Neurophotonics Summer School

Neurovascular Imaging Across Scales in Animals and Humans

July 26 to August 9, 2026

Boston University

Join us for the inaugural two-week Neurophotonics Summer School training program at the Boston University (BU) Neurophotonics Center (NPC).

Our motto: Learning by doing in research projects that cover hands-on experiments and data analysis.

Training sessions are complemented by lectures from world-renowned experts in neurophotonics and neurovascular imaging on

  • physical principles of operation
  • data science
  • specific biological questions being addressed

The program targets doctoral and postdoctoral trainees in early stages of their research projects.
The immersive and hands-on experience in imaging of brain activity will advance their ability to handle neurophotonic technologies for imaging neuronal, vascular, and metabolic function in health and disease.

In week 1, each participant will be exposed to a suite of neurophotonic tools applicable to animals and humans.
In week 2, hands-on research projects enable participants to engage in data acquisition and analysis in small working groups of peers. Projects will be chosen based on suggestions from the applicants!

This program is limited to 24 participants, so please apply early!

Highlights

  • Two weeks of immersive hands-on training
  • Human and animal brain imaging
  • Data acquisition and data science
  • Focus on acquiring practical “know-how” expertise
  • Research projects in small groups driven by student-proposed biological questions

Technologies taught in the course

Microscopic technologies

  • Imaging of microvascular dilation and blood flow using conventional and Bessel beam 2-photon microscopy
  • 2-photon and 3-photon imaging of genetically encoded indicators for voltage, calcium, and neuromodulators
  • Voltage imaging using targeted-illumination confocal microscopy
  • Phosphorescence lifetime imaging (2PLM) of vascular or tissue oxygen using 2-photon microscopy
  • Volumetric imaging of capillary perfusion with Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
  • Light sheet fluorescence microscopy

Mesoscopic technologies

  • Imaging of blood flow and oxygenation with laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) and optical intrinsic signals imaging (OISI)
  • Functional ultrasound
  • Widefield imaging of genetically encoded indicators for calcium and neuromodulators
  • Optogenetics

Macroscopic technologies

  • Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) of hemoglobin concentration changes in humans
  • Speckle Contrast Optical Spectroscopy (SCOS) of cerebral blood flow in humans

Application process

Candidates from the fields of biology, photonics, physics, neuroscience, or related fields are strongly encouraged to apply. All applicants will be asked to provide the following:

  1. Curriculum Vitae
  2. 150-word statement describing how this training program will benefit their research studies and/or career.
  3. A letter of support by a mentor.
  4. Brief (~0.5 page) description of 1-2 scientific questions to be addressed with technologies available at the Boston University Neurophotonics Summer School (from the list above).

Please find the application form here

Registration fee: $2,500

Registration opens                 February 01, 2026
Application deadline               April 01, 2026
Notification of acceptance      April 15, 2026
Payment due                          May 01, 2026

Your registration includes accommodation in a semi-private suite on BU’s campus and three meals a day for the duration of the course.

For questions, please email the Summer School Director Prof. Anna Devor adevor@bu.edu.