For the past seven years, Evan Balaban has been a Program Director in the IOS Neural Systems Cluster working with the Organization and Activation Programs. Evan will be starting a position as a Distinguished Researcher/Full Professor at the Universidad Carlos III Madrid (UC3M) in Spain, where he will be guiding the development of their new Neuroscience degree-granting program in the School of Biomedical Sciences.  

A note from Evan: 

It has been an honor and a privilege to work with my colleagues at the NSF and the community of researchers that NSF serves. I have difficulty thinking about the time I’ve spent at NSF as a series of “highlights” and/or “lowlights;” a better description would emphasize the pleasure of growing a larger and richer picture of scientific life both spatially and temporally. One of my chief joys has been slowly uncovering the myriad of often unpredictable ways that individuals who inhabit program officer positions can effect positive changes in the scientific landscape. It is an adventure that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone. I’m most looking forward to applying the insights I’ve gained during my NSF service to my position at the new School of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Carlos III Madrid (UC3M). If you visit Europe, please stop by Madrid for some tapas together!

Michelle Elekonich, Deputy Division Director of IOS, had this to say about Dr. Balaban, “Evan excelled at mentoring new investigators, and leaves behind a legacy of discoveries and discovers that he supported as a program director.”