MSc in Brain Sciences Bar-Ilan University

Understanding how the brain works is probably the greatest unsolved scientific puzzle of the 21st century. The key issues relating to the ways in which we organize the information provided by the senses into a coherent perception, how we respond with motor actions and function successfully in this world, how we learn and store information, the mechanisms that create and regulate our feelings and desires, and how we are able to understand and use language. A great deal is known about these subjects, but very little about the brain mechanisms involved.

The Multidisciplinary Gonda Brain Research Center and its teaching program in brain sciences have been set up for fulfilling this purpose.

General information about the program and available tracks:

The Gonda Center for Multidisciplinary Brain Research at Bar-Ilan University offers programs of study toward Master of Science and doctoral degrees in brain sciences. The program is geared for a selected group of outstanding students. They receive education in all areas connected with brain research and then carry out research work culminating in an M.Sc. or a Ph.D. degree. Varied options allow the students to specialize in different areas. The program encourages multidisciplinary discussions and exchanges between the students and the teachers. Outstanding candidates with B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees are accepted to the program. Students receive scholarships, enabling them to devote themselves full time to their studies and research. The students' thesis research will be conducted under the supervision of one (or more) of the Gonda faculty members.

Requirements

The MSc in Brain Sciences comprises two main elements: completion of the courses and a thesis.

Duration: Two years.

MSc Program

The MSc in Brain Sciences is personally adapted to each student based on their academic background and scientific interests. Students must complete supplementary courses based on this background, as well as mandatory courses, including at least four core courses.

Preparatory/Supplementary Courses

Students of the MSc in Brain Sciences that begin their studies without the required background must take preparatory courses during the first year of their studies, based on their academic background:

• Neurobiology
• MATLAB / Python
• Mathematics

Core Courses

Students of the MSc in Brain Sciences track must take 4 core courses from the courses below, at least one course out of the following three modules:

• Computation:
  • Neural Networks and Computational Learning
  • Signal and Data Analysis
• Biology:
  • Neurophysiology
  • Synaptic Neurochemistry
• Cognitive Science:
  • Brain and Cognition in the 21st Century
  • Brain and Language

Additional Academic Activities in the MSc Brain Sciences Program

Students of the program must also take part in the following academic activities:

• Short-term research project of one semester in one of the labs
• Participation in a department seminar
• Elective courses – every year, a variety of electives courses are offered by the Center’s researchers, providing an opportunity for students to increase their knowledge and skills in a range of research topics.

Preparation and Submission of a Thesis

Students of the MSc in Brain Sciences must complete a thesis in one of the research laboratories of the Center for Brain Sciences.

The aim of this program is to train the next generation of researchers in brain sciences to carry out multi-disciplinary research.