Professor Sheena Josselyn is one of Canada’s leading neuroscientists. Her research explores how memories are formed, stored, and utilized. Through a series of landmark publications, Prof. Josselyn has shown that engrams, or ensembles of neurons, are the fundamental units of memory storage in the brain. She was the first person to present scientific evidence of an engram, showing that specific memories in mice could be “erased” and “enhanced”. Her work has explained how different memories interconnect to form knowledge, how they can be flexibly retrieved, and how they can sometimes be forgotten. The culmination of her discoveries has advanced our understanding of memory organization processes and opened up an entirely novel avenue in memory research. 

Professor Josselyn is a Senior Scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) Research Institute and a Professor of Psychology and Physiology at the University of Toronto. She earned an undergraduate and master’s degree in psychology from Queens University. She then pursued a PhD in psychology and neuroscience at U of T, while continuing to see patients and pursue clinical work outside of the lab. As a postdoctoral researcher in Drs. Mike Davis’ (Yale) and Alcino Silva’s (UCLA) labs, she began her work on engrams in mice. She ultimately founded her own lab at SickKids in 2003. 

As a Tier-1 Canada Research Chair, her innovative approach and pioneering discoveries earned her international acclaim and recognition. She is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2018), Member of the National Academy of Medicine (2022) and Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2023). 

Professor Josselyn’s illustrious career is adorned with numerous prestigious awards, including the Bety & David Koester Award for Brain Research from the University of Zurich, the Effron Award from the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and the Innovations in Psychopharmacology Award from the Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology. She has also been honored with the Andrew Carnegie Prize in Mind and Brain Sciences, the Pavlovian Society Research Award, and the UCLA Distinguished Lecture Award. 

Professor Josselyn is poised to make a profound impact on the next generation of scientists through her exemplary leadership and dedication to mentorship. By fostering an inclusive and collaborative research environment, she empowers members of underrepresented groups in science, ensuring that diverse voices contribute to the future of neuroscience. 

A proud member of the Métis Nation of Ontario and a first-generation PhD, Prof. Josselyn is a passionate advocate for public engagement in science. Her commitment to public outreach further amplifies her influence, serving as an inspiring role model. Named “Maestro of Memory”, by Quanta magazine, she is often featured in media (The Transmitter; The Scientist), and by appearing in Canadian news.