Phd | HUJI International

ELSC Brain Sciences

Brain science

Duration

5 years, direct PhD track

Faculty / School

The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences

Language

English

Location

Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus

Application deadline

Please refer to the

the program website

Program Details

As a global leader in computational neuroscience, The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC) boasts one of the most diverse PhD programs in the field, anchored in an interdisciplinary approach to neuroscience that combines theoretical, biological and cognitive perspectives. Our intensive 5-year direct PhD program offers a deep and comprehensive understanding of the brain’s functions. Over the course of your studies, you’ll learn computational neuroscience and its application in understanding how the nervous system orchestrates disparate functions including perception and action, learning and memory, thought and creativity. You’ll attend courses such as “Theoretical Neural and Cognitive Sciences” and “Machine Learning and Information Processing,” and conduct hands-on thesis research under the supervision of our leading brain researchers. In the spirit of international collaboration, you’ll benefit from scholarships and travel fellowships to attend international conferences and visit brain research centers around the world.

For additional information about our direct PhD program in brain sciences and specific courses of study, please visit here.

Our program leverages your undergraduate theoretical and practical knowledge through independent scientific research under the supervision of an experienced, renowned faculty member. As such, you will be required to identify and secure a research supervisor in your preferred area of interest prior to submitting your application for M.Sc. or Ph.D. studies. Our program page is a good place to begin your search, where you can explore the different tracks of specialization and learn more about the researchers associated with each of them.

Further details regarding our program of study can be found on program website.

Career & Networking

At ELSC, we prepare our students to take on leading roles within the international brain research community. Through exposure to the various disciplines and access to some of the world’s leading brain researchers and their work, you’ll solidify your research goals and begin to determine your future career path. Over a third of our PhD program graduates have gone on to become independent researchers in neuroscience at leading Israeli and global universities. Over 40% of our graduates have attained professorships with institutions around the globe, and most others have secured senior positions in the high-tech industry.

The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences and its Faculty

Located in the heart of the Edmond J. Safra campus, ELSC is home to world-renowned scientists, stellar faculty, and talented postdoctoral scholars and students from across the globe, all of whom comprise our internationally acclaimed brain research community. Encompassing a broad range of disciplines including anatomy, physiology, computer science, physics and cognitive sciences, ELSC sustains a strong interdisciplinary foundation upon which leading scientists from these varying disciplines conduct groundbreaking research on the relationships between brain computations, neuronal circuits, and behavior.

ELSC houses a number of expertise centers including a neuroimaging unit, a core microscopy unit, a fabrication lab, and a vector core facility, making our ultra-modern research facilities and state-of-the-art laboratories part and parcel of the ELSC research experience for faculty and students alike. To learn more about our distinguished faculty and the ways in which they are revolutionizing neuroscience research at ELSC, please visit the Center’s website.

Admissions Requirements

ELSC welcomes direct PhD applicants who present proof of:

A bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields: natural sciences, mathematics, social sciences, engineering, computer sciences, and medicine.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 85.
English Language Proficiency: International students who are not native English speakers are required to complete one of the following exams: TOEFL (minimum score of 89), IELTS (7), AMIR (220), AMIRAM (120), or European standards (B2). Candidates whose previous studies are from English-speaking institutes in countries such as UK, USA, Australia, etc. are exempt from presenting proof of English proficiency.

In addition, applicants must submit the following application materials:

Curriculum Vitae
One-page statement of scientific interests
Official transcripts from each university attended
Two academic letters of recommendation

Applications to the ELSC direct PhD program are submitted online. For additional information and details on how to apply, please visit here.

Tuition & Scholarships

Full tuition scholarships are granted during the first two years of study, and are extended for three additional years following acceptance and registration for PhD studies.
Stipends of approximately 7,100 NIS per month are offered during the first 2 years, and approximately 3,100 NIS per month is awarded for the following 3 years once a candidate has registered for PhD degree studies.
Additional support is granted to candidates by the labs (up to 10,000 NIS).
Annual travel grants are awarded for the purpose of attending international conferences and visiting collaborating labs abroad.

In addition, ELSC encourages its students to apply for prestigious doctoral scholarships from both Israeli and international organizations. For further information regarding tuition and financial aid, please visit the scholarship page on the program’s website.

Further Information