Summer Springboard
Neurobiology
IN BERKELEY
EXPLORE NEUROBIOLOGY THROUGH DISCOVERY AND HANDS-ON LEARNING.
Neurobiology @ Berkeley
- Comprehend the fundamental structure and function of the mammalian nervous system.
- Learn how neurobiological research has advanced our understanding of the brain’s complexities.
- Explore disruptions in the brain caused by injury or neurological disease.
- Analyze how the nervous system adapts throughout life in response to experiences.
- Delve into the molecules, cells, and circuits that shape thought, action, and emotion.
- Investigate diverse job prospects in neurobiology—from research and biotech to clinical and engineering roles.
Summer Springboard
Neurobiology
About This Course
This course offers students a comprehensive introduction to neurobiology and the fascinating interdisciplinary study of neuroscience, the brain, and nervous system.
Students will explore “normal behavior” by examining the precise mechanisms through which the nervous system orchestrates thought, action, and emotion. Through a combination of lectures, interactive discussions, and hands-on activities, students will delve into the intricate world of molecules, cells, and circuits that shape human behavior.
From understanding developmental processes to examining the impacts of brain injury and disease, students will gain a holistic understanding of neurobiological principles while fostering a broader perspective on this fascinating field of research. Students will also explore the wide range of job prospects in neurobiology across many sectors, including academic research, biotechnology, drug discovery, clinical and medical settings, biomedical engineering, neuroinformatics, and more.
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
Hands-on experiments in this course are carefully designed to expose students to a broad range of molecular, microbiological, and cell biological techniques currently used in research laboratories.
Career Exploration
Last year, students had the opportunity to visit a variety of neuroscience research institutions such as, Neuroscape and Gladstone Institute, as well as Bay Area research companies like Denali Therapeutics. The students also had the chance to visit the Henry J. Wheeler, Jr Brain Imaging Center where they were shown a live fMRI and given a tour of the fascinating technology at Berkeley’s state-of-the-art research facility.
RESOURCES
Course Infosheet
Click here to view or download the printable infosheet for this course.
Program Catalog
Click here to request our catalog to learn more about our summer programs and courses.
Campus Page
Click here to view the website page for this campus and learn more.
“I really liked the experience overall and the course I took really impacted me and helped me decide what I would want to do to in a future!”
– Paola E. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Neurobiology
Meet Your Instructor
Session 4
Isabelle is a Neuroscience Ph.D. candidate in the Berke Lab at UCSF. She holds her B.S. in Molecular Biology from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. Her research focuses on understanding how the basal ganglia contribute to movement control and decision-making. Beyond her research, Isabelle is dedicated to mentorship and increasing access to research opportunities.
She has served as a graduate student advisor in UCSF-founded research programs, such as the Summer Research Training Program, mentoring undergraduate students. She has also been an advisor for the UCSF PITCH program, another UCSF-founded initiative that provides exposure and hands-on experience in the health sciences to students from underrepresented backgrounds and first-generation college students.
ISABELLE GONZALEZ MONTALVO
Meet Your Instructor
Session 2 & 6
Lucas is a PhD candidate and an emerging leader in computational neuroscience at Stanford University, where he combines cutting-edge dynamical systems modeling with computational ethology to unlock new insights into motivation and movement disorders. As a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow working under pioneering neuroscientists Dr. Karl Deisseroth and Dr. Liqun Luo, he is working on innovative approaches to understanding complex brain functions. He also holds his BS in neuroscience from Emory University.
LUCAS ENCARNACION-RIVIERA
Summer Springboard
Neurobiology
Dates & Tuition
| 2025 Dates |
|---|
| Session 1: June 15 – June 27, 2025 |
| Session 3: June 29 – July 11, 2025 |
| Session 5: July 13 – July 25, 2025 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $5,998 |
| Commuter Tuition: $3,298 |
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: Berkeley |
| State: California |
| Campus: Berkeley |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly, NYSID and UW Foster which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.