Lab News
Signals from the lab
Publications, fellowships, promotions, and milestones, as they happen.
2026
August 10, 2026
Qian Xu joins the lab as a postdoctoral researcher
New people: Qian Xu, Ph.D., joins the lab as a postdoctoral researcher. Welcome, Qian!
June 24, 2026
Adam selected as a 2026 Jane Coffin Childs Fellow
Congratulations to Adam on being selected as a 2026 Jane Coffin Childs Fellow!!
June 17, 2026
Kevin's preprint: A Two-Dimensional Grid-Cell Code for Three-Dimensional Navigation in Freely Flying Bats
Congratulations to Kevin for cracking the mystery of how neural computations in the entorhinal cortex can support 3D navigation: from grid cells to toroidal dynamics, and finally to linking these neural dynamics to the ethological structure of bat behavior. A beautiful example of how studying natural behavior can reveal the computations the brain evolved to perform: 'A Two-Dimensional Grid-Cell Code for Three-Dimensional Navigation in Freely Flying Bats.'
April 15, 2026
Michael Yartsev selected for the Guggenheim Fellowship Research Award
Congratulations to Michael Yartsev for being selected for the Guggenheim Fellowship Research Award! Read this news on UC Berkeley News (https://news.berkeley.edu/2026/04/17/four-uc-berkeley-professors-win-illustrious-guggenheim-fellowships/).
January 23, 2026
Michael Yartsev promoted to Full Professor of Engineering and Neuroscience
Congratulations to Michael Yartsev for being promoted to Full Professor of Engineering and Neuroscience!
January 22, 2026
Kevin receives NRSA F31 Predoctoral fellowship
Congratulations to Kevin for receiving the NRSA F31 Predoctoral fellowship to crack the code of grid-cells in flying bats!
January 9, 2026
Angelo and Krishna's paper: Ultrafast Frame-Free Imaging of Neural Activity with Event Cameras
Big congrats to Angelo and Krishna! From a wild idea to a real milestone toward maybe one day getting wireless voltage imaging in freely flying bats: 'Ultrafast Frame-Free Imaging of Neural Activity with Event Cameras' (previously on bioRxiv, preprint DOI: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.08.698496).
2025
December 12, 2025
Michael awarded the Miller Professorship
Congratulations to Michael for being awarded the Miller Professorship!
November 5, 2025
Adam receives the Nemko Prize in Cellular or Molecular Neuroscience
Congratulations, Adam, for receiving the Nemko Prize in Cellular or Molecular Neuroscience awarded by the Society for Neuroscience!
October 31, 2025
HHMI feature: Beyond the Batcave: How Studying Bats Sheds Light on the Brain and Behavior
Beyond the Batcave: How Studying Bats Sheds Light on the Brain and Behavior. A nice writeup by HHMI press about exciting bat research avenues at HHMI, including, of course, the NeuroBat lab!
October 1, 2025
Angelo starts his own faculty position at the Italian Institute of Technology
Angelo (a recent post-doc in the lab) starts his own independent faculty position at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT). Congratulations Angelo!
August 1, 2025
Boaz awarded a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award
Supporting his work on the neural mechanisms of motor control in flying bats.
July 9, 2025
Nature paper: Replay and representation dynamics in the hippocampus of freely flying bats
Angelo, Wudi, and Kevin's paper on 'Replay and representation dynamics in the hippocampus of freely flying bats' is published today in Nature. Congratulations, Angelo, Wudi, and Kevin!!
July 1, 2025
Adam Lowet joins the lab as a post-doctoral fellow
New people: Adam Lowet joins the lab as a post-doctoral fellow. Welcome aboard Adam!
March 3, 2025
Boaz named a Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholar Awardee
Boaz is named as a Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholar Awardee. Congratulations, Boaz!
January 23, 2025
Michael Yartsev awarded the Richard Lounsbery Award from the National Academy of Sciences
Recognition: Michael Yartsev is awarded the Richard Lounsbery Award from National Academy of Sciences. Congratulations, Michael!!
2024
October 17, 2024
Cell paper: Understanding the Neural Basis of Natural Intelligence
Angelo's paper on 'Understanding the Neural Basis of Natural Intelligence' is published today in Cell. Congratulations, Angelo!
September 24, 2024
Angelo Forli awarded the Peter and Patricia Gruber International Research Award
Angelo Forli is awarded the prestigious Peter and Patricia Gruber International Research Award from the Society of Neuroscience. Congratulations, Angelo!
September 9, 2024
Current Biology paper: role of auditory feedback in vocal production in bats
Julie's paper on the role of auditory feedback in vocal production in bats is officially live today in Current Biology. Congratulations Julie and all the authors, including our wonderful collaborators from the lab of Yehoash Raphael at the University of Michigan!
August 15, 2024
Michael Yartsev named co-director of the Center of Neural Engineering and Prosthesis
Michael Yartsev is named as co-director of the center of neural engineering and prosthesis. Awesome!
July 23, 2024
Michael Yartsev named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator
Michael Yartsev is named as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator. Congratulations, Michael!
July 2, 2024
Nature Neuroscience paper: Neural representation of human experimenters in the bat hippocampus
Madeleine and Kevin's manuscript on the 'Neural representation of humans experimenters in the bat hippocampus' is published today in Nature Neuroscience. Congratulations, Madeleine and Kevin!
June 30, 2024
Tatsumi Yoshida wins a grant from the Japan Student Services Organization
Recognition: Tatsumi Yoshida wins a grant from the Japan Student Services Organization. Congratulations, Tatsumi!
June 25, 2024
Michael Yartsev awarded the Boehringer Ingelheim FENS Research Award
Recognition: Michael Yartsev is awarded the Boehringer Ingelheim FENS Research Award. Congratulations, Michael!
June 19, 2024
Krishna Kasuba wins a Swiss National Science Foundation post-doc fellowship
Recognition: Krishna Kasuba's wins a prestigious post-doc fellowship from Swiss National Science foundation. Congratulations, Krishna!
June 19, 2024
Madeleine Snyder wins the Outstanding GSI Award
Recognition: Congratulations to Madeleine Snyder for winning the 'outstanding GSI award' for her work in Michael's class on the interface between neuroethology and neural engineering. Congratulations Madeleine!
April 19, 2024
Wudi Fan joins the lab as a graduate student
New people: Wudi Fan Joins the lab as a graduate student. Welcome, Wudi!
February 29, 2024
Science paper: convergent evolution of vocal learning associated proteins, regulatory elements and anatomical pathways
Papers: Our joint project with the lab of Andreas Pfenning on convergent evolution of vocal learning associated proteins, regulatory elements and anatomical pathways is published today in Science. Congratulations to lead authors: Morgan, Tobias and Julie.
February 21, 2024
Krishna Kasuba joins the lab as a post-doctoral fellow
New people: Krishna Kasuba joins the lab as a post-doctoral fellow. Welcome aboard Krishna!
January 1, 2024
Michael Yartsev named inaugural director of the Center for the Neuroscience of Natural Behaviors
Michael Yartsev is named an inaugural director of the newly established center for the neuroscience of natural behaviors. Awesome!
2023
August 30, 2023
Nature paper: Hippocampal representation during collective spatial behaviour in bats
Papers: Angelo Forli's paper on the 'Hippocampal representation during collective spatial behaviour in bats' is published today in Nature.
August 1, 2023
Tatsumi Yoshida joins the lab as a graduate student
New people: Tatsumi Yoshida joins the lab as a graduate student. Welcome aboard Tatsumi!
June 30, 2023
Michael Yartsev awarded tenure and promoted to Associate Professor
Recognition: Michael Yartsev is awarded tenure at UC Berkeley and promoted to Associate Professor. Congratulations, Michael!
2022
November 13, 2022
Michael Yartsev awarded the Society for Neuroscience Young Investigator Award
Recognition: Michael Yartsev is awarded the prestigious Society of Neuroscience Young Investigator Award. Congratulations, Michael!
November 12, 2022
Michael Yartsev awarded the Cajal Club Cortical Explorer Award
Recognition: Michael Yartsev is awarded the Cajal Club Cortical Explorer award. Congratulations, Michael!
November 1, 2022
Michael Yartsev named 2022 Peter Gruss Young Investigator Award winner
Recognition: Michael Yartsev Named 2022 Peter Gruss Young Investigator Award Winner! Congratulations, Michael!
August 30, 2022
Nature paper: A stable hippocampal code in freely flying bats
Papers: Our manuscript on 'A stable hippocampal code in freely flying bats' led by Will and Tobias is published today in Nature. Congratulations to the wonderful team of researchers for this amazing work: Will, Tobias, Angelo and Madeleine.
August 1, 2022
Hesper Chen joins the lab as a graduate student
New people: Hesper Chen joins the lab as a graduate student. Welcome aboard Hesper!
May 20, 2022
Yuheng Feng joins the lab as a graduate student
New people: Yuheng Feng joins the lab as a graduate student. Welcome aboard Yuheng!
April 2, 2022
Michael Yartsev awarded the C.J. Herrick Award in Neuroanatomy
Recognition: Michael Yartsev is awarded the C.J. Jerrick Award in Neuroanatomy. Congratulations, Michael!
February 8, 2022
eLife paper by Wujie Zhang and Maimon Rose
Papers: Wujie Zhang's paper, with coauthor Maimon Rose, is published in eLife. Congratulations, Wujie & Maimon!
2021
October 21, 2021
Science paper: Cortical representation of group social communication in bats
Papers: Our manuscript on 'Cortical representation of group social communication in bats' led by Maimon and Boaz is published today in Science. Congratulations to the wonderful team of researchers for this amazing work: Maimon, Boaz, Tobias and Julie.
July 9, 2021
Science paper: Nonlocal spatiotemporal representation in the hippocampus of freely flying bats
Papers: Congratulation to Nick for his manuscript on 'Nonlocal spatiotemporal representation in the hippocampus of freely flying bats'. Published today in Science.
June 11, 2021
Wujie selected for UC President's Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings Fellows
Recognition: Congratulations, Wujie, for being selected for UC President's Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings Fellows!
June 11, 2021
Julie selected for the 2021 Leading Edge Fellows
Recognition: Congratulations, Julie, for being selected for the 2021 Leading Edge Fellows!
May 6, 2021
Michael Yartsev awarded the Society for Social Neuroscience Early Career Award
Recognition: Michael Yartsev is awarded the early career award by the Society of Social Neuroscience. Congratulations, Michael!
May 4, 2021
Kevin Qi joins the lab as a graduate student
New people: Kevin Qi joins the lab as a graduate student. Welcome aboard Kevin!
2020
October 1, 2020
Will Liberti joins the lab as a post-doc
New people: Will Liberti joins the lab as a post-doc. Welcome aboard Will!
July 29, 2020
Wujie Zhang receives the Capranica Prize from the Society for Neuroethology
Recognition: Wujie Zhang was selected to receive the Capranica Prize from the Society of Neuroethology! Congratulations, Wujie!
July 1, 2020
Michael Yartsev selected for the Vallee Scholar Award
Recognition: Michael Yartsev is selected to receive the Vallee Scholar Award. Congratulations, Michael!
April 6, 2020
Madeline Snyder wins the NSF research fellowship
Recognition: Madeline Snyder wins the prestigious NSF research fellowship. Congratulations Madeline!
April 2, 2020
Michael Yartsev awarded the Bakar Faculty Fellow Award
Recognition: Michael Yartsev is awarded the prestigious Bakar Faculty Fellow Award. Congratulations, Michael!
March 28, 2020
Michael Yartsev receives the Rising Star Award from the Mahoney Institute of Neuroscience
Recognition: Michael Yartsev is selected to receive the 'rising star award' from the Mahoney Institute of Neuroscience (MINS). Congratulations, Michael!
March 26, 2020
Angelo Forli selected for the HFSP postdoctoral fellowship
Recognition: Another congratulation to Angelo Forli for being selected to receive the HFSP postdoctoral fellowship. Congratulations Angelo!
March 26, 2020
Tobias Schmid receives the NIH OSNAP Award and the Outstanding GSI Award
Recognition: Double congratulations to Tobias Schmid for being selected to receive (1) the NIH Outstanding Scholars in Neuroscience Award (OSNAP) and (2) The outstanding GSI award. Congratulations Tobias!
February 7, 2020
Boaz Styr joins the lab as a post-doctoral fellow
New people: Boaz Styr Joins the lab as a post-doctoral fellow. Welcome, Boaz!
2019
December 10, 2019
Angelo Forli wins the EMBO long-term fellowship
Grants/awards: Angelo Forli wins the EMBO long-term fellowship. Congratulations Angelo!
November 18, 2019
Angelo Forli joins the lab as a post-doctoral fellow
New people: Angelo Forli Joins the lab as a post-doctoral fellow. Welcome, Angelo!
October 18, 2019
Michael receives the Janett Rosenberg Trubatch Award from the Society for Neuroscience
Recognition: Michael receives the Jannet Rosenberg Trubatch Award from the Society of Neuroscience.
October 9, 2019
Neuron review: a proposed approach for studying vocal learning across species
Papers: A new review with a wonderful group of collaborators on a proposed approach for studying vocal learning across species is published in Neuron.
August 19, 2019
Madeline Snyder joins the lab as a graduate student
New people: Madeline Snyder joins the lab as a graduate student. Welcome, Maddie!
July 29, 2019
Nature Communications paper: long-term and persistent vocal plasticity in adult bats
Papers: Daria's paper on long-term and persistent vocal plasticity in adult bats is published in Nature Communications. Congratulations Daria!
July 11, 2019
Cell paper: Correlated brain activity across the brains of socially interacting bats
Papers: Wujie's paper on correlated brain activity across the brains of socially interacting bats is published in Cell. Congratulations Wujie!
2018
August 3, 2018
Lindsey Loomis joins the lab as a research assistant
New people: Lindsey Loomis joins the lab as a research assistant. Welcome, Lindsey!
May 28, 2018
Maimon and Tobias receive the 2018 Heiligenberg Student Travel Award
Recognition: Two graduate students in the lab are selected to receive the 2018 Heiligenberg Student Travel Award by the Society of Neuroethology. Congratulations Maimon and Tobias!
March 16, 2018
Maria Ji wins the SURF L&S 2018 Fellowship
Recognition: Undergraduate student Maria Ji wins the SURF L&S 2018 Fellowship. Congratulations Maria!
January 10, 2018
Current Biology paper: the neuroethology of bat navigation
Papers: Daria's paper in Current Biology on the neuroethology of bat navigation is accepted. Congratulations Daria!
January 1, 2018
Julie Elie joins the lab as a post-doctoral fellow
New people: Julie Elie joins the lab as a post-doctoral fellow. Welcome Julie!
2017
October 27, 2017
Science review: the need for diversity in animal models for neuroscience research
Papers: Michael's review on the need for diversity in animal models for neuroscience research is out in Science.
October 16, 2017
Michael selected for the 2017 Packard Fellowship in Science and Engineering
Recognition: Michael is selected to receive the 2017 Packard Fellowship in Science and Engineering.
September 25, 2017
New Air Force grant to study the neurobiological basis of 3D navigation
Recognition: Michael receives a new grant from the air force to study the neurobiological basis of 3D navigation.
September 7, 2017
Tobias Schmid receives the 2017 SfN Trainee Professional Development Award
Recognition: Graduate student Tobias Schmid is selected to receive the 2017 Trainee Professional Development Award from the Society of Neuroscience.
July 2017
Yuka Minton joins the lab as lab manager
New people: Yuka Minton joins the lab as our new lab manager. Welcome, Yuka!
May 25, 2017
Michael receives the Brain Research Foundation Fay/Frank Seed Grant
Recognition: Michael receives the Brain Research Foundation Frank/Frank Seed Grant.
May 18, 2017
Michael selected for the 2017 McKnight Scholar Award
Recognition: Michael is selected to receive the 2017 McKnight Scholar Award.
March 17, 2017
Maimon Rose receives an NSF fellowship Honorable Mention
Recognition: Congratulations to Maimon Rose for receiving an Honorable Mention for an NSF fellowship.
February 21, 2017
Michael named 2017 Sloan Research Fellow
Recognition: Michael is named 2017 Sloan Research Fellow.
January 10, 2017
Nick Dotson joins the lab as a post-doctoral fellow
New people: Nick Dotson joins the lab as a post-doctoral fellow. Welcome, Nick!
2016
October 26, 2016
Michael named 2016 NYSCF - Robertson Investigator
Recognition: Michael is named 2016 NYSCF - Robertson Investigator.
October 3, 2016
Michael awarded the 2016 NIH Director's New Innovator Award
Recognition: Michael is awarded the 2016 NIH Director's New Innovator Award.
June 20, 2016
Michael awarded the 2016 Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship
Recognition: Michael is awarded the 2016 Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship.
June 9, 2016
Michael named 2016 Pew Scholar
Recognition: Michael is named 2016 Pew Scholar.
April 27, 2016
Maimon joins the lab for a PhD thesis
People: Maimon joins the lab for a PhD thesis! Welcome!
April 11, 2016
Michael named 2016 Searle Scholar
Recognition: Michael is named 2016 Searle Scholar.
April 1, 2016
Tobias Schmid admitted to the HWNI graduate program and wins the NSF graduate research fellowship
People & Recognition: Double congratulations to Tobias Schmid who got admitted to the HWNI graduate program at UC Berkeley & won the prestigious NSF graduate research fellowship. Congratulations Tobias!!!
April 1, 2016
Dr. Wujie Zhang joins the lab as a post-doctoral fellow
New people: Dr. Wujie Zhang from Columbia University joins the lab as a post-doctoral fellow. Welcome Wujie!
March 15, 2016
Justin Baik named Haas Scholar
Recognition: Justin Baik, the first undergraduate student of the lab, is named Haas Scholar for his proposal on optogenetics in bats.
February 22, 2016
Michael awarded a Human Frontiers Science Program grant
Recognition: Michael is awarded with a grant from the Human Frontiers Science Program with collaborators from Germany and the Netherlands.
2015
October 12, 2015
Daria Genzel wins a DFG research fellowship
Recognition: Daria Genzel wins yet another grant. This time a two year research fellowship from the German Research Foundation (DFG).
October 2, 2015
Dr. Daria Genzel joins the lab and wins the DAAD visiting scholar fellowship
New people & Recognition: Dr. Daria Genzel from Munich (Germany) joins the lab & wins the DAAD visiting scholar fellowship.
October 1, 2015
Tobias Schmid joins the lab from UCSF
New people: Tobias Schmid from UCSF joins the lab - Welcome aboard Tobias!
September 23, 2015
Justin selected as a Berkeley Physics Undergraduate Research Scholar
Recognition: Justin is selected as a Berkeley Physics Undergraduate Research Scholar - Congratulations Justin!
September 17, 2015
Michael awarded a Charles A. Dana Foundation grant (David Mahoney Neuroimaging program)
Recognition: Michael is awarded with a grant from the Charles A. Dana Foundation - David Mahoney Neuroimaging program.
August 14, 2015
Michael awarded the NSF BRAIN Initiative EAGER award
Recognition: Michael is awarded with the BRAIN initiative EAGER award by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
August 6, 2015
Michael selected as an Allen Institute for Brain Science Next Generation Leader
Recognition: Michael is selected as a member of The Allen Institute for Brain Science Next Generation Leaders.
July 13, 2015
Michael awarded the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Fund for Convergence Research
Recognition: Michael is awarded the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Fund for Convergence Research in Biomedical, Physical and Engineering Sciences.
July 11, 2015
Justin Baik joins the lab
New People: Justin Baik from the physics department at UC Berkeley joins the lab - Welcome aboard Justin!
July 10, 2015
Michael wins the Konishi Neuroethology Research Award
Recognition: Michael wins the Konishi Neuroethology Research Award from the International Society of Neuroethology.
July 1, 2015