NeuroData Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Brain and Data Science

In today’s modern world, everything is connected. The demand for combined brain and data expertise in neurotech, technological innovation, healthcare, education, and many other fields is rising fast.

Progress in neuroscience requires analysing vast amounts of data, a skill that would be invaluable to neuroscientists. Simultaneously, data scientists could benefit dramatically from specialised training in neuroscience to gain perspective that influences the quality and depth of their insights. Combining two such innovative fields of study will boost the careers of those who choose this path.

The NeuroData Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Brain and Data Science brings neuroscientists and data scientists together in an innovative, specialised programme that will cultivate a new generation of multidisciplinary researchers with in-depth knowledge in both fields, researchers who are highly skilled in investigating the most complex problems faced by the human race – the human mind and brain in health and disease.  All students spend the first year at Bar-Ilan University (BIU) gaining a solid basis in neuroscience and neuroscience-orientated data science. The second-year of the programme takes place in one of the neuroscience and data science sub-tracks at one of the consortium’s partner institutions where the students also complete a research thesis.

The NeuroData Master is a collaboration between six leading universities in Israel and Europe: Bar-Ilan University in Israel, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, in Portugal, University of Jyväskylä in Finland, University of Padua (Padova) in Italy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in The Netherlands, and University of Zagreb in Croatia. 

Graduates of this specialised joint master's degree programme will receive a double master’s degree from two of the partner universities, depending on the choice of study track.

NeuroData: An Explanation

In modern science, breakthroughs often occur at the intersection of multiple disciplines. NeuroData, a pioneering, innovative MSc in Brain and Data Science, will create impact through multidisciplinary research and educational innovation.

This holistic approach to students’ training will enable them to forge new mindsets and approaches while increasing individual contributions to a knowledge-based economy and society. The possibilities for ground-breaking, cutting-edge discoveries are enormous. The integrated multidisciplinary brain and data science curriculum will cultivate researchers with in-depth knowledge in both fields.

Programme Overview

The first year of the programme is spent at Bar-Ilan University. Students from multidisciplinary backgrounds will receive essential training in neuroscience and data science tailored according to their undergraduate studies and designed to bring all students to the same level in both subjects. During this year, students will be integrated into the vibrant teaching and research environment of the Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center.

This will be followed by two compulsory weeks at the University of Zagreb for a summer school programme that was tailor-made for the NeuroData degree. The aim of the summer school is to expose students to advanced neuroscience and data science topics, enable them to present their progress and finalise a thesis mentor, meet professors and mentors from the partner universities, and to have fun and socialise.

Students will spend the second year at one of the four partner institutions studying their sub-specialty-of-choice and working on a research thesis.

Study Tracks – Second-Year

• Biomedical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal
• This track focuses on neuroscience's biomedical and data science engineering aspects and biomedical and data science engineering applications for brain research and technologies.
• Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical Neuropsychology with Data Processing, University of Padua, Italy
• This track is designed for students with a BA in Psychology, specialising in cognitive neuroscience and data science. The curriculum focuses on basic and clinical aspects of cognitive neurosciences and data science applications in this field.
• Systems Neuroscience and Data Processing, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• This track will concentrate on systems neuroscience and data processing and provide knowledge on this field's clinical and translational applications.
• Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging with Data Processing, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
• This track specialises in neuroimaging and data processing. The curriculum provides advanced knowledge in cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging techniques, and data science-orientated data analysis and visualisation in this field.