Board Recruitment: We currently have two open calls for our Board of Directors, reflecting a more open and transparent recruitment approach as Neuromatch works to broaden representation and strengthen the expertise and global perspectives on our Board:
New Strategic Advisory Board: We are excited to announce the establishment of Neuromatch’s new Strategic Advisory Board, which will provide external perspective and guidance as we enter our next phase of growth. The Board will help strengthen our global strategy, partnerships, and long-term impact. You can view the members of the Strategic Advisory Board here.
Website Refresh: We’ve launched an early preview of the new Neuromatch website and invite you to explore it ahead of the planned release beginning 17 March: https://dev.neuromatch.io/ This is still a work in progress, and community input is especially valuable at this stage. Our goal is to create a website that is easy to navigate, clearly showcases our impact, and highlights the strength of our diverse, global community. We would also especially appreciate feedback on the Course Pages and the Our Story page. Please log your feedback so we can review and prioritise updates.
OFAC Updates and Implications: Our OFAC license for Iran expires on 30 April 2026. Our legal counsel has submitted a renewal application; however, based on current geopolitical conditions, there is a significant likelihood that the license may be delayed or not approved in time for the 2026 Academy. We are working with the community to develop contingency plans and will keep everyone updated as we learn more.
Neuromatch at COSYNE 2026: We’ll be attending COSYNE in Lisbon from 12–15 March. The conference is a key opportunity to connect with our global community, strengthen partner relationships, and increase visibility for the upcoming AI Sentience Scholars launch.
ALBA-Neuromatch-IBRO Event: We’ve begun planning a joint interactive event with ALBA (supported by IBRO) at the FENS Forum, focused on equitable global participation in neuroscience training. This positions Neuromatch alongside major international training initiatives and strengthens our visibility within the global neuroscience ecosystem.
AI Sentience Scholars Program: We’ve now secured 8 exciting mentor-led projects! Applications open 17 March and close 28 April, with the program running June–December 2026. We’re refining the new webpage and materials to sharpen positioning and expectations, have built a Slite wiki, and are working closely with partners to finalize the workshop component. We’ll also host an Application Support Webinar on 1 April at 15:00 UTC to help candidates assess fit and strengthen the applicant pool.
Academy Updates
2026 Academy Applications Open: Applications for the 2026 Neuromatch Academy are now open. You can view applications in real time here: Dashboard. We have received around 750 student applications in the first two weeks, with the application deadline on 15 March.
Academy Outreach: The Communications team is actively promoting the Academy through social media, partner outreach, and newsletters, but we need the help of the wider community to spread the word. We’ve created an Academy Registration Toolkit with posters, email templates, and other resources to make sharing easy. Please take a few minutes to share with your networks, listservs, and communities.
Ambassador Program: Our Ambassador Program continues to shine, with 22 dedicated Ambassadors actively answering questions, engaging prospective students, and spreading the word about our programs. We’re grateful for the energy and leadership this group brings to the community!
Python for Computational Science Week: Nearly 2,000 participants pledged a week of self-study using our Python materials. The campaign boosted engagement on Reddit, grew our mailing list, and raised awareness of Neuromatch’s open-source resources. If you’re interested in helping build this initiative for next year, join the #a-python-week channel.
Updating Coursebooks: Our tech team is addressing outdated coursebook infrastructure and is in the final stages of optimizing the processing pipeline. We plan to convert the published materials to Jupyter Book 2, improving maintainability and the overall user experience.
Financial Snapshot
Financial Runway: As of 27 February 2026, Neuromatch Inc. held $862,289 in the bank. Based on current projections, and not accounting for pending or future fundraising, Neuromatch will exhaust available and committed funds in April 2027. This provides a conservative financial runway of approximately 13 months.
Fundraising
Dana Foundation: Following submission of two Letters of Interest, we’ve been invited to submit two full proposals: NeuroAI & Society ($150k) to support workshops, scholar-led projects, and hackathons on the ethical and societal implications of NeuroAI, and NeuroAI: Intelligence in Brains and Machines ($180k), a high-school program developed in partnership with ARNI.
Longview Philanthropy: We submitted a $60k supplemental request to support an in-person convening for the AI Sentience Scholars alongside the CIFAR Neuroscience of Consciousness Winter School. Decision pending.
Pending Applications: Applications for a Civic Science Fellow (AISS-linked) and a Wellcome contract extension to continue support for MEXA ($500k over two years) remain under review.
Standing Reminders
Volunteer Comment Box: Our Volunteer Engagement & Recognition Working Group maintains a Volunteer Comment Box where volunteers can share thoughts, ideas, concerns, and feedback about their experience with Neuromatch. Submissions can be anonymous and submitted at any time. We will share the link in the #_annoucements channel regularly for easy access. You are also always welcome to reach out to the working group directly at #_vol-engagement-work-group. This comment box complements our annual volunteer survey to support ongoing, open dialogue.
CEO Office Hours: A reminder that Bradley hosts regular CEO Office Hours for anyone in the community who would like to connect — whether to have a virtual coffee, a general chat, discuss strategy, explore a specific program, or propose a new idea or direction. You can book a 30-min virtual meeting on Thursdays from 16:30–17:30 UTC OR Fridays 09:30–10:30 UTC: Calendly Booking Link.
Monthly Open Core Team Meeting: A reminder that our Open Core Team Meeting takes place on the last Tuesday of every month, 14:00–15:00 UTC. Please look out for the announcement in Slack for the Zoom link.