The BS in Neuroscience has an academic profile or an applied profile, which will depends on the student’s choice. Capability to solve problems inspired in Neuroscience with an interdisciplinary approach and critical reasoning are qualities developed in this program. Because of this interdisciplinarity and the student’s autonomy to make decisions in respect to his course design, this BS can act in many different areas.
The academic profile is chosen by those who want to become researcher and professor. Experimental approaches, contemporary theories and literature knowledge, and capability to create and develop new research projects are expected from this profile. A doctoral degree is indicated to complement the Bachelor in Neuroscience.
The applied profile is chosen by those who want to work in companies or in hospitals, laboratories, etc. This professional must have mastery in new drugs development and technologies to increase life quality. Specifically, he will be able to trace and achieve goals, develope strategies, formulate new hypotheses and aid in the development of diagnostic techniques and treatment for behavioral disorders. It should be emphasized that the bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience will not replace other professionals like physicians, pharmacists and psychologists. However, the BS in neuroscience will be in position to communicate with these and other professionals and provide valuable advice or assistance.
Still, the BS in Neuroscience can use his knowledge to develop ideas for commercial products and become an applied neuroscience business onwer or an independent advisor that provide services to organizations and industry and areas such as cognitive ergonomics or neuroeconomics. UFABC provides many courses related to business management which can be coursed as elective courses.
Occupation areas in Biological Neuroscience.
The BS in Neuroscience combines the knowledge from the more traditional areas of science with a solid methodological foundation and work experience. Because of his mastering in contemporary methods in the sphere of biological sciences, is expected BS in Neuroscience to be appreciated in laboratories, as a technician or researcher. The diversity of biological material manipulation techniques, for example in diagnostic procedures, generates a demand for professionals with experience in hospitals or private companies in biotechnology field. For example, a neuroscientist can contribute to neurological evaluation of new drugs in pre-trial phase. The interdisciplinary studies are reflected in the graduate’s ability to communicate, interact and coordinate employees from different departments in multidisciplinary teams. The training in the translation of science to various audiences benefits the BS in neuroscience in positions that involve communication to other professionals such as the commercial representation of manufacturers of scientific equipment and communicating scientific findings to the general public. In collaboration with other professionals in the biomedical field, neuroscientists also play an important role in the implementation and interpretation of results from diagnostic studies of the nervous system, from genetic or proteomic tests to functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography.
In a society that turned his attention to the suffering and social problems arising from the abuse of drugs, public authorities are under pressure to prioritize interventions in public health sphere. As psychoactive substances act on the nervous system, the neuroscientist is the natural consultant in exploration of the long-term abuse sequels, effects on memory and other cognitive or motivational functions, legal issues of responsibility, strategies for prevention and containment of the problem. As a specialist in interaction between brain and behavior, BS in neuroscience complements teams of doctors, psychologists, pharmacists, nurses and social scientists in every issue impacting public health.
Occupation areas in Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience.
Cognition transforms information into knowledge, which indicates the importance of the brain and intelligence in the information age. The role of artificial intelligence, which has always been inspired by the natural intelligence, is growing and with the computing platforms that allow the implementation of processes of perception, thinking, learning and decision language, the analysis of cognitive processes in humans and other organisms become more more important. A neuroscientist with interdisciplinary training can be packed into an Research sector or hired as a consultant in outsourced projects to analyze or assist in the implementation of errors and fraud detection systems, pattern identification, adaptive analysis of information in robotics, data mining, unsupervised machine learning, language analysis and synthesis, image interpretation, proactive software, among other applications.
The aging, even healthy, brings certain cognitive impairments whose causes are only partially understood. The question occupies a central position in biological neuroscience, where the search for the causes of various types of cognitive decline and demand by pharmacological means and artifacts as brain stimulation devices to intervene is intense. Moreover, cognitive neuroscience have the tools to improve the independence and quality of life in healthy elderly or patients with certain neuropsychological symptoms, like development of partial rehabilitation techniques or cognitive compensation, or by suggesting changes in the environment which assist or facilitate cognitive functions. A graduate in Neuroscience can be responsible for projection adaptations of this type in the various areas visited by people with an impaired cognition. This is an example of cognitive ergonomics field that not only is dedicated to issues of compensation for loss of cognitive functions, but also the optimization of communication and human-machine interface to prevent errors and to increase productivity in industrial or educational environments for example. Graduates can participate in the rational design of critical interfaces with high attentional demand, a typical example being the flight deck of an aircraft, new easily identifiable pictograms, intuitive/informative tables and maps for use in public spaces, efficient signaling in traffic, web-site design etc.
The potential of Neuroscience in judgment and decision of issues have attracted the attention of marketing companies and economic managers. Preferences and buying behavior analysis and modeling are important for projects that depend on the behavior of a market. Also, neuroscientists can apply this knowledge to political preferences. The subjective risk assessment and the emotional state and stress impact financial decisions at all levels, and has been recognized as an important element in movements in stock markets and other speculative products. Developed theories in fields related to neuroscience help to understand the complex dynamic interactions within and between individuals. Psychobiological, psychophysiological and electroencephalogram records allow the study of states as a surprise, anxiety or satisfaction while neuroimaging techniques allow the study of neural circuits involved.
Finally, with a solid background in basic and applied sciences, methodology and scientific communication, the BS in Neuroscience can adapt to different environments for scientific research and technological development beyond science journalism in related areas. Society need critical translators not only in basic research but also interventions in tangible life.