Program in Neuroscience, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
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PhD in Neuroscience in Fribourg
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Introduction
The spectacular advances in our knowledge of the nervous system and the promising developments in the treatment of nervous disorders have made neuroscience one of the most active branches in modern biology and medicine. We make enormous advances in our understanding of the structure and workings of individual brain regions, we are beginning to see how the brain controls behavior and we can start to investigate one of the most profound puzzles of science, the question of human consciousness. And above all, the results of some of these findings are directly carried to the patient, in an effort to provide better treatment for some of the most devastating human diseases. We, the group of neuroscientists in Fribourg, would like to share this enthousiasm with the community of present and future scientists. We actively pursue our research goals in the laboratories, we teach young scientists how to investigate the nervous system, and we educate students in biology, medicine, psychology and pharmacy in the basics of neuroscience.
The Program of Neuroscience at the University of Fribourg is an interdepartmental program that links neuroscientists from the Departments of Anatomy, Biochemistry, Biology, Histology and Physiology. We began to interact many years ago by organizing common seminars which became very popular among faculty and students alike, with lecturers from about all Western European countries, and from North America and Japan. These activities resulted in the recent development of the Fribourg PhD program in Neuroscience with already more than 10 participants enrolled. The present Program in Neuroscience was created in the wish to concentrate and synchronize our efforts in the investigation and teaching of the nervous system.
The current Program faculty is a diverse group of neuroscientists whose research interests include molecular, cellular, systems, behavioral, cognitive and computational approaches to the study of the nervous system in invertebrates and vertebrates, including man. Areas of particular strength are gene knock-out, neurogenetics, glia cells, development of neuronal connections, neuroprotection, neuronal plasticity, learning, insect olfaction, visual neurophysiology, auditory implants, behavioral neurophysiology, astronaut motor control, analytical and neuronal network models, movement initiation, motivation and mind-body philosophy.
We are fond of having the peace of a small historic town in a beautiful surrounding, which permits reflection and personal contacts in times of stimulation and competition. This attracts people from all over the world. We had postdoctoral colleagues from Switzerland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Marocco, USA, Canada, Mexico and China. We have established research collaborations with about all universities in Switzerland, and with the University of Cambridge, CNRS and INSERM institutes at Paris, Marseille and Lyon, Rutgers University in New Jersey, Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, Bowman-Gray School of Medicine and Duke University in North Carolina, Baylor College of Medicine at Houston, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Neuroscience and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research at Bombay, India. Our research is funded by the University of Fribourg and by national and international agencies, including the Swiss National Science Foundation, Sandoz, Novartis and Roche Research Foundations, Human Frontiers Science Program, European Space Agency, European Community, McDonnell Foundation, and Sigrist Foundation.
Other Neuroscience Centers in Switzerland
Neuroscience Center Zürich
Neurobiologie Universität Basel
Lausanne à la Pointe des Recherches en Neuroscience
Programme Plurifacultaire de Neurosciences Cognitives (Université de Genève)
The DANA Alliance for the Brain