Curriculum
In order to ensure that students are highly qualified for a successful career in the interdisciplinary field of neuroscience, IMPRS NeuroCom educates and trains students in a broad range of relevant topics. The school aims to provide this extensive and comprehensive training while allowing sufficient time for research projects. The teaching and supervision language at IMPRS NeuroCom is English. All lectures are open to other students from both Max Planck Institutes and University of Leipzig, in particular to those in doctoral programmes. Doctoral students outside the IMPRS NeuroCom have the option to take part in the examinations and receive marks for their coursework.
Each doctoral student is expected to collect 20 credit points.
Basic Lectures - BL
Basic courses are compulsory for IMPRS students and cover:
- Foundations of Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging Physics and Signal Processing
Special emphases are placed on improving methodological skills as well as having a command of neuroanatomy, cognition and basic neuroscience. These skills ensure that students enter the phase of writing their dissertation with firm methodological and substantive knowledge.
Advanced Lectures - AL
Advanced courses enable the students to gain a deeper knowledge of cutting-edge cognition research such as:
- Language and Communication
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
- Neuroplasticity
- Music
- Imaging Methods
- Connectivity
They are organised as block courses, and IMPRS students are required to attend and pass the exam of at least one of these courses within their PhD studies.
Scientific Workshops
If enough studnets show interest, scientific workshops are organised.
- Matlab
- SPM
- Statistics
- Experimental Design
- Programming
- TMS
Transferable Skills Courses
If enough students show interest, soft-skills courses are organised. Students have to take part in at least two soft skills courses.
- Time & Project Management
- Good scientific practice
- Academic writing: How to create good texts
- Communication & Presentation in the Academic Context: How to be confident and persuaive
- Grant proposal writing
Additional
In addition students have the option to participate in regular research activities at both Max Planck Institutes and the University of Leipzig such as
- Weekly Institute Colloquia
- Guest Lectures
- Weekly Scientific Meetings on specific research topics and neuroimaging methods
- Annual Summer Schools that take place alternately in London and Leipzig
- Research Stays at cooperating institutions (if applicable)