[visionlist] Berlin School of Mind and Brain: Invitation for Doctoral Applications

[Patrick Wilken]

BERLIN SCHOOL OF MIND AND BRAIN

Web: http://www.mind-and-brain.de
Enquiries: admissions at mind-and-brain.de

The Berlin School of Mind and Brain is an international research school, 
located in the vibrant heart of Berlin. Founded in 2006 as part of 
Germany's Excellence Initiative, it offers a unique three-year 
interdisciplinary doctoral program in English in the mind/brain sciences.

Research within the School focuses on the interface between the 
humanities and the neurosciences. Of particular interest are research 
areas that fall on the borders between the mind sciences (e.g., 
philosophy, linguistics, behavioural and cognitive science, economics), 
and the brain sciences (e.g., neurophysiology, computational 
neuroscience, neurology, and neurobiology). Major topics of research 
within the program include: 'conscious and unconscious perception', 
'decision-making', 'language', 'brain plasticity and lifespan ontogeny', 
'mental disorders and brain dysfunction', and the 'philosophy of mind'. 
However, research is not limited to these areas, and students are 
strongly encouraged to develop and work at their own initiative on any 
projects that are relevant to interdisciplinary questions relating to 
mind and brain.

The School is situated in the center of Berlin, on the grounds of the 
Charite, the largest medical campus in Europe. The city itself is a 
major center for culture, politics, media, and science and is globally 
recognized for its rich art-scene, museums, internationally renowned 
festivals, and a pleasant and highly affordable standard of living.

Each year the School accepts ten to fifteen doctoral candidates into its 
program. Here are some excellent reasons why students might wish to be 
considered for one of these highly sought after positions at the Berlin 
School of Mind and Brain:

* The School has a faculty comprised of 60 distinguished researchers, 
including four Max Planck directors, which cover the gamut of research 
in the mind and brain sciences.

* Research within the School is strongly embedded in the basic and 
clinical research conducted within the region allowing for strong 
synergistic research initiatives and opportunities. Hosted by the 
Humboldt University, the School's research program includes scientists 
from the Free University, the Technical University, the Bernstein Center 
for Computational Neuroscience, the Max Planck Institute for Human 
Development (Berlin), the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and 
Brain Sciences (Leipzig), and the nearby universities of Potsdam and 
Magdeburg.

* Students acquire a strong foundation for interdisciplinary work by 
attending ten one-week classes during the first half of their doctoral 
program, which cover all fields relevant for mind/brain-related 
research, and allow students to explore research methods and topics that 
they have not been previously exposed to. Each doctoral candidate is 
assigned two professorial advisors – one from the brain sciences, one 
from the mind sciences – in order to maximize the interdisciplinary 
impact of their work.

* Students meet with leading international researchers via the School's 
Distinguished Lecture Series, interactions with its senior visiting 
faculty, as well as by attending international workshops and meetings. 
As part of the School's commitment to maximizing students' research 
opportunities, the School also encourages and provides assistance for 
students to spend time studying and conducting research abroad during 
the course of their doctoral candidacy.

* Extensive practical services to international doctoral candidates are 
available, including assistance with visa applications, matriculation, 
health insurance, local authorities, scientific soft skill courses, and 
language classes.

Finally, there are good financial reasons for studying at the Berlin 
School of Mind and Brain:

* There are no tuition fees associated with the program.

* Administrative fees are very low. Administrative fees for attending 
the Humboldt University come to only approximately 250 euros per semester.

* The School offers generous scholarships to the best applicants. 
Students who were not successful in winning one of the school's own 
scholarships will receive support in obtaining alternative sources of 
funding (e.g. a research post within a university department or with one 
of the School's research groups, or help in finding alternative funding 
sources for a scholarship).

Recent progress in the neurosciences has opened up new and exciting 
avenues for research that raise challenging conceptual and ethical 
questions calling for an interdisciplinary approach. The Berlin School 
of Mind and Brain offers a unique research and training environment for 
doctoral candidates to work at this exciting interface between the 
sciences and the humanities.

For further information please contact:

Patrick Wilken
Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin
Berlin School of Mind and Brain
Luisenstraße 56
10099 Berlin
Germany

Web: http://www.mind-and-brain.de
Enquiries: admissions at mind-and-brain.de