Dear Candidates and Students,
The study of the brain and of cognitive phenomena is one of the most fascinating areas of research that delves into questions that concern every one of us: How is information represented in the brain? How do we make decisions? How do we learn new things? How do we forget things? How do various psychiatric and neurological phenomena disrupt brain function? What is consciousness?
By its very nature, this is an interdisciplinary endeavor, which requires its practitioners to be versed in diverse fields as well as command a high level of professionalism in one of them. The studies and research in the Department of Cognitive and Brain Sciences deal with this interdisciplinary endeavor, and try to balance between broad integrative knowledge and specialized knowledge.
The Department of Cognitive and Brain Sciences offers interdisciplinary degree programs involving a wide range of fields, such as neuroscience, psychology, computational aspects, and philosophy. In the world of research, one cannot overstate the importance of collaboration between researchers from different disciplines, e.g., when seeking to characterize the neural basis of a cognitive phenomenon or when discussing philosophical aspects of computing and processing information in the brain. This collaboration, which is the driver of significant breakthroughs in brain research, calls for scientists who do not only specialize in one of the disciplines but can also "speak the language" of the other disciplines. Beyond imparting professional knowledge in the relevant disciplines, the department's curricula place a great emphasis on the development of critical scientific thinking and acquiring research skills.
The department's faculty includes researchers from diverse academic backgrounds dealing with various aspects of brain and cognitive research, as well as the department's coordinator, Ms. Carmela Naor. The department also collaborates with researchers from the Faculties of the Humanities and Social Sciences, Engineering, Health Sciences and Natural Sciences. An important feature of the department is the emphasis placed on personal attention to the students and the social aspect. Part of the social bonding of the department is reflected in the annual party “From Neuron to Intoxication", which is held in one of Beer Sheba's clubs and includes a rich art program with entertainment skits and songs produced by the students. Apart from the strong bonds forged with the students during their study period, we also attribute great importance to staying in touch with alumni and encourage them to update and stay in touch with us also after graduating.
As noted above, a key aspect of the department's curricula is training students to become well-equipped for the world of research as well preparing them for the applied world. The world of brain technologies, also known as "brain-tech", has been developing rapidly in recent years. Brain-tech companies have been emerging, both in Israel and around the world, that are looking to hire graduates with suitable formal background. The combined knowledge that graduates of the department acquire in Cognitive and Brain Sciences as well as in mathematical and computational toolboxes helps to open many doors in these burgeoning technologies. In addition, we offer graduate students courses in entrepreneurship as well as in brain-computer interfaces as an assistive technology for people with disabilities.
We have also formed a student community focused on brain-tech. Community activities and events include lectures by leading researchers and entrepreneurs in brain-tech as well as opportunities for students to dip their toes in relevant technologies and entrepreneurship through hackathons and various related events. Students who are interested in developing and advancing their own ideas can do so in the entrepreneurship and brain-tech space we have developed, and which is run by members of this community. The Brain-tech Community, which was founded by Ben-Gurion University, has become a vibrant nationwide community that connects students from all the Israeli universities and holds national events.
We believe that the studies in our department provide a response to a wide range of fields of interests, and this will be a meaningful and significant period in the lives of each of you, both professionally and personally. We invite you to come on board and join us for a fascinating journey to the forefront of research in Cognitive and Brain Sciences.
