This course has been instrumental in shaping my career

What drew you to the MSc in Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at Sheffield, and how did you decide this program was the right fit for you? 

My final year project in my undergraduate degree at Manchester was on machine learning algorithms for animal behaviour. This was eye opening to the subfields of neuroscience, specifically computational neuroscience. It’s definitely the future, and not just for clinical and pre-clinical research, but across a diverse range of fields. Being exposed to this made me realise I was still missing certain skills, for example in the fields of computer science and machine learning, that would be essential for the career path I wanted to pursue. I sought out a master's program that would bridge these gaps while allowing me to deepen my understanding of neuroscience from a computational perspective. 

The MSc at Sheffield stood out as the ideal choice. It was highly recommended to me by multiple professors at Manchester, who highlighted its strong interdisciplinary approach with an emphasis on hands-on computational training. The curriculum's balance between theoretical foundations and practical coding skills, along with access to research opportunities, made it the perfect fit for me. 

How would you describe the teaching and learning experience on this course? 

The variety in teaching styles made the learning experience well-rounded, allowing me to adapt to different ways of problem-solving and develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. It also meant that regardless of one's background—whether from neuroscience, psychology, or computer science—there was always a way to engage with and grasp the material effectively. It’s always insightful to be on a course where each professor and student has a different background because it forces you to approach tasks and problems in different ways.

One of the highlights of my experience was the freedom I had to shape my own research project. Rather than being assigned a rigid topic, I was encouraged to explore my own research interests, applying computational techniques in a way that felt meaningful. At the same time, I had an incredible support system within my laboratory group. I couldn’t have asked for a better lab to be part of—shoutout to the Active Touch Lab! I had the independence to design my own project but also the reassurance that if I ever got stuck, I had friends and colleagues ready to offer guidance and support. 

Are there specific modules or opportunities that stand out? 

It’s hard to choose which modules, but I'd have to say mathematical modelling, dynamical systems and both computational neuroscience modules were my favourite because all the content was so new to me, so I felt like I was really learning here. There are two opportunities that stand out. The first being that I was able to attend and help out at the UKNC conference! The second being my project poster conference, where I was able to present my MSc research to all my peers and professors. 

What kinds of support and resources have you found most helpful as a student in this programme, both academically and personally? 

The list is endless. I’d have to say on a personal level, friendships kept me going. Apart from late night study sessions in the diamond, we had our own book club and would have regular cooking and movie nights, and we loved going to the peak district. I also had two part time jobs throughout my masters, in which I made great friends and was well looked aer. 

Academically, I was lucky since Hannes was both my project supervisor and academic advisor, so I was able to have regular meetings with him outside of the usual group lab meetings every week. 

What has been your favorite part of living and studying in Sheffield as a postgraduate student? 

Beyond academics, Sheffield is a fantastic city to live in as a student. It has a great balance between city life and nature, with the Peak District being just a short trip away. There is also a big climbing culture here, so whether you’re an experienced climber or only just starting out (like myself) this is a great hobby and easy to get involved in.

The student scene is vibrant but not overwhelming, with plenty of cozy cafés, live music, and independent shops to explore. 

How has this course shaped your career and future professional plans? 

This course has been instrumental in shaping my career, enabling me to secure a place on an excellent PhD program in Belgium. I am now a doctoral researcher at the KU Leuven department of neurophysiology. Here I am studying the effects of intracortical microstimulation on the visual cortex in macaque monkeys, with the goal of restoring vision to the blind. 

What advice would you give to prospective students who are considering applying to this course? 

Regardless of your background (computer science, psychology, neuroscience) make sure to do some background reading / make sure you fulfil prerequisites before starting the course. It can get very overwhelming very quickly and doing this before you start will make things feel less like a shock to you. But nevertheless, don’t be scared and just go for it !