Information for Sophomores in Mind/Brain/Behavior Tracks
Fall 2019-2011
Welcome to the fall 2010 semester! This letter will provide you with information about upcoming aspects of your MBB program, including sophomore-year courses and activities that will help you decide, as you finalize your concentration selection, whether an MBB track or secondary field is a good fit for your own interests.
Course Work
This year, most MBB sophomores will complete Molecular and Cellular Biology 80, the Neurobiology of Behavior, required for students in both MBB tracks and the MBB secondary field. This year the course is offered in the fall by Professors Joshua Sanes and Jeff Lichtman on Tuesdays and Thursdays 1-2:30 p.m. in the Geological Lecture Hall (100 Peabody/University Museum).
If you were unable to take Science of Living Systems 20 (Psychological Science) last year, you may take that this year. This semester Professor Jason Mitchell will offer the course Tuesdays and Thursdays 10-11:30 a.m. in Emerson 105, and in the spring Professor Steven Pinker will offer it Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:30-4.
Some tracks approve alternate arrangements for these requirements, including if you took Psychology 1 last year, and you should consult an advisor in your prospective concentration about such a possibility. You may also want to consult your prospective concentration about its overall concentration and MBB track requirements.
Research Opportunities
The MBB tracks require students to conduct independent senior thesis research, and we encourage all MBB students (including those in secondary fields) to have a research experience while involved in MBB. The sophomore year is often a good time to begin working in a lab or research program. 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 adolescent development, cognitive neuroscience, vision science, sleep and memory, social uses of language, social cognitive development, and social psychology of race/conflict/inequality.
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 Wednesday, September 8th. We will also accept post-study card applications through the drop/add period. More details are available on the MBB 90r webpage, http://mbb.harvard.edu/undergrad/MBB90fall2010.php.
If you are considering an MBB track, you should consult with relevant concentration advisors about research 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.
Advising
Sophomores exploring mind/brain/behavior have several sources of advice.
For advice about specific MBB tracks and their requirements, consult concentration advisors in the relevant concentration. The MBB website's track section provides contract information.
For general MBB advice, including specific MBB course requirements and research otions, please feel free to consult Shawn Harriman. Both your House sophomore advisor and Shawn can also help you compare different MBB track and secondary field options. You may e-mail Shawn a short question (shawn_harriman@harvard.edu), or may instead e-mail him to request a meeting to discuss more detailed concerns.
For broader MBB advice about the kinds of courses you might take; and MBB and its constituent disciplines, methodologies, and questions; about how to become involved in research; and about career development, you may speak with members of our Board of Faculty Advisors. This year's board consists of faculty from both your home school the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Harvard Medical School, all of whom have been involved in a broad range of MBB programs over a number of years. Consult the MBB advising webpage at http://mbb.harvard.edu/undergrad/advising1011.php for the names and contact information of faculty advisors. E-mail to schedule an appointment with one of these advisors.
MBB and/or our student organization HSMBB (see below) may organize events designed to help sophomores with their concentration decision (due by November 17th). We will email you about any such activities once we finalize details.
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.
HSMBB starts this year with two seminars you are encouraged to attend.
Tuesday, September 14th, 4-5 p.m., Kresge Room
Professor Daniel Schacter (FAS/Psychology)
Tuesday, September 21st, 5:30-7 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m., location to be announced
Professor Steven Pinker (FAS/Psychology)
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.