USF · Neuroscience
Dr. Narayan Sankaran
Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at the University of San Francisco, sharing his lab's latest research on how the brain perceives music.
Wednesday · October 28, 2026 · San Francisco
NeuroNight SF
A free night for anyone curious about the brain: students, professionals, career changers and the just-plain-curious. Meet new people, play brain games, grab free food and catch three short, fun Mini Keynotes on where neuroscience is heading.
- 5:00–7:00 PM
- 808 Kearny St, Chinatown
- Free · Food & mocktails
- Open to everyone · 18+
Why come
The brain is everyone's business.
Neuroscience reaches far beyond the lab. It shapes how products get designed, how companies understand customers, how new medicines get made, and how brain–computer interfaces are being built right here in the Bay Area.
NeuroNight SF brings together students from community colleges and universities, public and private, alongside career-changers and working professionals for one relaxed evening of brain games, real conversations, Mini Keynotes and a raffle. Come curious. No neuroscience degree required.
Schedule
Two hours of talks, Q&A, games and new connections.
Doors open
Food, mocktails and hands-on brain games. Grab a name tag and a neuron passport, and start meeting people.
Welcome & Mini Keynotes
A welcome from organizer Manuel Cardona, then Mini Keynotes from Dr. Narayan Sankaran (USF) and Dr. Jun Axup Penman (E11 Bio).
Panel Q&A breakouts
Small-group Q&A at dedicated tables with EMOTIV, XEIA Venture Partners, Mindstate Design Labs, Sleep Reset and an Academic Corner with Dr. Tyler Kennedy, plus the Lumosity demo station. More food, drinks and games, too.
Raffle & Mini Keynote
The raffle comes first: everyone who checks in is entered, and two extra winners are drawn from full neuron passports turned in by 6:25 PM. Select prizes include tickets to Protocols with Dr. Andrew Huberman at 7 PM that night at the Masonic in San Francisco ($160 value!). Must be present to win. Then our final Mini Keynote from Dr. Reza Abbasi-Asl (UCSF Neuroscape) on where neuroscience meets AI.
Heading to the Masonic after? It's on Nob Hill, a short ride from the venue. The California Street cable car runs a few blocks south. NeuroNight SF is an independent event and isn't affiliated with Huberman Lab.
Speakers
Mini Keynotes
E11 Bio · Brain mapping
Dr. Jun Axup Penman
Chief Operating Officer of E11 Bio, a nonprofit research organization building tools to map the brain's wiring. Former Chief Science Officer at the IndieBio accelerator.
UCSF · Neuroscience & AI
Dr. Reza Abbasi-Asl
Associate Professor of Neurology and Bioengineering at UCSF and Neuroscape core faculty, working at the intersection of neuroscience and AI.
Breakout tables · 6:00 PM
Panel Q&A: neurotech, investing, demos, research careers, sleep science, and more
At 6:00 PM, each host will have a dedicated table for small-group Q&A.
NEURON PASSPORT6:00 PM · TABLE Q&A
- Organization
- EMOTIV
- Host
- Jiazhen Hong
- Showing / discussing
- Live EEG demo + EMOTIV's Brain Foundation Model
- Format
- Demo + Q&A
- Organization
- XEIA Venture Partners
- Host
- Samantha Tabone, General Partner
- Showing / discussing
- Investor Q&A on how neuroscience and health ideas get funded
- Format
- Investor Q&A
- Organization
- Mindstate Design Labs
- Host
- Dillan DiNardo
- Showing / discussing
- AI-driven neuroscience for breakthrough mental health therapeutics
- Format
- Panel Q&A
- Organization
- Sleep Reset
- Host
- Pranav Jandhyala
- Showing / discussing
- The science of sleep and CBT for insomnia
- Format
- Q&A
- Organization
- Academic Corner
- Host
- Dr. Tyler Kennedy, evolutionary cell biologist, former postdoctoral fellow and lecturer
- Showing / discussing
- PhD & teaching Q&A: what a research and teaching career really looks like
- Format
- PhD & teaching Q&A
- Organization
- Lumosity
- Host
- Self-guided demo station
- Showing / discussing
- #1 brain training app, designed by neuroscientists
- Format
- Demo station
Venue
The Bamboo Room, with a city-view patio
Where
Bamboo Room (Room 402)
CCSF Chinatown/North Beach Center808 Kearny St (at Washington St)
San Francisco, CA 94108
- A large room with a patio overlooking the city
- Across from Portsmouth Square
- Muni: 1, 8, 30 and 45 lines nearby
- California Street cable car a few blocks south
FAQ
Good questions.
Do I have to be a student?
No. NeuroNight is open to anyone 18+ who's curious about the brain. You don't need to attend any school, have a science degree or work in neuroscience. Students, professionals, career changers and the just-plain-curious are all welcome.
What food will there be?
Free food from Chinatown and non-alcoholic mocktails. There's a separate vegetarian table, and every dish is labeled, including which items contain pork. Tell us about dietary needs when you RSVP.
What's the vibe?
A relaxed mixer, not a lecture. Most of the night is appetizers, brain games and meeting people, with three short Mini Keynotes along the way. Bring a friend.
Who should come?
Anyone curious about the brain. That includes students from any school (community college or university, any major), recent grads, career-changers, working professionals in any field, and people who are simply curious. This event is 18+.
Does it cost anything?
No. The event, appetizers and drinks are free. Space is limited, so please RSVP.
Do I need a science background?
Not at all. The games are for everyone, and the Mini Keynotes are short and built for a mixed crowd from business, science and tech.
How do I add it to my calendar?
Use the Add to calendar button (Google, Apple, Outlook and Yahoo). After you register on the Google Form, we also email you a calendar invite from hello@neuronightsf.org. If you don't see it, check your Promotions or Spam folder.
Can I arrive late?
Yes, drop in anytime. Head to the Bamboo Room (Room 402). Come by 5:30 PM to catch the Mini Keynotes, and stay until 6:30 PM for the raffle and our final Mini Keynote.
Want to sponsor or volunteer?
We're looking for partners to cover appetizers, raffle prizes and outreach. Email hello@neuronightsf.org.
Help fill the room
Know someone who should be here?
Copy a ready-made announcement, grab a flier or Instagram image for your school or group, or send a quick personal invite to friends, classmates or colleagues.
Save your spot for October 28.
Free, but space is limited. RSVP and we'll send your calendar invite and reminders.
Already registered? Add it to your calendar →
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