Dr. Sheena Josselyn awarded Peter Seeburg Integrative Neuroscience Prize

Dr. Sheena Josselyn, Senior Scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), has been named the recipient of the 2025 Peter Seeburg Integrative Neuroscience Prize, in recognition of her profound impact on memory research.  

The prize, presented by the Society for Neuroscience and the Schaller-Nikolich Foundation, honours scientists who successfully connect molecular and cellular events to brain circuits and systems to explain cognitive and behavioural processes such as emotion, learning, memory, attention, and decision-making.  

“It’s a tremendous honour to be recognized and receive this prize, highlighting the importance of curiosity-driven research and the collective efforts of my colleagues and trainees. I hope our work on memory and engrams continues to open new doors for understanding the brain,” says Josselyn, who is also a Professor of Psychology and Physiology at the University of Toronto. 

Josselyn was selected for her innovative studies uncovering and manipulating engrams — the physical representations of a memory — and demonstrating how memories can be erased, interconnected and flexibly retrieved. Her work has opened new avenues for understanding memory formation and dysfunction, with implications for treating complex neurological conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder and Alzheimer’s disease. 

“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Sheena Josselyn for receiving this prestigious prize. This recognition reflects not only her role in defining engrams as a cornerstone of basic memory processes, but her sustained contributions to fundamental discoveries that promise to advance treatments for brain conditions,” says Dr. Stephen Scherer, Chief of Research. 

Josselyn leads a research lab in the Neurosciences & Mental Health program at SickKids. Most recently, her lab revealed how stress alters the encoding and retrieval of aversive memories. She holds a Canada Research Chair in Memory Function and Dysfunction and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the National Academy of Medicine, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 

"Sheena Josselyn’s research into how the brain stores and reconstructs experiences has deepened our understanding of memory and its relevance to neurological and psychiatric disorders,” says Leah Cowen, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Toronto. “Her work exemplifies research that bridges fundamental discovery and real-world health challenges – and is a shining example of the spirit of collaboration and interdisciplinary inquiry that ties U of T and our partner hospitals. On behalf of the entire U of T community, I would like to congratulate Professor Josselyn on this most richly deserved honour.” 

The $100,000 award will be presented at the Society for Neuroscience’s annual meeting in November. Read more in the award announcement.