WTI Conference: Groundbreaking

June 28, 2023

8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
100 College, 11th Floor

Registration for the event is closed.

The Wu Tsai Institute presents Groundbreaking, our 2023 annual conference, held in the newly renovated workshop space on the 11th floor of 100 College. Things might be a bit rough around the edges since we're still moving in, but we promise you won't have to wear a hard hat.

Our inaugural gathering in 100 College will comprise talks from Wu Tsai Faculty Members, grant recipients, and postdoctoral fellows, along with abundant opportunities to connect and socialize. The conference will conclude with breakout networking and signature beverages. Lunch and groundbreaking ideas included.

View the conference agenda and additional details below.

100 College 11th floor looking towards workshop space.

Almost complete workshop space at the Wu Tsai Institute

In construction, groundbreaking implies new beginnings, novel foundations, and conduits for growth. In science, to be groundbreaking is to pioneer new areas of work, hitherto uncharted. This WTI conference will embody both meanings. It allows us to meet as a community in our new space, for the first time. During the day, members of our faculty and postdoctoral fellows will share their groundbreaking work, spanning the three pillars on which we are based: computation, development, and cognition.
Philip Corlett + Marc Schneeberger Pané, Conference Co-Chairs

Agenda + Speakers

Continental breakfast will begin at 8:30 AM, and doors will open at 8:45 AM.

Institute director, Nick Turk-Browne, and conference co-chairs Phil Corlett and Marc Schneeberger Pané will welcome attendees and open the conference.

Showcasing research aligned with the Center for Neurodevelopment and Plasticity

Flora Vaccarino | 9:15 AM
Modeling typical and atypical human neurodevelopment with iPSCs

Angelique Bordey | 9:45 AM
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: Insights into mTOR-driven epilepsy and autism

Chair: Kristen Brennand

Introduction of Prudence Whittlesey, Wu Tsai Institute Artist-in-Residence, Fall 2023

Coffee, snacks, and beverages will be available.

Showcasing research aligned with the Center for Neurocomputation and Machine Intelligence

Brian Scassellati | 10:45 AM
How robotics can help us understand people

Smita Krishnaswamy | 11:15 AM
Inferring and characterizing neural activity dynamics with deep geometric models

Marynel Vazquez | 11:45 AM
Multi-party human-robot interaction: towards robots with increased social context awareness

Chair: John Lafferty

Box lunches provided to fuel your exploration of 100 College.

Wu Tsai Postdoctoral Fellows

Weikang Shi
Exploring behavioral dynamics in cooperative interactions among marmoset dyads

Josué Ortega Caro
Time and space in the brain: Multimodal transformer models for multi scale neural activity

Jacob Miller
Spatial scales of coding for working memory in primate lateral prefrontal cortex

Chair: Marc Schneeberger Pané

Recipients of the Wu Tsai Institute’s Innovation Grants

Damon Clark
Common algorithms across animals and senses

Philip Corlett
A novel quantitative approach to perspective taking

Francesca Mandino
Multimodal neuroimaging across spatial scales in a model of Alzheimer's disease

Chair: Samuel McDougle

Coffee, snacks, and beverages will be available.

Showcasing research aligned with the Center for Neurocognition and Behavior

Eyiyemisi “Yemi” Damisah | 3:30 PM
Human single neuron and network computations during threat avoidance

Steve Chang | 4:00 PM
Frequency modules in the social brain

Chair: Amy Arnsten

The networking mixer will breakout into special interest groups to discuss even more groundbreaking topics and enjoy signature beverages like the Synapse Sour, Quantum Quencher, and Memory Infusion.

Building + Event Details

Most Yale shuttles pass by 100 College.
It's a short walk from either YSM or FAS.
Street parking and paid lots are near the building (Air Rights garage, 100 College garage, Temple St).
Arrival
Please plan to arrive at 100 College a few minutes early to account for parking and security.
The entrance to the building is on College Street, through the lobby on the ground floor.
You can also enter in the rear of the building, on the ground floor adjacent to the 100 College parking garage between Frontage Rd and MLK Blvd.

When you arrive in the building, follow the Wu Tsai Institute signs and arrows to the elevators.
Groundbreaking attendees have been provided turnstile access to the elevator bay on the first floor for the day of the conference.
Please be sure to bring your Yale ID with you. Swipe through the turnstile and take the elevator to Floor 11.
If your badge does not have access, please call Barb Gambino at 203-432-7916.
Check-in starts at 8:30 AM.
Head to the 11th floor and follow the signs and colorful arrows to the check in desk at the entrance of the Wu Tsai Institute offices.

Conference seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis, but don't worry - there's not a bad seat in the house.
The Yale Secure network is available.

Complimentary breakfast will be available at 8:30 AM, and refreshments will be provided throughout the day.
Grab a box lunch at 12:15 PM and enjoy the newly renovated spaces. Lounge in the 11th-floor WTI common area or meander upstairs to Psychology's 12th-floor lounge space.
Make new connections during the themed networking hour beginning at 4:30 PM.
Share the joy! Take selfies together and share your conference highlights on Twitter with the hashtag #KnowTogether. Be sure to tag the Institute (@WuTsaiYale)!