Recently a trainee posed the question, “How do you know when someone is available to collaborate? It can seem intimidating to ask for something from someone who is not your PI.”

Credit to our colleague Avrama Blackwell for a reminder that seminars are a great opportunity to connect with folks you don’t work with directly. This applies to our own internal speakers and invited guests. When you carve out time to attend a seminar you not only benefit from hearing from the speaker, but also from being together with others who are drawn to the topic. Avrama noted that she first met Susan Shen when they both attended the same seminar, and the discussion they had afterward led to their collaboration on a new grant application.

Our INI Collaboration meetings on the 4^th Friday of each month are a great opportunity to hear from our colleagues about their work and future plans. (May 2026 collaboration meeting pictured, left) Questions from the group can often inspire a new way of thinking, an approach not previously considered, or even a bench-to-bedside opportunity. 

But we have to be there for that to happen. 

We all have time pressures and packed calendars and none of us can attend every speaker. But we have so much to gain from prioritizing attending as often as possible. I know I’m not the only one who feels energized by sharing ideas and talking science. Being together in a community of scientists who all share a goal of advancing knowledge to improve brain health can be a real boost.

As we launch into a new academic year, I encourage all of us not just to attend seminars, but to commit to being fully present and engaging with the speaker and fellow attendees. Ask questions and consider where connections might happen. 

Our first visitor in the INI seminar series is Anastasia Yendiki, PhD, from Harvard Medical School, speaking on “New frontiers in imaging the human connectome” at noon on Friday Sept. 4. Plenty of seats (and pizza!) in the Kelch conference room, 1289 PBDB.

Ted

August 2026