An Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience

Last updated: September 19, 2022 at 2:34 PM

The major in neuroscience is designed to provide an interdisciplinary program of study of the neural mechanisms involved in the control of human or animal behavior. The major combines a strong foundation in basic science with more specialized courses in biology and psychology. This program is especially appropriate for students wishing to pursue further study in medicine, experimental psychology, or neuroscience.

Graduate Program in Neuroscience

The graduate program in neuroscience, leading to the MS and PhD degrees, is designed to equip students with the advanced knowledge and training necessary to conduct research in this interdisciplinary field. The program comprises three broadly defined areas: behavioral neuroscience involves work with humans in experimental cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology, sensory psychophysics, animal behavior and electrophysiology; cellular and molecular neuroscience provides training in electrophysiology, molecular biology, biophysics, and biochemistry appropriate to neurobiology; and computational and integrative neuroscience trains students in the use of experimental and theoretical methods for the analysis of brain function. A typical program for the PhD student will consist of laboratory rotations and dissertation research as well as formal courses. Students pursuing the MS degree typically take graduate-level courses and do either laboratory research or a semi-independent research based "project lab" course.

Learning Goals

Undergraduate Major

Neuroscience is the study of the brain. The methods of Neuroscience come from biology, biochemistry and psychology. The goal of Neuroscience is to understand how neurons and the networks they form can account for behavior. Neuroscience has practical applications in medicine – particularly for mental illnesses, addiction, stroke and communication disorders. Neuroscience has important implications for psychiatry, psychology, teaching and economics.

Knowledge

All neuroscience majors will demonstrate knowledge of the basic electrical, anatomical and dynamic properties of neurons and the way they function in networks.

Major topics include:
The structure and function of ion channels
The way in which channels produce neural activity
The properties of neurotransmitter systems and their pharmacology
The properties and anatomical location of brain circuits responsible for particular functions
The properties of synapses and the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity that underlie learning
The developmental principles that lead to the formation of brain networks
The basis of neural codes by which neurons communicate
The causes and mechanisms of various neurological disorders
The basic properties of memory, perception and motor control

Skills

Students who major in neuroscience will have the opportunity to acquire skills in:

Experimental laboratory work. Examples of general skills include directed mutagensis, qPCR, and tissue culture. More specific skills may be acquired by working in a research laboratory. These skills include designing study protocols, collecting data (working with human or non-human animals), brain dissection, tissue culture of neurons, techniques in optical and electron microscopy, and techniques in electrophysiology.
Quantitative methods. The ability to select and carry out appropriate statistical tests is necessary for any scientific research. Students interested in pursuing a research career should be able to use the scientific programming language, Matlab, to analyze data.
Critical thinking. The ability to form a hypothesis and then devise experiments to test that hypothesis is an important aspect of the scientific method. Students will also learn how to search, select from and evaluate scientific literature.
Presentation of ideas. Students will learn how to produce convincing written/oral arguments.

Social Justice

Scientific advances have produced profound changes in society and raised questions whose resolution depends on scientific literacy. Neuroscience training will equip students with the background to understand controversies related to their field (e.g. what is the meaning of “brain-dead”?).

Upon Graduation

Neuroscience graduates have a wide range of career options open to them, such as medicine, work in the pharmaceutical industry, academic research, teaching, journalism and patent law.

Graduate Program in Neuroscience

Master of Science in Neuroscience

Graduate Outcomes

The Neuroscience Master's program will guide each student toward realizing their potential as a scientist and will foster their career development towards obtaining a position in research, teaching, or other scientific enterprises. Students are encouraged to become experts in the theory and practice of their chosen area of research, as well as to obtain breadth in other areas strongly represented in the program.

Students graduating with a Master’s degree in Neuroscience are expected to:

Demonstrate a graduate-level understanding of the principles and techniques of at least two of the areas of research represented by the program: cognitive, computational, systems, cellular, and molecular neuroscience.
Explore possible research areas and techniques through a semester of independent or semi-independent research.
Become confident in reading primary literature, critical thinking, and presentation
Learn ethical practices in the Sciences
Market themselves effectively using resumés and cover letters and at interviews.
Read and evaluate print and online sources including peer-reviewed publications, science and business journalism and blogs.

Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience

Graduate Outcomes

The PhD program in neuroscience will equip students with the advanced knowledge and training necessary to conduct research and education in this interdisciplinary field. The program comprises three broadly defined areas: behavioral neuroscience involves work with humans in neuropsychology, experimental cognitive neuroscience, sensory psychophysics, animal behavior and electrophysiology; cellular and molecular neuroscience provides training in electrophysiology, molecular biology, biophysics, and biochemistry appropriate to neurobiology; and computational and integrative neuroscience trains students in the use of experimental and theoretical methods for the analysis of brain function.

Students graduating with a PhD degree in Neuroscience are expected to:

Demonstrate a graduate-level understanding of the principles and techniques of at least two of the areas of research represented by the program: cognitive, computational, systems, cellular, and molecular neuroscience.
Explore possible research areas and techniques through four first-year laboratory rotations
Become confident in reading primary literature, critical thinking, and presentation
Become proficient in scientific writing and oral defense of original research
Obtain training in the preparation of grant applications
Become confident in using quantitative methods or approaches
Gain experience teaching students in a teaching assistantship role
Learn ethical practices in the Sciences
Complete a significant body of original work that advances the field of Neuroscience and that results in publication of the work in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

How to Become a Major

The neuroscience major requires a strong science course load. There is a meeting each fall at which interested students can discuss the major with neuroscience faculty. Students can schedule an appointment with the Undergraduate Advising Head (Paul Miller) for further information or to enroll in the major. The requirements are listed below and include many options. It is recommended that each major meet with his or her adviser to determine which options best satisfy each student's needs. Because of the number of science electives required, it is recommended that students begin enrolling in these courses early, especially those listed as prerequisites for advanced courses in the major. Students interested in senior research should contact prospective mentors by the spring of their junior year.

How to Be Admitted to the Graduate Program

Faculty

Anne Berry
(Psychology; Lambert)

Susan Birren
(Biology; Volen Center)

Paul DiZio
(Psychology; Ashton Graybiel Spatial Orientation Laboratory; Volen Center)

Irving Epstein
(Chemistry; Volen Center)

Paul Garrity
(Biology; Volen Center)

Christine Grienberger
(Biology; Volen Center)

Leslie Griffith
(Biology; Director, Volen Center)

Angela Gutchess
(Psychology; Volen Center)

Jennifer Gutsell
(Psychology; Volen Center)

James Howard
(Psychology; Brown)

Shantanu Jadhav
(Psychology; Volen Center)

Sebastian Kadener
(Volen Center; Rosenstiel Center)

Donald Katz
(Psychology; Volen Center)

James Lackner
(Psychology; Ashton Graybiel Spatial Orientation Laboratory; Volen Center)

Eve Marder
(Biology; Volen Center)

Maria Miara, Graduate Advising Head
(Biology; Bassine)

Paul Miller, Undergraduate Advising Head
(Biology; Volen Center)

Sacha Nelson, Chair
(Biology; Volen Center)

Daniel Oprian
(Biochemistry; Volen Center)

Suzanne Paradis
(Biology; Volen Center)

Avital Rodal
(Biology, Rosenstiel Center; Volen Center)

Michael Rosbash
(Biology; Volen Center)

Robert Sekuler
(Psychology; Volen Center)

Piali Sengupta
(Biology; Volen Center)

Hannah Snyder
(Psychology; Volen Center)

Jonathan Touboul
(Math; Volen Center)

Gina Turrigiano
(Biology; Volen Center)

Stephen Van Hooser
(Biology; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)

Nathalie Vladis
(Biology; Volen Center)

Requirements for the Major

A. All students majoring in neuroscience are required to take courses in the following four groups:

Core courses (two required courses)
Neuroscience electives (four courses; three must be at the 100-level. The combination of NEUR 99a and NEUR 99b can substitute for one elective, which will count at the 100-level.)
Laboratory courses (equivalent to three full courses)
Additional science electives (see Option I or Option II)

Specific requirements for the additional science electives are described below under Option I, leading to a BA in neuroscience, or Option II, leading to a BS in neuroscience. The core courses that satisfy the requirements for the degree are listed in “B. Course Listings for Neuroscience Majors”.

Among courses offered to fulfill the requirements for the major, no course may be taken pass/fail and no more than one grade of D or D+ in a semester course will be allowed. A grade of D is not allowed for core courses. No D- will be allowed.

Advanced Placement exams may count for at most two additional science electives for the neuroscience major. Advanced Placement exams cannot count for Neuroscience Electives or Laboratory requirements. Please refer to the Advanced Placement chart for test score requirements.

Option I: The BA Degree in Neuroscience

The standard neuroscience option is designed to provide students with a general background in neuroscience. In addition to the two core courses and four neuroscience electives required of all candidates, students must take at least 44 credits (equivalent to 11 full courses) of additional science electives. Courses able to fulfill each category are detailed in "B. Course Listings for Neuroscience Majors"; at least twelve of these credits (equivalent to 3 full courses) must be from laboratory courses.

Option II: The BS Degree in Neuroscience

The BS program is an intensive neuroscience option designed to provide students with a strong background in neuroscience and associated areas. In addition to the two core courses and four neuroscience electives required of all candidates, students must take at least 52 credits (equivalent to 13 full courses) of additional science electives. Courses able to fulfill each category are detailed in "B. Course Listings for Neuroscience Majors"; at least 12 credits must be from laboratory courses.

B. Course Listings for Neuroscience Majors

Core Courses

All students are required to take:

NBIO 140b (Principles of Neuroscience) or NBIO 240a (Principles of Neuroscience Research). Most students will take NBIO140b; NBIO 240a is intended for PhD students and advanced undergraduates or masters students who intend to perform basic research in neuroscience. Students may only use one of the two courses to count toward the major.
At least one core course in quantitative methods: BIOL 51a (Biostatistics), BIOL 107a (Data Analysis and Statistics Workshop), ECON 83a (Statistics for Economic Analysis), MATH 40a (Introduction to Applied Mathematics), NBIO 136b (Computational Neuroscience), NPHY 115a (Dynamical Systems), PSYC 51a (Statistics), PSYC 148a (Applied Statistical Computing in R), PSYC 210a (Advanced Psychological Statistics), or PHYS 105a (Biological Physics). A course taken to satisfy the quantitative method requirement cannot also count as an elective course.

Neuroscience Electives

All students are required to take four Neuroscience Electives with at least 3 courses 100 level or above. NEUR 99a/99b can substitute for one of the 100 level Neuroscience electives. Neuroscience electives are all NBIO and NPSY courses level 10 and above, BIOL 149b (Molecular Pharmacology), PHIL 123b (Neuroethics), 131a (Philosophy of the Mind). Only one Philosophy course may count towards the major.

Additional Science Electives

The additional science electives include courses numbered 10 and above in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics, as well as up to four additional Neuroscience Elective courses. Courses numbered below 10 may not be included in this group. Two-credit laboratory courses are counted as one-half of a regular semester course and 4-credit laboratory courses will be counted as a full semester course. PHYS 11a,b or PHYS 15a,b is recommended over PHYS 10a,b.

In order for research 93/99 courses (BIOL, NEUR, CHEM, BCHM) to count towards this requirement, students must take at least 2 semesters and will receive only 4 credits (equivalent to one full course) toward the requirement.

Reading courses (numbered 90-98) do not count as additional science electives.

Laboratory Requirement

The additional science electives must be fulfilled with at least 12 credits (equivalent to 3 full courses) of laboratory work.

All science laboratory courses, including EL 24b (QBReC Lab), QBIO 120b and project labs such as BIOL 155a and BIOL 159a can count toward the lab requirement. AP credit does not count toward the lab requirement. Purely computational courses such as BIOL 107a (Data Analysis and Statistics Workshop) do not count towards the laboratory requirement. Research 99 courses (BIOL, NEUR, CHEM, BCHM) can also count towards this requirement, but students must take at least 2 semesters and will receive only 4 credits (equivalent to 1 full course) toward the lab requirement.

Double-Counting Electives

No single course can be used to fulfill more than one requirement of the neuroscience major. A course taken to satisfy the quantitative method requirement cannot also count as an elective course.

Only one of either BIOL 51a or PSYC 51a can be counted toward the major.

C. Foundational Literacies: As part of completing the Neuroscience major, students must:

Fulfill the writing intensive requirement by successfully completing one of the following: BIOL 18b or successful completion of senior research (NEUR 93 plus NEUR 99 or two semesters of NEUR 99 or two semesters of NEUR 199).
Fulfill the oral communication requirement by successfully completing: BIOL 18a.
Fulfill the digital literacy requirement by successfully completing one of the following: BIOL 51a, BIOL 107a, COSI 12b, COSI 21a, COSI 131a, PSYC 51a, or NBIO 136b.

D. Senior Research and Honors Program

Seniors can receive credit for senior research in neuroscience by petitioning the neuroscience honors coordinator during the fall of their senior year. Candidates must enroll in NEUR 99a and 99b (or one of these and NEUR 93) to carry out a senior research project and submit a thesis. Candidates interested in honors must state this in their petition and also present an oral defense of their thesis. Students must meet university eligibility for honors, and, in addition, a minimum grade of B+ must be earned in NEUR 99a and NEUR 99b (or one of these and NEUR 93) to be eligible for honors. Petitions and information about the research internship and senior research are available in the biology department office or you can download the NEUR 93 and NEUR 99 petitions. To reach the level of honors, a student must typically work in a research lab for at least two years.

For all requirements: in order for research 93/99 courses (BIOL, NEUR, CHEM, BCHM) to count towards this requirement, students must take at least 2 semesters and will receive only 4 credits (equivalent to one full course) toward the requirement.

Combined BS/MS Program

An undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience may be admitted to the four-year BS/MS program upon recommendation by the faculty research sponsor. In addition the student must meet with and receive approval from the Neuroscience Undergraduate Advising Head. It is essential that this meeting take place no later than February 1 of the student’s junior year.

A. In order to complete the BS/MS program in neuroscience, students must successfully complete courses earning 152 credits.

These courses must include those needed to satisfy the requirements for the Neuroscience BS degree plus 3 additional electives chosen from the neurobiology or cognitive neuroscience electives listed in the Bulletin.
Of the neuroscience and additional science electives required for the BS/MS degree, at least 7 must be at the graduate level, and completed with a grade of B- or above. All restrictions and limitations on allowable courses, such as double-counting, that are listed for the neuroscience major, remain as restrictions and limitations on courses allowed to fulfill requirements for the BS/MS.
BS/MS students must complete two graduate level research courses (NEUR 199a, b Senior Research), which can count for senior honors and together can count as a single neuroscience elective. The award of the MS is dependent on students achieving departmental honors in neuroscience. To reach the level of honors, a student must typically work in a research lab for at least two years.

Special Notes Relating to Undergraduates

Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science

Program of Study

The program is designed to guide each student toward realizing their potential as a scientist and to foster their career development towards obtaining a position in research, teaching, or other scientific enterprises. Students are encouraged to become experts in the theory and practice of their chosen area of research, as well as to obtain breadth in other areas strongly represented in the program. Graduate courses are available in the areas of cognitive, computational, and cellular neuroscience.

Graduate students will be eligible for an MS in neuroscience by:

A. Completing six graduate-level lecture courses in neuroscience.

B. Registering for and completing the appropriate Journal Clubs (at least NBIO 306a/b) for two semesters and the Graduate Student Research Seminar (BIOL 350a/b) for two semesters are required for the degree.

C. The six lecture courses must include

NBIO 140b or NBIO 240b
The Masters Proseminar course (BIOL 205a)
One laboratory or research-based course, with the balance of courses being graduate-level neuroscience or biology elective courses.
Students will decide to take NBIO 240b or NBIO 140b in consultation with the program advisor, depending upon the student’s past science experience and future goals.

D. However, it is the aim of the program to be flexible and allow students to fill gaps in their education. Thus, if warranted, non-graduate courses or courses outside of neuroscience or biology can be taken if agreed upon with the program advisor.

E. The laboratory or research component can be met by a Masters Research Lab (NEUR 296a), or a Project Laboratory (e.g. BIOL 151b, BIOL 156a, BIOL 159a, or NBIO 157a). Students who wish to fulfill this requirement through NEUR 296a must obtain approval from the faculty member in whose lab the research is to take place, and must submit a written laboratory report at the end of the semester. If a student takes both the Masters Research Lab course (NEUR 296a) and a Project Laboratory course, the latter will be considered an elective course. The Masters Research Lab course (NEUR 296a) cannot be considered an elective, even if taken more than once.

F. All students are required to take CONT 300b (Responsible Conduct of Science) or attend the comparable Division of Science Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) workshop, usually offered in the spring.

G. In order to earn a degree from this program, the student must complete a minimum of 32 credits.

With approval of the supervising faculty member and the chair of the program, students have the option to write a Master’s Thesis (NEUR 299a) following completion of at least one full semester of Master’s Research Lab (NEUR 296a), provided that the research was performed in a single laboratory at Brandeis. Those who wish to complete a Master's Thesis in their third or fourth semester must obtain approval by March 1st of their second semester (for students who matriculate in the fall) or by November 1st (for students who matriculate in the spring).After completion and approval, the thesis must be electronically deposited in ProQuest ETD. For instructions on how to do this, visit the Thesis and Dissertation Guide.

Students must receive grades of B- or better in all courses and may be asked to leave the program at the end of a semester if their progress is found to be unsatisfactory by the graduate committee. Students wishing to be admitted to a second year of study must demonstrate adequate progress.

Annual Academic Performance Review and Progress to the Degree

Every student, whether or not currently in residence, must register at the beginning of each term. All graduate students will be evaluated by the program each spring. At this evaluation the records of all graduate students will be carefully reviewed with reference to the timely completion of coursework and non-course degree requirements, the quality of the work and research in progress and the student’s overall academic performance in the program.

Residence Requirement

The minimum in-person residence requirement for the MS degree is one year.

Students may take an additional one or two semesters to complete the MS degree as an Extended Master's student with approval of the chair of the program. International students may extend their time one semester if they are still completing required coursework. International students who have completed all required coursework and wish to complete the optional Master’s Thesis may stay extra semesters with advanced approval from the advising faculty, the program chair, and International Students & Scholars Office (by November 1st if completing the thesis in the spring semester and by March 1st if completing the thesis in the fall semester).

Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Neuroscience with Specialization in Quantitative Biology

Students wishing to obtain the specialization in Quantitative Biology (QB) must first gain approval of the Neuroscience representative for the QB program (listed online on the Brandeis QB website). This should be done as early as possible in the program. In order to receive the M.S. in Neuroscience with specialization in QB, candidates must complete (a) the requirements for the M.S. described above and (b) the course requirements for the QB specialization described in the QB section of this Bulletin.

Any alteration to the QB course requirements must be approved by both the Neuroscience Program Chair and the QB Program Chair.

Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Program of Study

Students are expected to obtain knowledge of the principles and techniques in at least two of the areas represented in the program: cognitive, computational, systems, cellular, and molecular neuroscience.
Students must take a total of six graduate-level courses for the degree, with two typically taken each semester in the first year.
NBIO 240b (Principles of Neuroscience) and BIOL 107a (Data Analysis and Statistics Workshop) are generally required in the first semester
NBIO 208a (Experimental Analysis and Design for Research Proposals) is generally required in the fall of the second year.
The three additional courses must be relevant to the student's area of interest, with at least one of the six courses focusing on quantitative methods or approaches, and one of these courses focusing on critically reading, discussing, and writing about the primary scientific literature.
All students are required to take CONT 300b (Responsible Conduct of Science) or attend the comparable Division of Science Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) workshop, typically in the spring of their first year, and again in their fifth year.
In addition, first-year students will complete four nine-week rotations (NEUR 300a/b) in at least four different laboratories.
Throughout all graduate years, students must register for and participate in Journal clubs (including NBIO 306a/b) and register for and present yearly (starting in their third year) in the Graduate Student Research Seminars (BIOL 350a/b). Presenting in the yearly Graduate Student Research Seminar is required to remain in good standing in the program.
Beginning in the second year, students should register for NEUR 401d every semester (fall and spring) until finishing the program.

The suggested schedule of course work for the first two years is:

First Year

Fall: NBIO 240b, BIOL 107a, NEUR 300a, NBIO 306a, BIOL 350a.

Spring: NEUR 300b, NBIO 306b, BIOL 350b, CONT 300b or comparable Division of Science Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) workshop, and two courses selected from the neuroscience electives.

Second Year

Fall: NBIO 208a, NBIO 306a, BIOL 350a, and NEUR 401d.

Spring: NBIO 306b, BIOL 350b, NEUR 401d, and one course selected from the neuroscience electives.

At the end of the first year after completing rotations, each student will choose their specific field of interest and will apply for a permanent adviser, to be mutually agreed upon by the student and the faculty member. Exceptions to this timeline are subjected to review by the Graduate Committee. The adviser will assist the student in planning a well-balanced thesis-research program in their specific field of interest with the objective and expectation of publishing the work. In addition, the adviser will ordinarily serve as the chair of the student's dissertation examining committee.

Thesis Qualifying Examination

The thesis qualifying examination is a written proposition with accompanying oral exam (to be completed by May of the second year).

Teaching Requirement

All PhD students are required to participate in undergraduate teaching during the course of their studies. Every graduate teaching assistant (TA) is supervised by a member of the faculty, who serves as a mentor to improve the quality of the TA's teaching. Please see the GSAS section on Teaching Requirements and the program handbook for more details.

Residence Requirement

The minimum in-person residence requirement is three years.

Summer Registration

PhD students in the Neuroscience program are required to be on campus or at a related lab for the full year while engaged in taking classes and/or doing research related to their field of study and will be enrolled in CONT 250b by the Registrar's office. Registration for Graduate Summer Term does not count toward the residency requirement. The summer registration fee will be waived.

Language Requirement

There is no foreign language requirement for the PhD degree.

Annual Academic Performance Review and Progress to the Degree

Dissertation and Defense

Each student will conduct an original investigation in the field of neuroscience under the direction of their research advisor and will write a dissertation of their results. After submission of the dissertation, the candidate will give a public seminar to the university community and then defend the work and its significance in an examination before a dissertation committee. The dissertation committee must include the advisor, at least two additional Brandeis faculty members and one faculty member from outside the university.There is an expectation that students will publish at least one research paper or the equivalent from their graduate work.

Please note that the above Program of Study is typical of a student entering the PhD program directly. Students who enter the PhD program from a Brandeis Master’s program may have an altered Program of Study, to be discussed and agreed upon by the student and the Graduate Committee prior to matriculation.

Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience with Specialization in Quantitative Biology

Program of Study

Students wishing to obtain the specialization must first gain approval of the graduate program chair. This should be done as early as possible, ideally during the first year of graduate studies. To receive the PhD in neuroscience with additional specialization in quantitative biology, candidates must complete (a) the requirements for the PhD described above and (b) the course requirements for the quantitative biology specialization that are described in the quantitative biology section of this Bulletin.

Any alteration to the quantitative biology course requirements must be approved by the graduate program chair and by the quantitative biology program faculty advisory committee.

Courses of Instruction

Expand All

(1-99) Primarily for Undergraduate Students

NBIO 79b Neurobiology of Reward and Substance Use Disorders
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Prerequisite: NBIO 140b.

Explores the neurobiology of brain circuits that process reward. We will focus on how drugs of abuse hijack the reward system, and on the behavioral aspects of addiction and how these are studied using animal models. Special one-time offering, spring 2020.
Katherine Kimbrell and Alejandro Torrado Pacheco

NBIO 81a Central Nervous System Regeneration
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Prerequisite: NBIO 140b. May be taken concurrently

Learn about the field of central nervous system regeneration and where the current research stands using multiple approaches and systems. Acquire skills applicable to all scientific inquiry, including effective science communication skills and how to generate thoughtful scientific questions and design ways to test them. The course content is made up of three major units: Basic Biology / Cellular Neuronal Level -- In this unit, we will cover the main obstacles to regenerative ability of the adult CNS. What are the main similarities/differences between the PNS and developmental periods, where regeneration is easier to come by? What are the main parts of CNS biology that need to be addressed to induce regeneration and regain function after injury or degeneration? Organismal Level -- This unit will address where we see CNS regeneration in nature and how these animals are studied as model organisms. We will also evaluate this at a human level and discuss how sleep may be regulating regeneration as well as explore how aging affects regeneration, and, vice versa, how it could be used to combat effects of aging. Technologies -- This unit will focus on the current state of research and technologies in using regeneration as potential therapy. This will include stem cells, iPSCs, organoids, and transplantation. Special one-time offering, fall 2022.

Juliett Bottorff and Jasmine Quynh Le

NEUR 91g Introduction to Research Practice

Prerequisite: Student must complete online safety training relevant to the research group. If the research involves animals or human subjects, students must complete the relevant training and be added to the relevant approved protocols. Offered exclusively on a credit/no-credit basis. Yields quarter-course credit. May be repeated for credit.

Students engage in Neuroscience research by working in the laboratory of a faculty member for a minimum of 3 hours per week for one semester. Students who have declared a Neuroscience major must receive permission from the Neuroscience Undergraduate Advising Head as well as the faculty sponsor to enroll in NEUR 91g. Students who have not yet declared a major must receive permission from their academic advisor as well as the faculty sponsor. Usually offered every year.
Staff

NEUR 93a Research Internship and Analysis

Supervised biological research experience in a Brandeis University laboratory. In consultation with a Brandeis faculty member, the student will design and execute an individual research project, culminating in an oral and written presentation. Students seeking to do neuroscience research in Brandeis laboratories outside the neuroscience program must obtain sponsorship of a neuroscience faculty member as well as permission of the neuroscience Undergraduate Advising Head (UAH). This course is not intended to and will not provide credit for off-campus internships. NEUR 93a is offered both semesters but is a one-semester course and may be taken only once and not before the fall of junior year. Students must petition the department for permission to enroll in NEUR 93a. Course requirements include laboratory research, a written report and an oral presentation, as specified in the NEUR 93a petition. Students wishing to do a summer internship for academic credit must: obtain permission from the neuroscience UAH and their neuroscience sponsor prior to commencing the internship; complete the summer internship (a minimum of 10 weeks full-time); and complete the appropriate academic work. Credit will be awarded via the student enrolling in NEUR93a in the subsequent fall term. NEUR 93a may also be used as one of the two courses needed for Senior Research (see NEUR 99). Usually offered every semester.
Staff

NEUR 98a Readings in Neuroscience

Usually offered every year.
Staff

NEUR 98b Readings in Neuroscience

Usually offered every year.
Staff

NEUR 99a Neuroscience Senior Research

The first semester of a two-semester course involving the student in an independent research project conducted under the supervision of a staff member and serving as an intensive introduction to specific methods of neuroscience research. Students should register for NEUR 99b for the second semester of research in the spring. In cases where students are able to do unusually long, intensive work in the laboratory, they may request a third course credit during the petition process; if this request is approved by the senior honors coordinator, students should register for NEUR 99a (fall) followed by NEUR 99e (spring). The combined enrollments for senior research may not exceed three semester course credits. To fulfill the NEUR 99 requirements, students must (1) submit to their research sponsor, at the conclusion of their first NEUR 99 semester, a paper that reviews the literature pertinent to their field of research, and (2) submit to their research sponsor, at the conclusion of their second NEUR 99 semester, a senior thesis that includes an abstract, an introduction, a review of materials and methods, results, discussion, and references. Usually offered every year.
Staff

NEUR 99b Neuroscience Senior Research

A continuation of NEUR 99a. See NEUR 99a for course description.
Staff

NPSY 17a* Hand and Brain
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Enrollment limited to neuroscience and psychology majors with a minimum of 3.3. GPA, or with permission of the instructor.

The specialized developments of the human hand and the parallel developments of the brain, tool use, sign language, and language acquisition are discussed. The control of voluntary movements is a key focus. Includes laboratory demonstrations. Usually offered every year.
James Lackner

NPSY 11b Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience
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Prerequisite: PSYC 10a or MATH 10a or permission of the instructor.

Data and theories regarding current conceptions of brain-behavior relationships. Begins with an introduction to neural systems as classically defined (sensory, association, motor, autonomic), and moves on to examination of the biological underpinnings of various behaviors, from those relating to basic drives (reproduction, feeding) to those with a cognitive flavor. Throughout, the accent is on interactions between organisms and environment (learning). Usually offered every year.
Donald Katz

NPSY 12a Perception: Human, Animal, and Machine
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Prerequisite: PSYC 10a or MATH 10a or permission of the instructor.

Examines the human senses, emphasizing sight and hearing, studied from standpoints of anatomy, physiology, and psychophysics. Insights from the study of special observers, including developmentally immature humans, members of nonhuman species, and people with abnormal sensory systems. Usually offered every year.
Robert Sekuler

NPSY 16a Motor Control
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Prerequisites: PSYC 10a or MATH 10a or equivalents, and at least sophomore standing, or permission of the instructor.

Surveys control of vertebrate posture and movement from various perspectives including muscle properties, reflex organization, central pattern generation, spatial representations, learning, and development. Emphasizes research in physiology, psychology, biomechanics, and computational theory. Usually offered every second year.
Paul DiZio

NPSY 22b Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
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Prerequisite: PSYC 10a or MATH 10a or permission of the instructor.

This course explores how the human brain makes the human mind. It covers neural and behavioral dimensions of attention, memory and learning, perception, motor control, plasticity and planning. Experimental approaches and neuroimaging are emphasized. Usually offered every year.
Robert Sekuler

NPSY 28a Learning and Memory
[ sn ss ]

Prerequisite: PSYC 10a or MATH 10a or permission of the instructor.

Introduces the study of learning and memory. The course will survey various types of memory (e.g., explicit memory, implicit memory, conditioning, short-term/working memory), including strategies, mechanisms, and brain systems. It will encompass disorders and applied aspects of memory. Usually offered every second year.
Angela Gutchess

NPSY 64a Reactivity and Resilience: Links between Stress and Internalizing Disorders
[ sn ss ]

Prerequisite: PSYC 52a, BIOL 51a, or BIOL 107a, or permission of the instructor.

Stress is a strong predictor of depression and anxiety symptoms. This research-intensive course investigates their cognitive and neurobiological links through reading and discussion of peer-reviewed articles. Clinical intervention and public health perspectives will be discussed. Special one-time offering, spring 2021.
Alyssa Fassett-Carman

(100-199) For Both Undergraduate and Graduate Students

NBIO 136b Computational Neuroscience
[ dl sn ]

Prerequisites: MATH 10a or MATH 10b or MATH 15a and either NBIO 140b or PHYS 10b or PHYS 11b or COSI 11a.

An introduction to concepts and methods in computer modeling and analysis of neural systems. Topics include single and multicompartmental models of neurons, information representation and processing by populations of neurons, synaptic plasticity and models of learning, working memory, decision making and neural oscillations. The course will be based on in-class computer tutorials, assuming no prior coding experience, with reading assignments and preparation as homework. Usually offered every second year.
Paul Miller

NBIO 140b Principles of Neuroscience
[ sn ]

Prerequisites: Sophomore standing, BIOL 15b, one additional BIOL, BCHM, NBIO or NPSY course and one of the following: One year of college-level chemistry with lab, one year of college-level physics with lab, or any math course above 10a,b. AP scores are not accepted to meet the prerequisite. Junior standing recommended.

Examines the fundamental principles of neuroscience. Topics include resting potentials, action potentials, synaptic transmission, sensory systems, motor systems, learning, neural circuits underlying behavior, neurological diseases, and mental illness. Usually offered every year.

Nathalie Vladis

NBIO 142b Circadian Rhythms and Sleep
[ sn ]

Prerequisite: NBIO 140b or BIOL 105b.

Explores via some lecturing, but predominantly discussion of papers from the primary literature, what we know about circadian rhythms and sleep in different organisms. We will discuss the molecular, cellular and circuitry control of rhythms and sleep as well as their behavioral and physiological consequences. Usually offered every second year.
Leslie Griffith and Michael Rosbash

NBIO 143b Developmental Neurobiology
[ sn ]

Prerequisite: BIOL 14a and BIOL 15b or permission of the instructor.

Discusses the molecular mechanisms used in the development of the nervous system in both invertebrate and vertebrate experimental systems. Topics include determination of neuronal cell fates, axon growth and guidance, plasticity during development, and mechanisms responsible for generation of connectivity in the nervous system. This course emphasizes reading of original scientific research papers and class discussion and oral presentations. If oversubscribed, preference from the waitlist will be given based on seniority. Usually offered every second year.
Suzanne Paradis

NBIO 145b Circuits and Systems
[ sn ]

Prerequisite: NBIO 140b.

Explores fundamental questions in circuit-and systems-level neuroscience. We will take a systems-level perspective to explore how the brain supports behavior and cognition. Students will read and discuss seminal and current findings to understand how the brain represents and perceives the external environment, adapts and learns, executes control, and uses internal representations to make decisions and drive behavior. The focus will in particular be on underlying circuits, neural representations and neurophysiological mechanisms. The course will follow an arc that covers sensory systems, perception and behavior, neural coding, cognition, and motor control. Emphasis will be on bridging across these levels, and on critical analysis and synthesis. Usually offered every year.
Shantanu Jadhav

NBIO 146a The Neurobiology of Human Disease
[ sn ]

Prerequisite: Any of the following BIOL 100b, BIOL103b, BIOL 105b, BIOL 122a, BIOL 123b, BIOL 128a, NBIO 140b, or NBIO 143b.

A lecture- and literature-based examination of the molecular, cellular, and circuit level events underlying neurological and psychiatric diseases. Usually offered every second year.
Susan Birren

NBIO 147a Neurogenetics
[ sn ]

Prerequisites: BIOL 18a and BIOL 14a. NBIO 140b is strongly recommended but not required.

Topics include function of genes, neurons and neuronal circuits in the generation of behavior. The use of genetics and genetic manipulations in the study of behavior will be emphasized. Model organisms to be discussed will include Drosophila, C. elegans, zebrafish and mammals.Usually offered every third year.
Piali Sengupta

NBIO 148b Cellular Mechanisms of Neuronal Excitability and Plasticity
[ sn ]

Prerequisite: NBIO 140b or permission of the instructor. Graduate students may take this course concurrently with NBIO 140b.

Neurons are complex computing devises that transmit and store information. This course will explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms of excitability, as well as the plasticity mechanisms that allow neurons and synapses to store information. Students will examine classic experiments on action potentials and synaptic transmission, as well as the contemporary literature on our evolving understanding of the cellular mechanisms of regulation of excitability and learning-related plasticity. The course emphasizes reading from original papers and extensive class discussion. Usually offered every year.
Leslie Griffith

NBIO 157a Project Laboratory in Neurobiology and Behavior
[ sn wi ]

Prerequisites: BIOL 18a and b, BIOL 14a, and BIOL 15b. A statistics class (e.g. BIOL 51a or PSYC 51a) is recommended but not required.

Focuses on neurobiology, the study of the function of the nervous system. Research conducted by students will address unanswered biological questions in this field. This course will focus on temperature sensation and regulation, using worms (C. elegans) as a model system. Students will learn: techniques for studying animal behavior in a rigorous lab setting, experimental design and analysis, and the fundamentals of reading and writing scientific research papers. Usually offered every year.

Nathalie Vladis

NEUR 199a Senior Research

The first of a two-semester course for students pursuing the combined BS/MS in Neuroscience. The student conducts an independent research project under the supervision of a staff member and serving as an intensive introduction to specific methods of neuroscience research. To fulfill the NEUR 199 requirements, students must (1) submit to their research sponsor, at the conclusion of their first NEUR 199 semester, a paper that reviews the literature pertinent to their field of research and (2) submit to their research sponsor, at the conclusion of their second NEUR 199 semester, a senior thesis that includes an abstract, an introduction, a review of materials and methods, results, discussion, and references. Students enrolled in this course must defend their thesis and receive Departmental Honors. If student drops out of the BS/MS program, 199 will be replaced with 99.) Students must petition the department for permission to enroll in NEUR 199. Usually offered every year.
Staff

NEUR 199b Senior Research

A continuation of NEUR 199a. See NEUR 199a for course description.
Staff

NPHY 115a Dynamical Systems
[ sn ]

Prerequisites: MATH 10a, b or equivalent; MATH 15a and/or some coding experience would be helpful.

An introduction to the theory of nonlinear dynamical systems, including bifurcations, limit cycles, chaos, and coupled oscillators. Covers analytical, computational, and graphical methods of solving sets of nonlinear ordinary differential equations, as well as mathematical modeling of natural phenomena. Examples will be drawn from physics, chemistry, population biology, and neuroscience. Usually offered every third year.

Irving Epstein

NPSY 120b Human Space Flight: Physics, Physiology, and Behavior
[ sn ss ]

Topics include how orbital flight is achieved, spacecraft life support systems, circulatory dynamics, sensory-motor control and vestibular function in free fall, the physiological and psychological adaptations necessary in space flight, and how astronauts must readapt on return to Earth. Usually offered every year.
James Lackner

NPSY 139a Memory and the Brain
[ ss ]

Prerequisite: NBIO 140b, or NPSY 11b and either NPSY 22b or 28a, or permission of the instructor.

Explores the nature and organization of memory in the brain. Readings from primary literature will give a deeper understanding of how the brain orchestrates memory, and the role of memory in learning, behavior and cognition. Usually offered every third year.
Shantanu Jadhav

NPSY 141a Stress, Physiology, and Health
[ sn ss ]

Prerequisites: one of NPSY 11b, NBIO 146a, PSYC 38a, or NPSY 199a.

About a third of all diseases in western society are related to stress. The study of psychosocial determinants of health is a growing field, in which biological and psychological research is combined to understand pathways between CNS processes and health. We will study these processes in this course. Usually offered every year.
Staff

NPSY 154a Human Memory
[ sn ss ]

Prerequisite: PSYC 52a or NBIO 140b, or permission of the instructor.

Presents a systematic analysis of memory research and theory. The seminar will emphasize current research employing cognitive neuroscience methods, such as fMRI. Usually offered every second year.
Angela Gutchess

NPSY 170a Decision Neuroscience
[ sn ]

Prerequisites: NBIO 140b or NPSY 11b and NPSY 22b, or permission of the instructor.

This course will provide an overview of how animal and human nervous systems generate decisions, with a particular focus on decisions for rewards. We will cover a broad array of topics, including: basic methods for measuring decisions and decision-related neural activity; how predictions about rewards are learned through error-driven processes; the dual systems hypothesis of behavioral control; computation of values for simple choices; the effect of emotion on choices; social decision making; temporal discounting; and deficits in decision-making in human clinical populations. Usually offered every year.
James Howard

NPSY 174b Visual Cognition
[ oc sn ss ]

Explores complex processes of visual perception. Topics include art and visual perception, visual perception by machines, visual imagery in everyday life, visual basis of reading, visual search, perceptual learning, computational models of visual perception, and face recognition. Usually offered every second year.
Robert Sekuler

NPSY 176b Constructing Reality
[ oc ss ]

Prerequisites: NPSY 11b, NPSY 12a, NPSY 16a, NPSY 17a, NPSY 22b, or NPSY 199a and junior or senior standing.

How do our brains and minds construct our reality? For answers, the course will draw on insights from scientific psychology, neuroscience, and medicine, particularly how damage to the nervous system can disorder our sense of reality. Special consideration will be given to the nature of perception, evaluation of evidence, and decision making. Usually offered every second year.
Robert Sekuler

NPSY 180a Social Neuroscience and Culture
[ djw oc sn ss ]

Prerequisites: PSYC 10a, 51a, and 52a, or NBIO 140a, or permission of the instructor. May not be taken for credit by students who took PSYC 213a in prior years. Formerly offered as PSYC 180a.

Introduces empirical research on a breadth of social neuroscience topics-- including the self, stereotyping, and moral reasoning--with a more focused coverage of culture. Emphasis will be placed on literature comparing Eastern and Western cultures. Usually offered every second year.
Angela Gutchess

NPSY 182a Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience: Infancy through Adolescence
[ oc ss ]

Prerequisites: NPSY 22b or PSYC 33a, or permission of the instructor.

Current research and methods in developmental cognitive neuroscience are surveyed through analysis of journal articles on language, memory, attention, executive functions, and social cognition. Infancy through adolescence are covered in both typically and atypically (Autism, ADHD, etc.) developing populations. Usually offered every second year.
Hannah Snyder

NPSY 196b Advanced Topics in Cognition
[ sn ss ]

Prerequisite: PSYC 52a, NBIO 140b, or NPSY 199a.

This seminar covers current issues and research in memory, speech perception, and language comprehension. Emphasis will be placed on the current literature in the field. Usually offered every second year.
Angela Gutchess

NPSY 197a Advanced Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience
[ sn ss ]

Prerequisites: NPSY 11b and NBIO 140b or permission of the instructor.

Covers current research and issues pertaining to the neurobiology of perception (focusing mainly but not exclusively on perception of chemosensory signals) as well as the neurobiology of simple learning. Usually offered every year.
Donald Katz

NPSY 199a Human Neuropsychology
[ sn ss ]

Prerequisite: Psych 10a or Math 10a and at least sophomore standing.

Designed as an introduction to human neuropsychology. Topics include cerebral dominance, neuroanatomical mapping, and localization of function, with special reference to language, memory, and related cognitive function. Usually offered every year.

Teresa Mitchell

(200 and above) Primarily for Graduate Students

NBIO 207a Advanced Topics in Data Analysis

Trains graduate students in computational analysis of complex data. Analytical techniques will be discussed using data from students' active research projects, with a focus on training in experimental design and analyses, advanced statistics and rigor and reproducibility. Usually offered every second year.
Paul Miller

NBIO 208a Experimental Design and Analysis for Research Proposals

Prerequisites: NBIO 140b and NEUR 401d.

Introduces second-year Neuroscience PhD students to the process of writing research proposals. Using their own research topics and materials, as well as readings from the literature, and training sessions with the instructor and additional domain experts, each student will learn to analyze the relevant neuroscientific literature, develop testable hypotheses, design well-controlled experiments, quantitatively analyze the resulting data, test for statistical significance, and communicate the results in visual plots and concise, well organized scientific writing. The end result will be a draft research proposal suitable for submission to a funding agency such as the NIH. Usually offered every year.
Staff

NBIO 240a Principles of Neuroscience Research

Prerequisites: One year of college-level chemistry with lab, one year of college-level physics with lab, and any math course above 10a, b.

A lecture- and literature-based course examining the fundamental principles of neuroscience. Lecture topics include ion channel biophysics, resting potentials, action potentials, synaptic transmission, sensory systems, motor systems, learning, neural circuits underlying behavior, and neuropsychiatric diseases. Complementary readings of classical and current primary literature will give a deeper understanding of the fundamental underpinnings of nervous system structure and function. Intended for PhD students and advanced undergraduates or masters students who intend to perform basic research in neuroscience. Usually offered every year.

Christine Grienberger

NBIO 306a Topics in Neurobiology

Usually offered every year.
Stephen Van Hooser

NBIO 306b Topics in Neurobiology

Usually offered every year.
Stephen Van Hooser

NBIO 340a Systems/Computational Neuroscience Journal Club

Usually offered every year.
Paul Miller

NBIO 340b Systems/Computational Neuroscience Journal Club

Usually offered every year.
Paul Miller

NEUR 296a Master's Research Lab

Prerequisite: Permission of the Program Director.

Students engage in biological research by working in the laboratory of a faculty member for a minimum of 10 hours per week for one semester. Intended for students in the MS Program in Neuroscience. Usually offered every semester.
Staff

NEUR 297a Readings in Neuroscience

Usually offered every year.
Staff

NEUR 298a Independent Study in Neuroscience

Usually offered every year.
Staff

NEUR 299a Master's Research Project

Usually offered every year.
Staff

NEUR 300a Laboratory Rotations

Staff

NEUR 300b Laboratory Rotations

Staff

NEUR 301b Laboratory Rotations

Yields half-course credit.

Staff

NEUR 401d Dissertation Research

Independent research for the PhD degree. Specific sections for individual faculty members as requested.
Staff

NEUR Digital Literacy

BIOL 51a Biostatistics
[ dl sn ]

Prerequisites: BIOL 14a and BIOL 15b.

An introductory level biostatistics class providing an overview to statistical methods used in biological and medical research. Topics include descriptive statistics, elementary probability theory, commonly observed distributions, basic concepts of statistical inference, hypothesis testing, regression, as well as analysis of variance. Basic statistical analysis using the R software package will be introduced. Usually offered every semester.
Kene Piasta

BIOL 107a Data Analysis and Statistics Workshop
[ dl qr sn ]

The interpretation of data is key to making new discoveries, making optimal decisions, and designing experiments. Students will learn skills of data analysis and computer coding through hands-on, computer-based tutorials and exercises that include experimental data from the biological sciences. Knowledge of very basic statistics (mean, median) will be assumed. Usually offered every year.
Stephen Van Hooser

COSI 12b Advanced Programming Techniques in Java
[ dl sn ]

Prerequisite: COSI 10a or successful completion of the COSI online placement exam.

Studies advanced programming concepts and techniques utilizing the Java programming language. The course covers software engineering concepts, object-oriented design, design patterns and professional best practices. This is a required foundation course that will prepare you for more advanced courses, new programming languages, and frameworks. Usually offered every year.
Staff

COSI 21a Data Structures and the Fundamentals of Computing
[ dl sn ]

Prerequisite: COSI 12b. Graduate students may take this course concurrently with COSI 12b with permission of the Director of Graduate Studies.

Focuses on the design and analysis of algorithms and the use of data structures. Through the introduction of the most widely used data structures employed in solving commonly encountered problems. Students will learn different ways to organize data for easy access and efficient manipulation. The course also covers algorithms to solve classic problems, as well as algorithm design strategies; and computational complexity theory for studying the efficiency of the algorithms. Usually offered every year.

Iraklis Tsekourakis

COSI 131a Operating Systems
[ dl sn ]

Prerequisites: COSI 21a.

Fundamental structures of a computer system from hardware abstractions through machine and assembly language, to the overall structure of an operating system and key resource management abstractions. Usually offered every year.
Mitch Cherniack, Olga Papaemmanouil, or Liuba Shrira

NBIO 136b Computational Neuroscience
[ dl sn ]

PSYC 51a Statistics
[ dl qr ss ]

Prerequisite: PSYC 10a or the permission of the instructor. This course normally should be completed by the end of the sophomore year.

Covers the fundamentals of descriptive and inferential statistics. Techniques useful in the behavioral sciences will be emphasized. Students learn the theory of statistical decisions, practical application of statistical software, and how to analyze journal articles. Usually offered every semester.

Paul DiZio

NEUR Cognitive Neuroscience

NPSY 17a* Hand and Brain
[ sn ss ]

NPSY 11b Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience
[ sn ss ]

NPSY 12a Perception: Human, Animal, and Machine
[ sn ss ]

NPSY 16a Motor Control
[ sn ss ]

NPSY 22b Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
[ sn ss ]

NPSY 28a Learning and Memory
[ sn ss ]

NPSY 64a Reactivity and Resilience: Links between Stress and Internalizing Disorders
[ sn ss ]

NPSY 120b Human Space Flight: Physics, Physiology, and Behavior
[ sn ss ]

NPSY 139a Memory and the Brain
[ ss ]

NPSY 141a Stress, Physiology, and Health
[ sn ss ]

NPSY 154a Human Memory
[ sn ss ]

NPSY 174b Visual Cognition
[ oc sn ss ]

NPSY 180a Social Neuroscience and Culture
[ djw oc sn ss ]

NPSY 182a Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience: Infancy through Adolescence
[ oc ss ]

NPSY 196b Advanced Topics in Cognition
[ sn ss ]

NPSY 197a Advanced Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience
[ sn ss ]

NPSY 199a Human Neuropsychology
[ sn ss ]

Teresa Mitchell

PHIL 123b Neuroethics
[ hum ]

Focuses on the philosophical and ethical implications that arise from advances in neuroscience. We will investigate questions like: What are the evolutionary origins of moral judgement? Does evolutionary theory shed light on morality? Do our moral motivations derive from reason or pre-reflective intuition? Do psychopaths have moral responsibility? Do we have free will? Is there an obligation to enhance ourselves? Should drugs be used to enhance mental functioning? Is it moral to grow human organs in animals for purposes of transplantation? Usually offered every third year.
Staff

PHIL 131a Philosophy of Mind
[ hum wi ]

Covers the central issue in the philosophy of mind: the mind-body problem. This is the ongoing attempt to understand the relation between our minds -- our thoughts, perceptions, feelings, and so on -- and our bodies. Is the mind just a complex configuration of (neural) matter, or is there something about it that's irreducibly different from every physical thing? Topics include intentionality, consciousness, functionalism, reductionism, and the philosophical implications of recent work in neuroscience, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence. Usually offered every year.
Jerry Samet or Umrao Sethi

NEUR Neurobiology

NBIO 81a Central Nervous System Regeneration
[ sn ]

Prerequisite: NBIO 140b. May be taken concurrently

Juliett Bottorff and Jasmine Quynh Le

NBIO 136b Computational Neuroscience
[ dl sn ]

NBIO 142b Circadian Rhythms and Sleep
[ sn ]

NBIO 143b Developmental Neurobiology
[ sn ]

NBIO 145b Circuits and Systems
[ sn ]

NBIO 146a The Neurobiology of Human Disease
[ sn ]

NBIO 147a Neurogenetics
[ sn ]

NBIO 148b Cellular Mechanisms of Neuronal Excitability and Plasticity
[ sn ]

NBIO 157a Project Laboratory in Neurobiology and Behavior
[ sn wi ]

Nathalie Vladis

NEUR Laboratory Courses

BIOL 18a General Biology Laboratory
[ oc sn ]

Prerequisite: BIOL 14a, BIOL 18b and sophomore standing. Yields full-course credit. This lab is time-intensive and students will be expected to come in to lab between regular scheduled lab sessions. In order to accommodate students with time conflicts it may be necessary to re-assign students without conflicts to another section of the course. Students' section choice will be honored if possible.

Provides firsthand experience with a wide array of organisms and illustrates basic approaches to experimental design and problem solving in genetics and genomics. Usually offered every year.
Melissa Kosinski-Collins

BIOL 18b General Biology Laboratory
[ sn wi ]

Prerequisite: BIOL 15b and sophomore standing. Yields full-course credit. This lab is time-intensive and students will be expected to come to lab between regular scheduled lab sessions. In order to accommodate students with time conflicts it may be necessary to re-assign students without conflicts to another section of the course. Students' section choice will be honored if possible.

Provides firsthand experience with modern molecular biology techniques and illustrates basic approaches to experimental design and problem solving in molecular and cellular biology including applications of biochemical techniques. Usually offered every year.

Kene Piasta

BIOL 42b Human Physiology Lab

Prerequisite: BIOL 42a. BIOL 42b may be taken concurrently with BIOL 42a. Yields half-course credit.

Students will be introduced to laboratory techniques used to study human physiology including electromyography, electrocardiography, exhaled gas analysis, and spirometry. Students will set up equipment, make predictions, record results and analyze how their observations reveal physiological principles. Usually offered every year.
Maria Miara

BIOL 153aj Project Lab in Biomimetics / Bioinspiration
[ oc sn ]

Prerequisites: BIOL 15b and BIOL 16a or BIOL 23a.

Explores how the natural world has been used to inspire designs solving real-world problems, identify a problem themselves, learn techniques to plan and build their own bio-inspired designs and present their products in a clear and accessible manner. Offered as part of JBS program.
Maria Miara

BIOL 159a Project Laboratory in Microbiology
[ sn ]

Prerequisites: BIOL 18a and BIOL 18b.

A discovery-based laboratory to study the diversity of microorganisms in particular environments. Students will isolate microbes with ability to metabolize complex compounds from special environments, characterize their properties and identify them by DNA sequence analysis. After students learn foundational microbiology concepts and techniques, they will choose, design, and carry out a short research project. This project lab is primarily for seniors and master's students. Usually offered every year.
Deani Cooper

CHEM 18a General Chemistry Laboratory I
[ dl ]

Corequisite: CHEM 11a. Dropping CHEM 11a necessitates written permission from the lab instructor to continue with this course. Two semester-hour credits; yields half-course credit. This course may not be taken for credit by students who have passed CHEM 19a in previous years.

Introduction to basic laboratory methods and methods of qualitative and quantitative analyses. Included in the analytical methods are gas chromatography and infrared measurements. A synthesis project that includes analyzing the product by titration. Calorimetric experiment using probes interfaced with computers. Identification of unknowns based on physical and chemical properties. Analysis of the metal content of substances by atomic absorption. One laboratory lecture per week. One afternoon of laboratory per week. Usually offered every year.
Milos Dolnik

CHEM 18b General Chemistry Laboratory II
[ dl ]

Prerequisites: A satisfactory grade (C- or better) in CHEM 18a and CHEM 11a. Corequisite: CHEM 11b. Dropping CHEM 11b necessitates written permission from the lab instructor to continue with this course. May yield half-course credit toward rate of work and graduation. Two semester-hour credits. This course may not be taken for credit by students who have passed CHEM 19b in previous years.

The second semester of the general chemistry laboratory program. Continued use of probes interfaced with computers to monitor pH and electrical conductivity changes in titrating weak monoprotic and polyprotic amino acids, to monitor pressure changes as part of a kinetics study, and to monitor voltage changes of electrochemical cells with temperature so as to establish thermodynamic parameters for redox reactions. Also included is identification of unknowns based on selective precipitation. Usually offered every year.
Milos Dolnik

CHEM 19a Honors General Chemistry Laboratory I
[ dl ]

Corequisite: CHEM 15a. Dropping CHEM 15a necessitates written permission from the lab instructor to continue with this course. May yield half-course credit toward rate of work and graduation. Two semester-hour credits. This course may not be taken for credit by students who have taken CHEM 18a in previous years.

An advanced version of CHEM 18a. One afternoon of laboratory per week. One laboratory lecture per week. Usually offered every year.
Milos Dolnik

CHEM 19b Honors General Chemistry Laboratory II
[ dl ]

Prerequisite: A satisfactory grade (C- or better) in CHEM 15a and CHEM 19a. Corequisite: CHEM 15b. Dropping CHEM 15b necessitates written permission from the lab instructor to continue with this course. May yield half-course credit toward rate of work and graduation. Two semester-hour credits. This course may not be taken for credit by students who have taken CHEM 18b in previous years.

Continuation of CHEM 19a. An advanced version of CHEM 18b. Usually offered every year.
Milos Dolnik

CHEM 29a Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
[ dl ]

Prerequisite: A satisfactory grade (C- or better) in CHEM 18b or 19b or the equivalent. Corequisite: CHEM 25a. Dropping CHEM 25a necessitates written permission from lab instructor to continue with this course. May yield half-course credit toward rate of work and graduation. Two semester-hour credits.

Gives experience in the important techniques of organic chemical laboratory practice of isolation and purification of organic compounds by crystallization, distillation, and chromatography, and their characterization using analytical and instrumental methods. One afternoon of laboratory per week. One ninety-minute laboratory lecture per week. Usually offered every year.
Bryan Ingoglia

CHEM 29b Organic Chemistry Laboratory II

Prerequisite: A satisfactory grade (C- or better) in CHEM 25a and CHEM 29a or the equivalent. Corequisite: CHEM 25b. Dropping CHEM 25b necessitates written permission from lab instructor to continue with this course. May yield half-course credit toward rate of work and graduation. Two semester-hour credits.

A continuation of CHEM 29a with an emphasis on the synthesis of typical organic compounds. One afternoon of laboratory per week. One ninety-minute laboratory lecture per week. Usually offered every year.
Bryan Ingoglia

CHEM 39b Advanced Laboratory: Inorganic Chemistry
[ sn wi ]

Prerequisites: Satisfactory grades (C- or better) in CHEM 121a or 122b, or permission of the instructor. Four semester-hour credits.

While the emphasis of this course is on synthetic inorganic chemistry, the content is interdisciplinary in nature, covering topics and techniques in the areas of analytical and organic chemistry as well as inorganic and organometallic chemistry. Compounds are synthesized and characterized by a wide range of instrumental methods of analysis (including GC-MS, IR, and NMR spectroscopies, magnetic measurements, and electrochemical methods). To better mimic a research laboratory, experiments are comprised of 3 research projects, lasting 3-5 weeks each, followed by a lab report in the style of a peer-reviewed journal article. The lectures cover the appropriate scientific and historical background for each project and the use of experimental techniques. One afternoon of lab per week and one one-hour lecture per week. Usually offered every second year.
Staff

CHEM 59b Advanced Laboratory: Physical Chemistry
[ sn wi ]

Prerequisites: A satisfactory grade (C- or higher in CHEM 18b or equivalent; CHEM 141a or 142a (may be taken concurrently) or equivalent. One one-hour lecture and one afternoon of lab per week.

This course introduces the student to a number of topics of current interest in physical and analytical chemistry and provides experimental verification of physico-chemical principles in thermodynamics, kinetics, macromolecules, organic chemistry, semiconductors, nanochemistry, photochemistry, magnetic resonance imaging and electrochemistry. The properties, reactions, and structure of compounds are understood by evaluating their physiochemical responses to changes in experimental conditions. The experiments use synthesis, spectroscopy, chromatography, electrochemical and other instrumental methods employed in the modern chemical laboratory. The program includes the methodology of quantitative measurement, statistical data analysis, and report writing. One one-hour lecture and one afternoon of laboratory per week. Usually offered every second year.
Thomas Pochapsky

NBIO 157a Project Laboratory in Neurobiology and Behavior
[ sn wi ]

Nathalie Vladis

PHYS 18a Introductory Laboratory I

Corequisite: PHYS 10a. May yield half-course credit toward rate-of-work and graduation. Two semester-hour credits.

Laboratory course consisting of basic physics experiments designed to accompany PHYS 10a. Usually offered every year.
Seth Fraden

PHYS 18b Introductory Laboratory II

Corequisite: PHYS 10b. May yield half-course credit toward rate-of-work and graduation. Two semester-hour credits.

Laboratory course consisting of basic physics experiments designed to accompany PHYS 10b. Usually offered every year.

Seth Fraden

PHYS 19a Physics Laboratory I
[ dl ]

May yield half-course credit toward rate-of-work and graduation. Two semester-hour credits.

Laboratory course designed to accompany PHYS 11a and 15a. Introductory statistics and data analysis including use of microcomputers and basic experiments in mechanics. One afternoon or evening of laboratory per week. One one-and-a-half-hour lecture per week. Usually offered every year.
Gabriella Sciolla

PHYS 19b Physics Laboratory II
[ dl ]

May yield half-course credit toward rate-of-work and graduation. Two semester-hour credits.

Laboratory course designed to accompany PHYS 11b and 15b. Basic experiments in electricity, magnetism, and optics. Basic electrical measurements. Determination of several fundamental physical constants. One afternoon or evening of laboratory per week. One one-and-a-half-hour lecture per week. Usually offered every year.
Staff

PHYS 29a Electronics Laboratory I
[ sn ]

Prerequisites: PHYS 11a, b or PHYS 15a, b; and PHYS 19a, b or permission of instructor. Students without a background in Physics should contact the instructor to discuss course requirements and receive permission to enroll.

Introductory laboratory in electronics. Topics to be covered are time constants, frequency response, rectification, amplification, radio reception, combinatorial logic, digital state machines, and analog-to-digital conversion. The class will solve first and second order differential equations directly and with the help of the complex exponential. Usually offered every spring.
Staff

PHYS 39a Advanced Physics Laboratory
[ oc qr sn wi ]

Prerequisite: PHYS 20a. This course may be repeated once for credit with permission of the instructor. This course is co-taught with PHYS 169b.

Experiments in a range of topics in physics, possibly including selections from the following: wave optics, light scattering, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, numerical simulation and modeling, phase transitions, laser tweezers, chaotic dynamics, and optical microscopy. Students work in depth on three experiments during the term. Usually offered every year.

Staff

QBIO 24b QBReC Lab

Prerequisite: QBIO 11a. Yields half-course credit. Formerly offered as EL 24b.

Students explore the living world through experimental and computational projects conducted in research labs. The emphasis is on interdisciplinary science where techniques from physics, chemistry and biology are used to develop a quantitative understanding of life at the molecular and cellular level. Usually offered every year.
Jané Kondev

QBIO 120b Quantitative Biology Instrumentation Laboratory
[ sn ]

Focuses on optical and other instruments commonly used in biomedical laboratories to make quantitative measurements in vivo and in vitro. Students disassemble and reconfigure modular instruments in laboratory exercises that critically evaluate instrument reliability and usability and investigate the origins of noise and systematic error in measurements. Usually offered every year.

Ben Rogers

NEUR Quantitative Courses

BIOL 51a Biostatistics
[ dl sn ]

BIOL 107a Data Analysis and Statistics Workshop
[ dl qr sn ]

ECON 83a Statistics for Economic Analysis
[ dl qr ss ]

Prerequisite: ECON 2a or 10a. Students must earn a C- or higher in MATH 10a, or otherwise satisfy the calculus requirement, to enroll in this course.

A first course in statistical inference. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability, normal and binomial distributions, sampling distributions, point and interval estimation, properties of estimators, hypothesis testing, regression, and analysis of variance. Usually offered every semester.
Linda Bui, Nidhiya Menon, Scott Redenius, and Tymon S'oczy'ski

MATH 40a Introduction to Applied Mathematics
[ dl oc sn ]

Prerequisites: MATH 15a or MATH 22a and MATH 20a or MATH 22b.

Introduces the problems and issues of applied mathematics, with emphasis on how mathematical ideas can have a major impact on diverse fields of human inquiry. Usually offered every fall.

Tyler Maunu

NBIO 136b Computational Neuroscience
[ dl sn ]

NPHY 115a Dynamical Systems
[ sn ]

Irving Epstein

PHYS 105a Biological Physics
[ sn ]

Physical forces in living matter are studied from the perspective offered by statistical mechanics, elasticity theory, and fluid dynamics. Quantitative models for biological structure and function are developed and used to discuss recent experiments in single-molecule biology. Usually offered every second year.
Staff

PSYC 51a Statistics
[ dl qr ss ]

Paul DiZio

PSYC 148a Applied Statistical Computing in R
[ qr ss ]

Prerequisite: PSYC 51a or equivalent.

Designed for graduate students and advanced undergraduates who like to learn the R statistical programming package, further their understanding of statistical modeling and its application in applied and academic research, use R to make the connection between statistical concepts, modeling, and their implementation, and use R to document their research process and enhance its reproducibility. Usually offered every second year.
Xiaodong Liu

PSYC 210a Advanced Psychological Statistics I

In conjunction with PSYC 210b, this course teaches students how to do independent data analysis in psychology at a PhD-level. Topics include methods for describing data, exploratory data analysis, elementary probability theory, null hypothesis significance testing and alternatives, the binomial distribution, contingency table analysis, one-way and factorial analysis of variance, and repeated measures analysis. Students receive extensive instruction in the use of the Statistical Program for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Usually offered every year.
Xiaodong Liu

QBIO 110a Numerical Modeling of Biological Systems
[ sn ]

Prerequisite: MATH 10a and b or equivalent.

Modern scientific computation applied to problems in molecular and cell biology. Covers techniques such as numerical integration of differential equations, molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations. Applications range from enzymes and molecular motors to cells. Usually offered every second year.
Staff

University Bulletin (2022-2023)