A founding Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience, the Vermont Chapter for the SFN was already in existence when the national SFN was established. Dr. Dave Whitehorn, who came to UVM from the University of Utah to join the department of Physiology and Biophysics, in conjunction with a core group of neuroscientists at UVM, was instrumental in establishing the Vermont Chapter for the SFN and was the Chapter's first President. The first national meeting of the SFN was held in Washington DC in the autumn of 1971. The Vermont Chapter grew from an already existing core group of UVM faculty who viewed themselves in the larger context of neuroscience. There was an active physiological psychology group in the Psychology department, including Bruce Kapp (who was one of the VT Chapters later presidents) and Steve Goldstein. Additionally, in Anatomy and Neurobiology, Joe Wells was doing very early work on neuronal transplants. Another major contributor to the chapter's formation was Edie Hendley, who was in Physiology and Biophysics. The Vermont Chapter for the SFN had a number of activities in the early years. The President of UVM provided funding to bring in a series of world class speakers on the topic of mental disorders, from     a wide range of perspectives. One of these talks was given by Dr. Seymour Kety, a world renowned scientist, who received the Albert Lasker Award for basic medical research in 1999 and served as the first scientific director of NIMH. Since then the VT Chapter for the SFN has enjoyed good years and prevailed through lean times. Chapter membership has grown from 80 members in 2005 to more than 125 members in 2014. The first annual retreat was held at Stowe Mountain Resort under the leadership of the then President, Dr. Diane Jaworski (Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, UVM). These annual retreats continue, bringing VT SfN members and the larger neuroscience, behavior and health communities together.

Our Members, Our Community

Members of the Vermont Chapter include faculty, postdocs, staff and students from The University of Vermont, Middlebury College, St. Michael’s College, and other colleges in the area. The Vermont Chapter for the Society of Neuroscience is one of the main sponsors of the annual Neuroscience, Behavior and Health (NBH) Research Forum. The chapter has also provided support to a variety of local outreach activities including the Vermont Brain Bee and Brain Awareness Week events. 

Members' participation is crucial to the success of these programs.

Show your support by renewing your membership (or joining as a new member)!

The membership process includes a membership form and payment.  Please click here to complete the 2026 VT SfN Membership Form. 

The 2026 VT SfN Membership rates are: $45 for faculty, $35 for postdocs and staff, and $25 for graduate students. Payments can be made via check or by Pay Pal. 

Undergraduates (and High School teachers) are eligible for a FREE membership (must still complete a membership form). 

If you are paying your membership dues by Pay Pal, please use the links below:

• Faculty Membership: $45
• Post-doc or Staff Membership: $35
• Graduate student Membership: $25

If you are paying your membership dues by check, please send to:

Molly Stanley, Treasurer
University of Vermont,  Marsh Life Sciences, Room 104B
109 Carrigan Drive
Burlington, VT 05405

The Executive Board

President:

• Brigitte Lavoie, Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, the University of Vermont 

Treasurer:

• Molly Stanley, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Vermont 

Secretary:

• Jeremy Barry, Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont 

Post Doc Representative:

• None at this time.

Graduate Student Representative:

• Emery Harlan, Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
• Caitlen Allen, Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont

16th Annual Neuroscience, Behavior and Health Forum

More information coming soon!

Held: January 30-31, 2026

Location: Maple Ballroom | Davis Center | University of Vermont | Burlington, Vermont

Keynote Speaker: Francisco J. Quintana, PhD
Associate Scientist, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Professor of Neurology, Harvard University
Associate Member, Broad Institute

"Regulation of the immune response in the CNS by astrocytes"

**********************

The NBH Forum is supported by the VT Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience. Every year it brings together faculty and students from various schools and programs in the Vermont area to share their research. 

It is a great occasion for graduate and undergraduate students, post-docs and new faculty to present their recent data, discuss novel ideas and establish new collaborations. This event also overlaps with the interviews of the prospective students applying to the Neuroscience Graduate Program and it provides them with a great overview of the research projects and training opportunities offered at UVM.
 

Brigitte Lavoie, PhD 
President, VT Chapter SfN
Office Location:
Given D403A
89 Beaumont Ave
Burlington, VT 05405
Phone: 802-656-2011
Email: Brigitte.Lavoie@uvm.edu