Profile & activities

Want to know what we're all about? On this page, we've gathered information on our research profile and the disciplines involved in the programme. Here, you will also find information on the studies and the type of activities and networks that await if you join the doctoral programme.
Key research areas

Research and doctoral training in the B&M include the following fields of science:

  • Developmental neuroscience
  • Excitability, synaptic transmission, and neuronal networks
  • Disorders of the nervous system
  • Sensory and motor systems
  • Neuroimmunology, neuroendocrine systems and sleep
  • Cognitive and behavioural neuroscience
  • Systems and computational neuroscience

In addition to basic research, a number of the research groups are also developing applications relevant for pharmaceutical companies, for the clinic, and for novel technologies to be used in research. In view of the integrative nature of research training in B&M, we do not support pure methods-development projects. Rather, all new methodologies developed as part of a doctoral thesis project should be applied to data collection or analysis.

To look for researchers working in the B&M fields of science, please visit the .
Courses & studying

A doctoral degree in the programme comprises of a doctoral thesis and 40 credits of additional studies. The studies are divided into discipline-specific studies, aimed to support your research project, and transferable skills training.

When preparing your study plan for the application, please remember to include all the obligatory studies: research ethics, book exam and B&M symposium with poster presentation.
Events & activities

The annual B&M symposium is organized by the of the Doctoral Programme Brain & Mind, University of Helsinki and Aalto University!

In addition to B&M students and supervisors, we welcome other interested researchers and MSc/PhD students to this meeting. Registration to the symposium is free. 

will be organised on November 6-7, 2025.

 

The programs (link/pdf) of the previous symposia can be found in the sidebar link list.
  • Are you interested in what are the key open research questions in different fields of neuroscience?
  • What are the current conceptual and methodological limitations?
  • What are the biggest hurdles for effective prevention and treatment of psychiatric and neurological diseases?

Come and hear our top neuroscientists discuss these and other timely questions in the context of their research.

The events are open to students, postdocs, group leaders, or anyone interested in neuroscience, and science in general.

The course  with recordings from previous seminars (enrolment key: “big questions”).

Host / organizer: Professor Iiris Hovatta

 

The 9th Finnish Symposium on Biological Psychiatry 

When: December 12, 2024 

Venue: University of Helsinki, Meilahti campus

 

 

The symposium will include:

Keynote lecture  

Talks by leading Finnish investigators in biological psychiatry.

Posters and short talks have been selected based on submitted abstracts. 

Target audience: Students, postdocs and faculty working on human genetic and imaging studies in psychiatric diseases, mechanisms of psychiatric diseases, including functional, pharmacological and genetic analyses in model organisms, and related fields. 

Credits (NEUBM-301): Students will receive 1 ECTS from attendance + submitting a learning diary, or 1 ECTS from poster/oral presentation or 2 ECTS from presentation + learning diary. 

The learning diary (800-1500 words) should describe and analyze what you have learned during the symposium. It should cover the 3 longer presentations (by senior scientists) and at least 4 short presentations (by junior scientists). Reflect what you have learned and what you found particularly interesting. Please send the learning diary to xxx by xxx.

 

We hope to see you there!

  • Annette Horstmann, PhD, associate professor of behavioral and brain sciences   
  • Iiris Hovatta, PhD, professor of behavioral genetics
  • Tiina Paunio, MD, PhD, professor of psychiatry     

 

 

 

(PDF)

 


 

 
  • Date, place and topic for each JC will be announced via B&M students email list.
  • 1 credit for 1 presentation + attending the JC five times

The course  (enrolment key: “whatsup”)

Here you can find links to seminar series in research fields of brain and mind.

 was founded by Dana Alliance and is organised annually in March to foster public enthusiasm and support for brain science. 

B&M participates in the BAW activities in collaboration with other Finnish universities, organisations and societies. Our specific activities include e.g. visits to schools, lecture/poster presentations, popular science articles, newspaper articles and keeping a science blog. B&M students gain credit points by participating in the public outreach activities. .

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Collaboration and history

HGSN → FGSN → B&M

The first Finnish doctoral program in neuroscience was founded in 1995 by Academy Professor  (University of Helsinki) together with Academician  (Aalto University/Helsinki University of Technology). This Helsinki Graduate School of Neurobiology was expanded to a nationwide level as the Finnish Graduate School of Neuroscience (FGSN) in 1998.

FGSN was a joint program of the University of Helsinki, Aalto University, Universities of Eastern Finland, Oulu, Turku, and Åbo Akademi. Research groups in these universities worked in collaboration to develop postgraduate education at a national level in neuroscience. FGSN was funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Academy of Finland and the respective universities.

The Doctoral Program Brain & Mind (B&M) started in January 2012. The FGSN continued operating alongside the B&M during 2012-13. 

Starting from 2014, B&M was one of the doctoral programs of the Doctoral School in Health Sciences (DSHealth) of the University of Helsinki until the launch of the new

Professor Kai Kaila was the Director of the B&M until 2016, after which Professor 2022.

B&M col­lab­or­a­tion between the Aalto University and the University of Helsinki

In Aalto University, B&M is a network program hosted by the . 

The multidisciplinary network of leading neuroscience research groups of the Universities of Helsinki and Aalto continues to maintain and develop further the high standards of doctoral training within the scientific fields of Brain&Mind. In addition, B&M has an agreeement with the  (UH) and  major , AU) for a collaborative study right.

National collaboration with organisations and societies

B&M works in collaboration with the  (BRSF), Suomen  (Finnish Brain Foundation),  (Finnish Brain Council) and  to organize joint national events in neuroscience and brain awareness events for general public.

B&M is a member of the  (NENS, hosted by the , FENS) which provides opportunities for B&M doctoral candidates to e.g. apply for  and for stipends to participate in .  

B&M coordinates the  supported by FENS and IBRO-PERC.

Through the Doctoral School in Health Sciences (DSHealth), we are part of .