Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience

This certificate provides training in interdisciplinary computational neuroscience to University of Michigan graduate students in experimental neuroscience programs and to graduate students in quantitative science programs, such as physics, biophysics, mathematics and engineering. 

Overview

Our brains operate through electrical activity across complex neural networks. Understanding neural electrophysiology has long relied on the quantitative foundation pioneered by Hodgkin and Huxley with their Nobel Prize winning mathematical model for neuron action potential generation. Building on this quantitative formalism, computational modeling of neuron and network electrical activity has become an integral part of neuroscience research. Indeed, our understanding of systems and circuit-level mechanisms of brain function is rapidly proceeding through the integration of experimental techniques with quantitative analysis and modeling methods. Neural engineering also depends on this quantitative framework for the development and implementation of devices for recording, manipulating and controlling neural processes. Additionally, quantitative models and analyses are vital to developing theories for neural encoding of information and computational principles of the nervous system. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, advanced computational methods are necessary to model the complex signal transduction mechanisms and related neurophysiological processes using disciplines ranging from network theory to differential equations. Computational algorithms also are critical for interpreting the massive amounts of complex experimental data obtained by today’s advanced neuroscience research techniques.

Conducting research in all these areas of modern neuroscience requires training in programming, analytic, and computational methods.  Quantitative training also prepares neuroscientists to participate in team-based interdisciplinary investigations that leverage the combined expertise of scientists from experimental, quantitative and engineering fields to understand the brain.

 

The Rackham Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience is U-M’s response to the increasing prevalence and need for quantitatively trained researchers in neuroscience. The Certificate is administered jointly by the Neuroscience Graduate Program (NGP) and the Michigan Institute for Computational Discovery and Engineering (MICDE).

The Certificate provides training in interdisciplinary computational neuroscience to graduate students in experimental neuroscience programs and to graduate students in quantitative science programs, such as physics, biophysics, mathematics and engineering. The curriculum includes required core computational neuroscience courses and coursework outside of the student’s home department research focus, i.e. quantitative coursework for students in experimental programs, and neuroscience coursework for students in quantitative programs. To gain valuable experience in interdisciplinary science and collaboration, students are required to participate in an interdisciplinary journal club and to complete a practicum in interdisciplinary computational neuroscience.

Completion of the certificate will prepare students to participate in modern, team-based neuroscience that applies both experimental and computational methods to unravel the mysteries of the brain.

Please see more information below, and contact [email protected] with any questions.

Overview

Academic Requirements

Application Procedures

Current Students

Tracking Progress

Graduation

Funding Resources

Current Enrollment

History 

Academic Requirements

 

There are three fundamental requirements for earning a Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

Coursework

Nine (9) graduate credit hours of coursework in approved courses. A non-exhaustive list of approved courses can be found here.

  1. Core computational neuroscience course
  2. Cross-discipline course (i.e., quantitative science course credits for students in experimental science degree programs, and neuroscience course credits for students in quantitative science degree programs)
  3. Advanced neuroscience or advanced quantitative science course (this may be within a student’s home department)

If you are pursuing a master’s degree or an embedded master’s degree within a PhD program please note that no more than one course (3 credits) can be double-counted between the master’s degree and the Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience.

Exceptions for courses not on the approved list can be obtained from the certificate’s program committee. If you wish to take a course not on the approved list, submit a syllabus, and explain why this course should be included, to [email protected]. You must do this prior to submitting the pre-application form.

Journal Clubs

Certificate students are required to attend and participate in interdisciplinary, computational neuroscience journal clubs. The journal clubs consist of faculty and student research presentations, and student presentation of scientific papers related to computational neuroscience. Certificate students are required to attend at least 7 times, and give at least 1 presentation.

There are two options (you can mix and match):

  • Neural Networks Journal Club: It meets on alternate Fridays 10 – 11:30 a.m. (when on campus, the meeting is at the Biological Sciences Building (BSB) Rm 1010). Contact [email protected] to be added to the email list. For more information, see the journal club website.
  • Neural Engineering Journal Club: It meets on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m.  Please email  [email protected] to join their email list.

Practicum

The required practicum constitutes a formal training experience in interdisciplinary computational neuroscience.  The practicum can be satisfied by one of the following:

  1. Completion of an extended project for one of the core computational neuroscience courses. The extended project must involve a combination of computational modeling and data analysis. During the planning stage for the course project, the student should discuss their plans with the Program Chair for approval. If the student decides to enroll in the certificate program after already completing the core computational neuroscience course, an extension of the project can be approved, if necessary, and the student will be required to submit a written report on the extended project to the Program Committee, and may be asked to present the project results in the certificate journal club.
  2. Additional coursework in one of the core computational neuroscience courses listed on this page. Extended projects for the required course or the additional course are not necessary, but the projects for each of the courses must be distinct with minimal overlap in modeling or computational methods.
  3. A formal rotation in a laboratory whose research is in the cross discipline from the students home degree program, i.e. a computational/theoretical lab for experimental science students or an experimental lab for quantitative science students.

Certificate students will be required to submit a practicum proposal to the Program Committee for approval and will earn three (3) graduate credit hours for its completion.

Application Procedures

Questions? Please email [email protected].

Before Applying:

  1. Discuss the certificate with your advisor. Students are encouraged to discuss their proposed study program with their research advisor or graduate coordinator before filling out the pre-application form. For first year NGP students, please talk with NGP’s Director.
  2. Submit the pre-application form. Note that to fill the form:
    • You must be logged in with your UMich ID
    • You cannot save the form before submitting it, so you must have all the information ready
    • Exceptions for courses not on the approved list can be obtained from the certificate’s program committee. If you wish to take a course not on the approved list, submit a syllabus, and explain why this course should be included, to [email protected]. You must do this prior to submitting the pre-application form.
  3. After reviewing your application, the certificate’s program administrator will contact you to set up an advising meeting with Prof. Victoria Booth, the certificate’s program director.
  4. Once the certificate’s director approves your application you will complete the Rackham application to enroll.  See below for instructions on how to apply via Rackham. Please note that there are different instructions for students who are already enrolled in a Rackham graduate program and those who are enrolled in a non-Rackham graduate program.
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Eligibiliity

Students applying for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience must be enrolled in a graduate degree-granting program at the University of Michigan. You must have completed at least one semester in your current degree program to enroll.

U-M Dearborn or U-M Flint graduate students may enroll in the program but will be required to pay the U-M Ann Arbor credits rate for classes taken on the Ann Arbor campus.

Enrollment Deadlines

Admission to the Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience may be granted at any time, but please note the following deadlines:

Fall enrollment: Apply by August 1

Winter enrollment: Apply by December 1

Application instructions for Rackham students

  1. Complete Rackham’s Pre-approval Form for Dual Admission in order to add the Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience onto your current Rackham degree program. This form requires a signature of approval from the authorized signer in your current graduate program. Without approval and an authorized signature on the form, the application will not be processed and the application fee of $10 will not be refunded.
  2. Go to the Rackham Graduate School Dual Admission Application on ApplyWeb. (For more assistance, see “Dual Admission” instructions.)
  3. Select the following degree program: Computational Neuroscience Certificate. The Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience ”program code” is 02305.
  4. Make sure to upload your University of Michigan transcript from Wolverine Access (unofficial is OK).
  5. For the Academic Statement of Purpose, upload a printout of the confirmation email you received when you submitted the pre-application for the Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience.  (If you need a copy of this, please email [email protected].)
  6. In the Recommendation section, write “Computational Neuroscience Certificate — Waived by Dept.” in the First Name field.
  7. For the Personal Statement, upload a document stating “Computational Neuroscience Certificate — Personal Statement Not Required.”
  8. Pay the $10 application fee via Visa or Mastercard.
  9. Email [email protected] once you have completed the online application so that we know to look for your application. Please attach the signed Pre-approval Form for Dual Admission that you uploaded in your Rackham application.
  10. As long as the application is complete and you have no holds from Rackham Admissions, it usually takes about two weeks between application and enrollment.

Application instructions for non-Rackham students

  1. Go to the Rackham Graduate School Application.
  2. Select the following degree program: Computational Neuroscience Certificate. The Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience ”program code” is 02305.
  3. Make sure to upload your University of Michigan transcript from Wolverine Access (unofficial is OK).
  4. For the Academic Statement of Purpose, upload a printout of the confirmation email you received when you submitted the pre-application for the Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience.  (If you need a copy of this, please email [email protected].)
  5. In the Recommendation section, write “Computational Neuroscience Certificate — Waived by Dept.” in the First Name field.
  6. For the Personal Statement, upload a document stating “Computational Neuroscience Certificate — Personal Statement Not Required.”
  7. Pay the $10 application fee via Visa or Mastercard.
  8. Email [email protected] once you have completed the online application so that we know to look for your application.
  9. As long as the application is complete, it usually takes about two weeks between application and enrollment.

Current Students

Tracking Progress

Please keep in touch with MICDE as you complete each program requirement.  Email [email protected] if you have any questions about fulfilling program requirements.

Coursework

If you need to make any changes from the courses you originally discussed in your advising meeting with Dr. Booth, please email [email protected] before taking the new course, to confirm that it can be substituted. This applies even if the courses is on the Approved Courses list. 

After you complete your coursework, please email the course ID, course title, credit hours, semester taken, and requirement fulfilled for each course to [email protected]. (E.g. BME 517 Neural Engineering (3) WN2023 – core)

Journal Club presentation

You should plan to attend at least 7 sessions of one of the approved journal clubs, ideally over multiple semesters.

After you present at journal club, please email the date, the title of your presentation, and journal club to which you presented to [email protected] .

Practicum

Once you have a plan in place for how to complete the Practicum requirement, please complete the Practicum Proposal Form. When you complete the Practicum, please email [email protected] to report how you completed it. If you did an extended project, please attach it to your email.

Graduation checklist for Masters students

Please do the following in your final semester before graduation:

  1. Early in your final semester: Email [email protected] to report that you plan to graduate, and to confirm that your requirements are complete.
  2. Complete the Rackham Dual/Joint Degree Election Form. Have the form signed by your academic/research advisor or departmental academic coordinator (electronic signature is OK). Once the form has all of the necessary signatures, please send it to [email protected] and copy your masters department and [email protected].
    • ONLY courses counted towards the 9 credits should go on this form (not the practicum – if applicable)
    • Masters degree courses go in the left column while the Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience courses counted towards the 9 credits of coursework go in the right column.
    • You can only double-count 3 credit hours, that is, the left and right columns can have at most 3 credit hours in common.
  3. Apply for graduation via Wolverine Access.  Click on the Student Business link within the Students tab on Wolverine Access.  You can access the Apply for Graduation page through both the Student Center and Degree Progress/Graduation tabs.

    All paperwork with signatures are due by the last day of classes of the semester you plan to graduate from your home degree.  Failure to submit all required documents may result in you not being able to graduate with the certificate.

    Graduation checklist for PhD students

    Please do the following in the semester before you plan to graduate:

    1. Early in your final semester: Email [email protected] to report that you plan to graduate, and to confirm that your requirements are complete.
    2. If you will be graduating with an embedded masters degree or another certificate, complete the Rackham Dual/Joint Degree Election Form.  This form is not required if you will only be graduating with a Ph.D. and the Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience. Have the form signed by your academic/research advisor or departmental academic coordinator (electronic signature is OK). Once the form has all of the necessary signatures, please send it to [email protected] and copy your masters department and [email protected].
      • ONLY courses counted towards the 9 credits should go on this form (not the practicum – if applicable)
      • Masters/certificate courses go in the left column while the Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience courses counted towards the 9 credits of coursework go in the right column. Do not list any courses other than those you’re applying to the masters/certificate.
      • You can only double-count 3 credit hours, that is, the left and right columns can have at most 3 credit hours in common.
    3. Apply for graduation via Wolverine Access.  Click on the Student Business link within the Students tab on Wolverine Access.  You can access the Apply for Graduation page through both the Student Center and Degree Progress/Graduation tabs.

      All paperwork with signatures are due by the last day of classes of the semester you plan to graduate from your home degree.  Failure to submit all required documents may result in you not being able to graduate with the certificate.

      Current Enrollment

      Last updated July 2023

       

      11

      Students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience

      8

      Home departments currently represented in the Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience

      Program History

      Last updated July 2023

       

      2019

      Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience approved

      6

      Alumni of the Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience since 2019

      The Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience has had participants from the following home programs:

      Engineering

      • Biomedical Engineering
      • Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
      • Materials Science & Engineering
      • Robotics

      LSA

      • Applied & Interdisciplinary Mathematics
      • Biophysics
      • Biopsychology
      • Physics
      • Psychology

      We welcome all students with an interest in computational neuroscience to apply!

      Faculty Leadership

      For all questions about the Graduate Certificate in Computational Neuroscience, please email [email protected].

      Victoria Booth

      2019 – present

      Victoria Booth