ACNS 2025 Conference
Pre-Conference Workshops

ACNS 2025 Pre-Conference Workshops

Pre-conference workshops will be held on Tuesday 25th November, at Deakin University (Burwood) and Monash University (Clayton).

See below for more details about each workshop, and make sure to add them to your registration.

If you have already registered, you can add a workshop to your registration later by clicking on each of the workshop titles or images below.

If you have any questions or have a workshop you would like to run, please email conference@acns.org.au

ECR Grant Writing Workshop: Strategies for Success with ARC Experts (free)

Host: Ashleigh Vella & Emily Friedel

About: Join us for an in-depth Grant Writing Workshop designed to help researchers craft competitive, compelling grant applications. Featuring two distinguished experts from the Australian Research Council (ARC) Professor Katherine Johnson and Professor Gavan McNally, this session will provide insider insights into what makes a successful grant proposal and how to align your application with ARC priorities. This workshop will cover key elements of persuasive grant writing, common pitfalls to avoid, and practical tips for improving clarity, structure, and impact.

Key Highlights:

– Insights from two seasoned ARC College of Experts members

– Understanding the review process and assessment criteria

– Strategies for framing your research and demonstrating impact

– Interactive Q&A session

Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your grant writing skills and those interested in applying for 2027 DECRA applications.

Location: Level 2 of the Burwood Corporate Centre, Deakin University.

Time: 2pm-3:30pm

Schedule: TBC

From Sensor to Signal: Practical EEG Data Acquisition and Analysis Using High-Density Systems Workshop

Host: A/Prof Jarrad Lum, Dr Talitha Ford, Dr Aron Hill

About: This workshop provides an end-to-end walkthrough of EEG data acquisition and analysis. Attendees will observe the complete setup of a participant using a 128-channel EEG system, with practical discussion around the logistical and methodological considerations. We will guide participants through multi-subject preprocessing using MATLAB and associated EEGLAB toolboxes, followed by ERP and time–frequency analysis using FieldTrip. Emphasis will be placed on appropriate statistical inference, with visualisation of group-level effects. The session also critically addresses an important design consideration: how many electrodes are enough? We will discuss the trade-offs involved when selecting between low- and high-density systems (e.g., ~20, 32, 64, or 128 channels), including the impact of gel- vs. saline-based setups on data quality, participant comfort, and experimental throughput. This workshop is ideal for early career researchers commencing EEG research, or those setting up a lab, offering practical insight into efficient and rigorous EEG research practices. All data and code used during the session will be provided to participants.

Location: Level 2 of the Burwood Corporate Centre, Deakin University.

Time: 10am-1pm

Schedule: TBC

Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation Workshop

Host: A/Prof James Coxon

About: This workshop aims to provide an introduction to the use of Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation (TUS) for neuromodulation. The workshop will involve lectures combined with interactive sessions designed to give attendees a foundational understanding of the physical and biomechanical bases of ultrasound neuromodulation, the challenges of implementing the technique, and its potential and current application in cognitive and clinical neuroscience. It is assumed that attendees will have no prior experience with the technique and are curious to gain exposure for the first time. The workshop will provide an introduction to kWave simulations of the ultrasound acoustic field through the human skull, and a live demonstration of transducer coupling and neuronavigated targeting of a deep brain region. Attendees should leave with an enhanced understanding of the considerations required to design, perform, and analyse transcranial ultrasound stimulation studies in a safe and replicable way.

Location: Monash University (Clayton).

Time: 9:30am-4pm

Schedule: TBC

Symbiotic Devices Workshop: The practice of EEG hyperscanning

Host: Dr. David Medine & Agnieszka Iwasiw

About: The vast majority of psychology experiments involving EEG are single subject studies. However, there is an preponderance of research questions to be asked that require the simultaneous recording of 2 or more participants at the same time. This workshop deals with the technical challenges and solutions available for simultaneous EEG recordings and data analysis.

Location: Level 2 of the Burwood Corporate Centre, Deakin University.

Time: 10am-1pm

Schedule: TBC