Neuroscience at Bates

The Bates Program in Neuroscience’s curriculum is built around active, learning-by-doing experiences.

The program trains students to draw on perspectives from physiology, psychology, biology, and quantitative approaches to consider topics such as molecular and cellular mechanisms, neural circuits, computation, and behavior. Students develop skills through laboratory courses and research practice, and the major culminates with a senior capstone or thesis that emphasizes rigorous, independent inquiry.

Contact Us

Thomas Pinette
Academic Administrative Assistant
Bonney Science Center
Phone: 207-755-5928 tpinette@bates.edu

What You Will Learn

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How to design and conduct neuroscience research by collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data
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To communicate the principles of neuroscience clearly in writing, presentations, and visuals for different audiences
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How to evaluate evidence and scientific claims with methodological and ethical rigor, paying special attention to societal impact
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How to translate neuroscience into real-world domains including health, technology, education, and policy
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To present and share research with the campus community and at regional and national scientific meetings
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To build a broad understanding of the connection between the brain and behavior, starting at the molecular level

Life After Bates

Students graduate as thoughtful and responsible consumers and producers of neuroscientific knowledge, providing a versatile foundation for careers in healthcare, research, biotechnology, and academia. Graduates frequently pursue roles as physicians, neuroscientists, research technicians, and counselors, or work in specialized areas like pharmaceutical sales, science writing, and AI-driven interface development.

94%

of 2020-2024 Bates graduates are employed and/or attending graduate school — settled into their next opportunity within 6 months of graduation.

During my sophomore year Cognitive Neuroscience lab in Pettengill, my life was changed when my professor introduced me to a career I’d never heard of where I could help people, solve puzzles, and continue learning throughout my life. My mentors at Bates mapped out the path for me and supported me every step of the way. Now, 8-plus years of training later, I am practicing and so in love with my work.

— Hannah Weiss ‘15

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • University of Oxford
  • Stanford University
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Columbia University
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Duke University
  • University of California, San Francisco
A student uses a centrifuge during a lab in Bonney Science Center.
A student engages in a discussion during a “Neuroscience, Ethics, and Society” class in Pettengill Hall.
Two students worth together to insert a pipette into a test tube during a “Lab-Based Biological Inquiry Cellular Neuroscience” class in Bonney Science Center.
Students collaborate during a lab for their “Lab-Based Biological Inquiry Cellular Neuroscience” class in Bonney Science Center.
A student walks past Dana Hall on Alumni Walk.
A Professor draws scientific graphics on a whiteboard during a meeting with thesis students in Bonney Science Center.

Students choose neuroscience at Bates for mentored, high-touch scientific practice. We provide close faculty guidance as students learn to design studies, work with data, and communicate their findings. Students graduate prepared to think critically about the nervous system, conduct and communicate original research, and integrate scientific understanding with ethical and societal perspectives. We offer a truly hands-on approach to neuroscience; students in our program routinely participate in active research programs and mentored projects with our faculty.

Featured Courses

Photo of Jason B. Castro

Jason B. Castro

Associate Professor of Neuroscience

Neuroscience, Digital and Computational Studies
Photo of Justin C. Hulbert

Justin C. Hulbert

Associate Professor of Neuroscience

Neuroscience Chair
Photo of Olivia A. Kim

Olivia A. Kim

Assistant Professor of Neuroscience

Neuroscience
Photo of Martin Kruse

Martin Kruse

Associate Professor of Biology and Neuroscience

Biology, Neuroscience
Photo of Mollie B. Woodworth

Mollie B. Woodworth

Assistant Professor of Neuroscience

Neuroscience

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