Turk-Browne reappointed as director of Wu Tsai Institute

Dear Colleagues, 

I am pleased to announce the reappointment of Professor Nick Turk-Browne as director of the Wu Tsai Institute for a four-year term concluding June 30, 2029. This reappointment reflects both the exceptional leadership Nick has provided as the inaugural director of the institute and the remarkable growth and achievements realized under his direction. 

The Wu Tsai Institute was established in 2021 thanks to a transformative gift from alumnus Joseph Tsai ’86, J.D. ’90, and Clara Wu Tsai. The institute brings together faculty, staff, and students from across disciplines under three centers that link neuroscience and data science to advance our understanding of human cognition. Under Nick's stewardship, the institute has recruited three center directors, a managing director, four new faculty across the Yale School of Medicine, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and School of Engineering and Applied Science, eight additional new faculty through support of departmental searches, and 194 affiliated faculty members from over 30 departments in five schools. 

As director, Nick has successfully established the Wu Tsai Institute as a thriving hub for training and cutting-edge research and empowered the institute to recruit exceptional leaders in the field. The institute’s fellowship programs have attracted first-rate talent at all career stages, ranging from undergraduate research opportunities to graduate and postdoctoral fellowships that draw early-career scientists from around the globe. The upcoming launch of the Graduate Certificate in Brains, Minds, and Machines will further expand these training opportunities. Just this year, Wu Tsai Institute members have developed new AI models for neuroscience, established a cross-species framework to study human cognition, and discovered new principles behind human memory, among other research accomplishments. Also this year, two Wu Tsai Institute-affiliated junior faculty received the 2025 Sloan Research Fellowship for their work.  

Nick has also overseen the development and opening of the institute’s permanent home at 100 College Street, which links the Department of Psychology, the Department of Neuroscience, and key faculty from several related departments. The institute’s core facilities for microscopy, instrument development, behavior, brain imaging, data visualization, and high-performance computing provide researchers with state-of-the-art tools. Collaborative spaces, including an auditorium, co-working lounge, classrooms, and meeting rooms, host a continuous flow of conferences, visitors, and seminars. This building serves as a physical and intellectual bridge, enabling discoveries that might not have emerged without bringing together researchers who study the brain from molecules to the mind. 

Nick’s own research contributions within the Wu Tsai Institute were recognized this year with the National Academy of Sciences' Troland Research Award, which honors two individuals per year for their “unusual achievement” in the field of experimental psychology. 

The Yale community is fortunate to benefit from Nick's leadership, collaborative spirit, and unwavering commitment to scientific excellence. Please join me in congratulating Nick on his reappointment and in thanking him for his continued service to the Wu Tsai Institute and the Yale community. 

Sincerely, 

Michael C. Crair  
Vice Provost for Research