilitation, and Neuroresilience Center
  • Top Poster in Breathing Research
    • Sponsored by the UF Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center.
  • Top Poster in Neurogenetics Research
    • Sponsored by the UF Center for NeuroGenetics 
  • Top Poster in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience
    • Sponsored by the UF Department of Psychology
  • Top Poster in Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other complex neurological diseases
    • Sponsored by the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at UF Health

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