Date: 22-26 March 2027
Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
Target Audience: PhD students, junior postdocs, and advanced Master’s students in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, computer science, and related fields.
Contact emails (Dr. Tsvetelina Yorgova):
vibratelab@gmail.com
tsvetelina.yorgova@iict.bas.bg
Program Commitee
SPeakers
About the Spring School
The VIBraTE-supported Spring School 2027 (22–26 March) will bring together PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and leading experts to explore the future of neurotechnology, AI, neural implants, and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).
Through expert lectures, hands-on workshops, and interdisciplinary projects, participants will discover emerging technologies, discuss ethical challenges, present their research, and develop innovative ideas for future BCI applications. The program will also create opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange, connecting researchers from Bulgaria and abroad.
Why Attend?
- Gain in-depth knowledge from leading experts in neurotechnology.
- Participate in hands-on workshops and real-world case studies.
- Network with professionals from academia, industry, and healthcare.
- Enhance your career through collaborative projects and expert feedback.
Language: English
Program Highlights
- Afternoon: Registration of participants.
- Evening: Speakers’ Dinner.
14:30-15:30 Afternoon: Registration of participants of the Spring school 2027
19:30-00:00 Evening: Mentors’ and Speakers’ Dinner
Morning Session: moderator Prof. Dimiter Prodanov
09:30-10:00 Welcome & Introduction: Overview of the format, goals, and expected
outcomes.
10:00-10:45 Keynote Lecture 1: Thomas Stieglitz: The Future of Neurotechnology:
Trends and Challenges – An expert in the field provides a high-level overview of current trends in neurotechnology,
with a focus on the intersection of implants, BCIs, and neuroinformatic.
10:45-11:15 Coffee Break
11:15-12:00 Exhibitor/ Sponsor presentation: Yanislav Trendafilov – Neuromorphica
12:00-12:45 Discussion & Q&A
13:00-14:30 Lunch
14:30-15:15 Afternoon Session: moderator Structured Roundtable: Participant Introductions: Each participant presents
their research using two slides in a 5-minute slot. Participants are required to
submit a short abstract (200–300 words) at registration as preparation for this session.
15:15-15:45 Coffee Break
15:45-16:30 Group project kick-off: Brainstorming Future Applications of BCI and case
definition. Participants will be divided into interdisciplinary teams to work on
selected projects to be presented on Day 5.
16:30-17:30 Poster Session
17:30-18:30 Evening: Networking Reception
Morning Session:
09:30-11:00 Keynote Lecture 2: Large Language Models in Science and
Neurotechnology – An overview of the current LLM landscape, key
architectures, and emerging applications in scientific research, clinical settings, and neurotechnology, including neural data interpretation, multimodal AI, and human-AI interaction.
11:00-11:30 Coffee Break
11:30-12:15 Keynote Lecture 3: Introduction to Neural Implants: Types and Applications – An overview of various neural implants, including deep brain stimulators, cochlear implants, and cortical implants.
13:00-14:30 Lunch
Afternoon Session: Kristina Eskenazi: Workshop: Ethics and Neurotechnology and AI – A moderated discussion on the ethical considerations, privacy concerns, and societal implications of widespread
BCI and AI adoption.
14:30-16:00 Team Work: Group project development continues with mentor feedback.
Evening: Free Timel
Morning Session:
9:30-11:00 Workshop: Intellectual property for researchers
11:00-11:30 Coffee Break
11:30-13:00 Case studies of participants
13:00-14:30 Lunch
14:30-15:30 Afternoon Session: Workshop: how and when to write a patent?
15:30-16:00 Coffee Break
16:00-17:00 Team Work: Group project development continues with mentor
feedback.
17:30-19:30 Evening: Social Event – Cultural Excursion
9:30-13:00 Morning Session:
Lecture 3: Prof. Dr. Sotir Sotirov: Deep Learning for Image Recognition: From Convolutional Neural
Networks to Intelligent Applications
13:00-14:30 Lunch
14:30-15:30 Afternoon Session: Group Project Presentations: each team presents their project
15:30-16:30 Feedback from participants to organizers
16:30-17:30 Closing Ceremony: Certificate distribution, final remarks, and a summary of key takeaways from
the week. Farewell reception and networking opportunities
Departures
Registration
Participants wishing to attend the VIBraTE PhD Spring School are kindly asked to arrange their own accommodation and book directly with Bankya Palace Hotel. Participants are responsible for making their own reservations and covering all accommodation costs. Please note that the organizers do not provide accommodation or cover hotel expenses.
Register now to secure your spot at the VIBraTE PhD Spring School and be part of shaping the future of neurotechnology!
Outcomes & Benefits
- Knowledge Expansion: Stay updated with the latest advancements.
- Practical Skills: Hands-on experience in neurotechnology systems.
- Networking Opportunities: Build valuable connections across disciplines.
- Career Development: Gain insights from seasoned professionals.