New to CompNuero
Hello!
I’m very new to computational neuroscience, but I’ve become really interested in the field and would like to pursue it. I’m currently a senior biology undergraduate student, and I’ve been considering doing a master’s program with a computational neuroscience focus/concentration before potentially pursuing a PhD or moving into industry.
My main concern is that my background is almost entirely biology right now. My school is relatively small and doesn’t offer many neuroscience or computational courses, so I don’t have formal neuro experience yet. To help bridge that gap, I’m planning to:
- apply for neuroscience research assistant positions
- learn Python
- take additional math courses (calculus, linear algebra, probability/statistics, etc.)
My long-term goal is to work as a computational scientist in industry, though I’m still exploring specific areas within comp neuro.
I mainly wanted to ask:
- Does this seem like a viable path into the field?
- Is doing a master’s a good idea for someone trying to build foundational computational and research skills before committing to a PhD?
- Are there any skills, courses, or experiences you’d strongly recommend prioritizing early on?
Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I’m trying to use my gap years wisely and build a solid foundation before applying to programs.
Thank you!