Seminars and scientific meetings are conducted in English, but once off campus students are fully immersed in typical daily Japanese life with easy access by subway to Tokyo’s city center. In addition to participating in lab research, students enroll in an intensive neuroscience lecture course hosted by the institute and featuring a renowned international speaker series. Students do a presentation and write 2 papers based on the lecture course and their laboratory experience.Students enroll in the following 2 courses. In addition, the program offers a noncredit course in introductory Japanese at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute. The Harvard courses Neurobiology of Behavior (MCB 80) or Animal Behavior (OEB 57) required. Students with advanced coursework or research experience in molecular biology, psychology, philosophy, linguistics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, or neurobiology would be appropriate candidates. Laboratory experience preferred.BIOS S-98rt Study Abroad in Tokyo, Japan (RIKEN): Laboratory Research in Neurobiology (32537),Students choose a laboratory for their independent research project based on their academic interests.BIOS S-141c Study Abroad in Tokyo, Japan (RIKEN): Collective Brain (32744),How do the dynamimcs of collective interaction of neurons make our mind work? In this course, we would like to place our emphasis on the interaction or coordination of different components of the brain that allows it to function as an integrated system for controlling cognition, memory, and behavior. Our emphasis is also on how the malfunctioning of these mechanisms might lead to abnormal states of the brain.

What's Included:

•     Tuition
•     Lodging and some meals
•     Excursions (including meals when appropriate)

In addition to the program fee, students are responsible for:

•     A health insurance fee ($185; waived if students have US insurance that provides coverage outside the United States)
•     Transportation to and from Tokyo
•     The cost of passports and visas (if the latter is needed)
•     Any immunizations