Headshot of David Barack.

David Barack

Research associate in neuroscience and philosophy
University of Pennsylvania

David Barack is a philosopher and neuroscientist who studies the neural circuits of foraging behavior and the conceptual foundations of cognitive neuroscience. He is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. After earning his B.A. in consciousness studies at Pitzer College, he received his M.A. in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and his Ph.D. in philosophy from Duke University, where he also received a certificate in cognitive neuroscience. He is currently writing a book on the neurodynamical foundations of mind.

From this contributor

Explore more from The Transmitter

Collage with a portrait of Suzanne Wood.

The ‘secretly awesome’ side of a teaching career

The freedom to do “wacky” research projects that interest you is a major perk of the teaching stream, says Suzanne Wood, a teaching professor at the University of Toronto.

By Katie Moisse
20 May 2026 | 7 min read
Los manifestantes marchan por la calle portando una pancarta que dice "Defendamos la ciencia".

Manifestantes argentinos denuncian el recorte al financiamiento científico

Manifestantes alrededor del país exigieron al gobierno que aumente los salarios de las universidades públicas y el financiamiento para la investigación científica.

Outside influences on CHD8 variant phenotypes, and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 18 May.

By Jill Adams
19 May 2026 | 2 min read