I am very excited to announce a new venture that I am working on: a training course to learn everything you need to know about tDCS/tACS. Inspired by the many questions I get from trainees and collaborators at meetings about study design and target identification and engagement for tDCS and tACS studies, I have decided to put together a 1-day workshop in my home town, beautiful Chapel Hill in North Carolina. It will take place on May 24th 2017.

As you may know from previous posts, I enjoy teaching and mentoring - this is one more way how to share my insights/mistakes/lessons learned with the community. The course will be as interdisciplinary and interactive as the many lectures and talks I have given. This will be a lot of fun! We will talk about how to choose targets for tDCS/tACS, how to measure and determine target engagement, the underlying network neuroscience, study design, and ... yes .. electrical engineering of brain stimulation! We will also do some hands on activities.

Please note that the course is not affiliated with my employer. The course is organized through my startup company Pulvinar Neuro that offers a unique tDCS/tACS system for high-quality research. You can learn more and sign up here. I am looking forward to meeting you at the course!

Striving for an academic career is a risky choice. When you mentor postdocs, you are helping them navigate the perhaps most difficult career step. Traditionally, professors present/imply the (very) incorrect vision that all postdocs could and should become professors. Quite clearly, very simple math tells us that this sentiment, often conveyed to postdocs, is simply not true and thus not helpful. Here are some thoughts on what could be helpful, instead:

• Recognize the fact that it is in general unlikely for any postdoc to become professor.
• Acknowledge that other career tracks are equally satisfying.
• Stress long-term happiness and wellness as important aspects in any career decision.
• Help the postdoc be realistic (this can be uncomfortable!) while remaining an adequate amount of optimism.
• Explain the element of randomness (aka luck) in any career step.
• Be clear and open about the level of support you can provide. Postdocs should hear from you what it takes to get a stellar letter / what it takes to get a very strong letter / etc. etc.
• Give postdocs sufficient time to find their way but be firm about fair deadlines. If you set a timeline for wrapping up a postdoc, adding few months again and again to "be nice" does not help anybody.