RIKEN CBS Brain Science Training Program
Public Syllabus, 2024-25
Please note that this is a “public syllabus”. Upon admission to the class, students will receive a “closedsyllabus” which includes more detailed information. Any information on here is subject to modification.

1. General Info
1.1 Program Basics
Program Chair:

Dr. Adrian Moore

Program Vice Chair:

Dr. Thomas J McHugh, Dr. Asuka Takeishi

Program Instructors:

CBS Team/Unit Leaders

Teaching Assistant:

Eichi Toyoizumi

Administrative Support:

CBS HD TeamClass Format & Time:

Onsite (+zoom) on Tuesday 17:00~19:00

Language of Instruction:English

1.2 Timeline
Application Open:Mid July

Application Deadline:

Early September (please check the website for up to date deadline)

Program Start Date:

2024 / 10 / 08

Journal Club 1:

2024 / 11 / 19

Oral Exam 1:

2025 / 02 / 04

Journal Club 2:2025 / 04 / 08

Oral Exam 2:2025 / 06 / 03

Graduation Ceremony:

2025 / 06 / 10

2. What is BSTP?
2.1 Program Description
The Brain Science Training Program is a 2 semester-long (October through June) lecture series that consists of24 lectures each taught by different RIKEN CBS team/unit leaders, 2 journal club presentations, and 2 oral
exams at the end of each semester. This program is suitable for those with a strong interest in becoming aneuroscientist. It is primarily designed for early-stage graduate students, but applications will be acceptedfrom senior graduate and undergraduate students as well. If you only wish to attend some lectures by RIKENCBS PIs there’s an option to audit.

2.2 Mission & Learning Outcome
Neuroscience employs a wide range of disciplines from molecular biology to mathematics to ethology. Brain
Science Training Program takes full advantage of the great diversity of CBS's research and provides asystematic overview of neuroscience. It is our sincere hope that through this program we will be able to play apart in fostering the next generation of neuroscientists.
By the end of the program, students:
1.

Have a good grasp of the broad field of neuroscience2.

Can connect concepts and methods in different subfields of neuroscience3.

Are informed about scientific practices and a wide variety of training/career paths to become aneuroscientist

4.

Are more confident in scientific communication in English

5.

Have peers as well as mentors who share the same passion for neuroscience6.

Are ready to come back to RIKEN CBS (hopefully…!)

3. Format & Structure
3.1 Participation Option• Regular Course: For those who intend to fully take part in BSTP (all components listed in Section 3.2).
You will be graded and with a satisfactory grade, you will receive a certificate of completion at the end. Youare expected to attend on-site, but we do have spots for a fully online regular course for those who arephysically impossible to commute to RIKEN CBS every week (you will have the option in the applicationform). If you are trying to earn university credits for UTokyo or Waseda this is your option.
• Audit Course: For those who are interested in attending certain lectures but not in earning a certificate ofcompletion. You will have access to the lectures (not the lecture material) but no other training. At this time
you will be attending lectures on Zoom only, but you may be allowed to attend on-site depending on thenumber of students enrolled in the regular course.
OptionAvailable ContentParticipation

Certi cateCredits

Regular CourseFull Content

On-site (+ few zoom)

Yes

Yes (for some Uni)

Audit Course

Lectures onlyOn ZoomNoNo

3.2 Completion Requirement & Grading
For the completion of the program, you must attend at least 80% of the course lectures/journal clubs/exams.
Participation in exams and Journal clubs is required. A grade of less than 40% would result in an incomplete.

fiGrades are weighted as follows:
Attendance & Post-lecture reports:

30%

2 Journal Clubs:

15% x2 = 30%

2 Oral Exams:

15% x2 = 30%

Active Participation & Peer Evaluation:

10%

Total:

100%For those of you taking BSTP as university credits, this will then be converted to a grade. 80% or more would
be converted to the highest grade in the system, and 40% or less would be the lowest grade.

3.3 Lecture
Select RIKEN CBS team/unit leaders each give 2-hour lectures. In the first half, they give an overview of
their field and in the second half, they dive into their research. More details are to be announced in the“Closed syllabus”.

3.4 Journal Club
There will be 2 Journal clubs. Both of them will be in a “peer-review” practice format. Instructors pick apreprint and students prepare their own “peer reviews” and a presentation. More details are to be announced inthe “Closed syllabus”.

3.5 Exam
There will be two oral exams at the end of each semester. The exam will be given on Zoom. Students will beanswering a question from a pre-announced set of questions. More details are to be announced in the “Closedsyllabus”.

4. Applying to BSTP
4.1 Eligibility
We expect a level of neuroscience-related knowledge of early graduate students or above. This program issuitable for those with a strong interest in becoming a neuroscientist. It is primarily designed for early-stage
graduate students, but applications will be accepted from senior graduate and undergraduate students as well.

4.2 Application Document
For applying to the “Regular Course” (see 3.1), please prepare the following setof documents in English:• CV in a speci ed format (https://cbs.riken.jp/img/TP/CV_BSTP2024_all.xlsx)• Letter of Motivation (~400 words)
Explain why you want to participate in BSTP and your motivation behind it.
• Comprehension Evaluation (~400 words + 400~800 words)
Q1. Watch the following sample lecture of BSTP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=pitt11vYJhQ. Use your own words to summarize the content of the video in ~400 words.
Q2. Choose a research paper from any subfield of neuroscience (animal, human, computational,molecular, etc.), and briefly describe the methods and findings. Explain how findings in the chosen
paper supplement/contradict the materials presented in the sample lecture. Your response should be
400~800 words without the reference(s). *Do NOT choose a paper published from your current orprevious lab.
• Letter of Recommendation (from your supervisor)
Set your file name as “Your name_Document title” (e.g. Eichi Toyoizumi_Letter of Motivation), and send
them through this application form: https://riken-cbs.form.kintoneapp.com/public/bstp2024.

For applying to the “Audit Course”, you only need:• CV in a speci ed format (https://cbs.riken.jp/img/TP/CV_BSTP2024_all.xlsx)• Letter of Motivation (~400 words)
Explain why you want to participate in BSTP and your motivation behind it.
Set your file name as “Your name_Document title” (e.g. Eichi Toyoizumi_Letter of Motivation), and send
them through this application form: https://riken-cbs.form.kintoneapp.com/public/bstp2024.
*If you are affiliated with RIKEN CBS lab, or are part of the joint graduate program you are still eligible toapply and all the procedures are the same.
*For those of you trying to make BSTP count towards university credits, you are responsible for registering
through your registration system at your university AFTER you are accepted to the BSTP. We cannot registeron your behalf. (Currently, this applies to the University of Tokyo, Waseda University & MIP program atfifiKyoto University).

5. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much is it?
A: It’s Free.
Q: Do you accept students from high school?
A: We will not be able to accept high school students due to space limitations and advanced
materials/contents.
Q: Do you accept students from the industry?
A: We will consider applicants with adequate academic training (i.e. college degree) but due to space
limitations priority is given to current university students.
Q: If I get rejected for the regular course, can I still participate as an audit student?
A: Yes, we will ask you if you would like to audit the course in the decision letter (email).
Q: I live abroad. Am I eligible to apply?
A: No, we do not admit students abroad. Foreigners who live in Japan are eligible to apply.