The research master Neuroscience aims to teach and train talented students in the rapidly expanding field of Neuroscience
Leaning Objectives
Knowledge and understanding
Research Master’s graduates are able to explain:
- the biophysics of neurons and how they integrate and relay information;
- the anatomy of the central nervous system, and its development and aging;
- sensorimotor systems and complex brain functions;
- new theories, processes, instruments and current challenges in the field of Neuroscience;
- how computational neuroscience tools can obtain new insights on neuroscientific principles and mechanisms, and understand how they can aid the progress in neuroscientific research.
Research
Research Master’s graduates have demonstrated the ability to:
- acquire, structure and integrate information in the field of the Neurosciences to generate novel hypotheses;
- translate a scientific question from the field of Neuroscience into a scientific experimental protocol and/or into a neuroscientific research proposal;
- reflect on ethical aspects of neuroscience research, and include these in decision-making processes;
- perform, critically analyze and interpret their own neuroscientific research;
- compose a Master of Science thesis in the field of Neuroscience, which can be further developed into a neuroscientific manuscript suitable for publication in an international peer-reviewed journal.
Professional identity
Research Master’s graduates have demonstrated the ability to:
- work in a team and to collaborate with researchers from other disciplines and/or countries in order to set up and carry out a research project;
- present the research findings from research projects in a scientific meeting;
- evaluate and discuss neuroscience related criticism from internal and external evaluators on the Master of Science thesis, both orally and in writing;
- critically review and assess relevance of scientific results of professionals in the field of Neuroscience.
Curriculum
After the introduction week, the core of the first year program consists of 10 modules of 3 to 8 weeks each, with lectures, self-study problems with group discussions, and training of practical skills. Textbooks used are Principles of Neuroscience, written by Nobel prize winner Eric Kandel and colleagues, and Neuroscience by Dale Purves et al. In addition, selected review and methodology papers reflecting the state-of-the-art in a particular area of neuroscience will be studied and discussed. Presentation skills are trained in journal clubs and tutor sessions.
During the second semester you will elaborate on the research proposal you prepared during the first semester. Guided by your supervisor you will do an extensive literature search,come up with relevant and related novel questions, and design an experimental plan how to tackle these questions.
Please see here for our course offerings
Curriculum Overview
| Research Master in Neuroscience – 2024 - 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||
| Course Code | Course Name | EC Points |
| RMNS-1.0 | Introduction Week | 0 |
| RMNS-1.1 (consists of) | Basic (Neuro)Science: Scientific Method + 2 Elective Courses | 3.5 |
| REMA01 | This Thing Called Science (compulsory) | 1.3 |
| RMNS-1.1.1 | Scientific Method (compulsory) | 0,2 |
| RMNS-1.1.2 | Basic Statistics (elective, 1 EC) | |
| RMNS-1.1.3 | Basic Molecular Biology (elective, 1 EC) | |
| RMNS-1.1.4 | Basic Neurophysiology (elective, 1 EC) | |
| RMNS-1.2 | Neural Signaling and Neural Computation | 6 |
| RMNS-1.3 | Structure and Organization of the Nervous System | 3 |
| RMNS-1.4 | Sensorimotor Systems | 7 |
| RMNS-1.5-v01 | The Changing Brain | 7 |
| RMNS-1.6-v01 | Complex Brain Functions | 6 |
| RMNS-2.9/2.10 | Animal Welfare / Genetics and Neurological Diseases | 3 |
| RMNS-1.8 | Labtalks en Seminars - Year 1 | 2 |
| RMNS-1.9 | Research Training - Year 1 | 15 |
| RMNS-1.10 | Writing / Presenting a Research Proposal | 8 |
| Total Year 1 | 60 | |
Year 2
Attend workshops of your choice. Workshops are indicated below. Three of the 10 points can be obtained outside of the RM Neuroscience programme offer. One of these 3 points can be obtained by attending a neuroscience conference and presenting data at the conference.
| Research Master in Neuroscience – 2024 - 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Elective Workshops* | ||
| Course Code | Course Name | EC Points |
| RMNS-2.3 | Neuro Histology and Neuro Pathology | 2 |
| RMNS-2.4 | Eye Movements of Mice and Men | 1 |
| RMNS-2.5 | Statistics Advanced Level | 1 |
| RMNS-2.6 | f-MRI Analysis Techniques | 1 |
| RMNS-2.7 | Linear Systems | 2 |
| RMNS-2.8 | Molecular Neurobiology/Advanced | 1 |
| RMNS-2.10 | Genetics and Neurological Diseases | 1 |
| RMNS-2.14A | Introduction of Matlab/Beginners | 1 |
| RMNS-2.14B | Data analysis with Matlab/Advanced | 1 |
| RMNS-2.15 | Career Outside Academia | 1 |
| RMNS-2.16 | Modelling Neural Networks using NEURON | 1 |
| RMNS-2.17 | Introduction to Labview | 2 |
| RMNS-2.18 | Nerve Conduction Studies | 1 |
| RMNS-2.19 | High-Performance Brain Simulation | 2 |
| RMNS-2.20 | Optical Imaging (Live Cell Microscopy) | 2 |
| RMNS-2.21 | History of Neuroscience | 1 |
| External Elective Workshops** | ||
| Course Code | Course Name | EC Points |
| RMNS-2.1 | Poster Presentation at Conference | 1 |
| RMNS-2.2 | External Workshop | 1-3 |
| Mandatory components | ||
| Course Code | Course Name | EC Points |
| RMNS-3.1 | Research Training - Year 2 | 37 |
| RMNS-3.2 | Labtalks and Seminars - Year 2 | 3 |
| RMNS-3.3 | Writing / Presenting a Master Thesis Thesis - 7 EC (70%) Defense - 3 EC (30%) | 10 |
Remarks
3.2 Lab talks, seminars and journal club (3 EC)
Before every seminar of the Neuroscience seminar series, students will discuss one of the papers of the seminar speaker during a supervised journal club.
Workshops (10 EC)
*) A total of 10 EC points need to be obtained by following workshops and courses.
**) External course items. 3 of the 10 points can be obtained outside the RM Neuroscience program offer. 1 of these 3 points can be obtained by attending a neuroscience conference and presenting data at the conference.