Information for Juniors in Mind/Brain/Behavior Tracks
Fall 2009-2010
Welcome to the fall 2009 semester! This letter will provide you with information about upcoming aspects of your MBB program, including junior-year courses and activities.
Course Work
If you have not yet taken either of the two foundational MBB courses, you may do so this semester:
Science of Living Systems 20, Psychological Science, Steven Pinker, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30-4 p.m., Paine Hall/Music Building (first meeting Thursdays, September 3rd, 2:30-4 p.m., Sanders Theatre/Memorial Hall)
(SLS 20 will also be offered by spring with Daniel Gilbert as instructor)
(note: if you took Science B-29 in 2006-2007 or Science B-62 in 2007-2008 or 2008-2009, you may count that course in place of SLS 20)
Molecular and Cellular Biology 80, Neurobiology of Behavior, Joshua Sanes and Jeff Lichtman
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1-2:30 p.m., Northwest Building B-103
Some tracks approved alternative arrangements for these requirements and you should consult your concentration advisor or your concentration's MBB track faculty had about such a possibility.
This year you should also complete an interdisciplinary seminar. Seminars available for this year are listed at http://mbb.harvard.edu/undergrad/progjun_sem0910.php. NOTE: The listings for MBB courses at the top of the page are more up-to-date than information on the registrar's website; also consult Recent MBB Course Changes (top choice on the Courses pull-down menu). Neurobiology track students should consult with a concentration advisor for approval of specific interdisciplinary seminars.
You should also check with your concentration about your progress in meeting additional track and concentration requirements.
Research Opportunities
It is useful, often essential, to have research experience before embarking on your senior thesis work. If you are not already affiliated with a lab or research program, this semester is a good time to begin acquiring such research experience. The MBB website includes a section on research opportunities, http://mbb.harvard.edu/undergrad/opportunities.php. This page is constantly updated, and currently includes opportunities in such diverse areas as animal cognition, face recognition, cortical neuron activity, the perception of mixed-race individuals, implicit social cognition, and the early identification of youth at risk for psychosis.
Many of these research listings are eligible for course credit through MBB 90r (Supervised Research: Topics in Mind/Brain/Behavior). MBB 90r applications for this semester will usually be submitted by noon on Tuesday, September 8th. More details are available on the MBB 90r webpage, http://mbb.harvard.edu/undergrad/MBB90fall2009.php
As you make research plans, you should consult with relevant concentration advisors about research course credit (your track may have a research course you should take instead of MBB 90r) and about whether specific research projects listed on the MBB website would be appropriate for students in the particular track your are considering.
Thesis Planning
The MBB certificate requires you to complete an honors thesis, and much of the planning for your thesis will take place this year. Thesis planning will occur within your concentration, although the topic and content of your thesis will usually have an MBB 'flavor.'
If you plan to spend next summer doing research for your thesis, you are welcome to apply for a Mary Gordon Roberts Summer MBB Fellowship. These fellowships help finance research and/or living expenses. Applications will be due in March 2010 and additional information will be available this spring.
Junior Symposium
This past Monday, MBB held a quite lively symposium for juniors. If you were unable to attend this symposium, you should plan to attend the September 2010 symposium, as this is a requirement for the MBB certificate. Additional information on the 2010 symposium will be available this spring.
Special Events
The larger MBB community gathers several times each semester for a variety of exciting events. In recent years these events have included cross-disciplinary conversations, discussion of recent faculty publications, and series of lectures by distinguished guests to Harvard. As specific events are organized, we will e-mail you details and hope you will be able to join us for them.
The Harvard Society for Mind/Brain/Behavior (HSMBB)
HSMBB is an integral part of the MBB undergraduate program, and is dedicated to building a community among MBB students. HSMBB activities include regular seminars led by faculty and other researchers, communi-teas providing opportunities for students and faculty from across MBB to meet and chat, and the publication The Harvard Brain. To be informed about these and other HSMBB activities, join its mailing list at http://lists.hcs.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/hsmbb-list.
The HSMBB start-the-year Open House will feature faculty and advisors involved in MBB undergraduate programs, and we hope you will be able to attend. It will take place on Wednesday, September 9th from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Bechtel Room (room 107) in Emerson Hall.
Additional Information
If you have any questions about any of this or about any other MBB activities, feel free to check our website for details (http://mbb.harvard.edu) or to e-mail me (shawn_harriman@harvard.edu). The website provides details or links to track and secondary field requirements, MBB courses, research opportunities faculty and other Harvard researchers have asked us to post for undergraduates, and MBB in general. In addition, MBB sends out an e-newsletter with information updates about monthly during the academic year. If you are receiving this letter, you are on the mailing list for these newsletters.
We at MBB wish you a productive semester, and look forward to working with you this year.