Unconventional Neuroscientists

The Next Generation of Neuroscience

We're not your typical community.
We're a movement.

As the rules of learning and education are changing, people from diverse backgrounds who are passionate about neuroscience are stepping up — taking action to contribute, to make a change, to make an impact.

Some of the world's brightest minds are already obsessed with the brain — founders, artists, engineers, even if they never studied it formally.

We're building a home for them. And for you.

A platform for stories, connections, and people shaping the next generation of Neuroscience.

Our Outrageous Mission

Inclusivity

Challenge the narrative that you need traditional credentials to contribute.

Innovation

Bring together brilliant minds from all backgrounds to collaborate, and create the next generation of neuroscience breakthroughs.

Accessibility

Make neuroscience radically accessible, understandable, and open to anyone who wants to learn, contribute or explore.

Why I Started This

Read a letter from the founder
Arrow pointing to envelope
Letter from founder

Our Community Programs

The Unconventional Weekly

Weekly discussions breaking down the latest neuroscience research, trends, and breakthroughs that matter to our community.

Read Issues

NeuroStories

NeuroStories is a living archive of personal journeys in neuroscience. Anonymous or named, from quick reflections to long essays, we want to capture the diverse voices that shape neuroscience and the many paths that lead here.

Share Yours Here

Neuro Course Board

A live bulletin for all the latest summer schools, trainings, and workshops in neuroscience.

BrainCourses

Monthly Meetups

Join us every first Tuesday of the month for deep conversations, networking, and collaborative discussions about the future of neuroscience.

Join Next Meetup

Meet the Team

Nayanika Biswas
Founder
LinkedIn
Avneet Bahra
Program Manager
LinkedIn

Join the Movement

Connect with us across all platforms and become part of the change.

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A Letter from the Founder

Dear reader,

My journey into neuroscience has been anything but traditional. I never formally studied neuroscience, either before or after deciding to pursue it. I taught myself everything I know through textbooks, research papers, and by cold-emailing people.

It wasn't always easy, but it also taught me things that no class ever could. Within two years of pivoting to neuroscience, I led my first research project. Along the way, I got to interact with researchers, clinicians, consumers, investors, and individuals with lived experience.

I wore many hats: researcher, communicator, advisor. I explored several subfields including computational, cognitive, behavioral, and systems neuroscience.

The hardest part, though, was feeling like I didn’t quite belong. Until I realized something important: most people I admire in neuroscience have unconventional journeys of their own. What makes the difference is not how you arrive here, but who you walk alongside. The people who thrive are those who find a community.

Life has been a roller coaster. And I have a long way to go. But I would love to do it with you all.

That's why I created Unconventional Neuroscientists.

Love,
Nayanika