Training

Neurosciences Cellulaires et intégrées | NCI

Taught in French, with options available in English

A multidisciplinary path from molecules to mind

This graduate track shapes specialists with a broad and integrated perspective on neuroscience — from molecular biology to the dynamics of complex neural networks. 

In the first year, students build a strong foundation in the scientific method and core areas including neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, cellular and molecular neurobiology, neurophysiology, and behavioral and cognitive neuroscience.

The second year offers the opportunity to specialize in cellular and systems neuroscience, combining required and elective modules tailored to each student’s interests. A six-month research placement in a laboratory deepens both technical expertise and scientific insight.

Throughout, the program focuses on understanding the nervous system in health and disease, across all scales — from single cells to interconnected networks.

Neurosciences COgnitives | NCO

Taught in French, with options available in English

The Cognitive Neuroscience (NCO) track provides comprehensive training in the neural mechanisms underlying perception, attention, memory, and their alterations in pathological conditions. Drawing on cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, and behavioral neurobiology, the program emphasizes a strong scientific approach through supervised projects, practical lab work, and critical analysis of research articles.

The first year, shared with the Cellular and Integrated Neuroscience (NCI) track, builds a solid foundation in neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, cellular and molecular neurobiology, neurophysiology, and cognitive neuroscience. Students also develop research skills through hands-on projects and practical exercises, while elective courses allow them to acquire specialized technical expertise.

In the second year, students strengthen general scientific competencies and focus on cognitive neuroscience specialization through dedicated and elective modules. A full-semester research internship in a neuroscience laboratory provides immersive experience in experimental design and data analysis, preparing graduates for advanced research careers or further doctoral studies in cognitive neuroscience.

Dual Master in neuroscience | DMN

Taught in English, French-Canada dual-degree track

Our brand-new DMN program (former JMN) addresses the growing need for career development and diverse experiential learning. One of the most effective ways to internationalize higher education is through strategic global partnerships that strengthen cooperation, networking, and the quality of teaching and learning, while enhancing graduate employability for all partners.

Guided by this educational philosophy, the DMN program, co-designed and co-led by the Universities of Strasbourg and Manitoba in Winnipeg, explores fundamental brain functions and dysfunctions using the latest technologies and scientific insights. Modern neuroscience is increasingly translational and inherently interdisciplinary, requiring research and training that integrate multiple approaches: developmental neuroscience, cellular and integrative neurophysiology, chronobiology, computational neuroscience, and neurogenetics.

Crucial advances in understanding the mechanisms underlying the nervous system’s complexity demand a strong, interdisciplinary educational framework, in which theoretical concepts are fully interconnected with cutting-edge techniques and technologies, preparing graduates to tackle the challenges of contemporary neuroscience research.

Interdisciplinary training in Neuroscience & Pain | ITNP

Taught in English

The IT-NeuroPain track is designed to train specialists with a strong multidisciplinary foundation in neuroscience, with a particular focus on pain, from molecular mechanisms to integrated systems-level understanding. The program addresses current methodologies and key questions regarding pain mechanisms, therapeutic strategies, as well as societal and ethical challenges associated with pain management.

Throughout the program, students develop a rigorous scientific approach through supervised projects, article analysis, practical work, and laboratory placements. The interdisciplinary curriculum provides essential knowledge across neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, cellular and molecular neurobiology, neurophysiology, chemistry, social sciences, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience — all critical for any pain specialist.

By combining theoretical foundations with hands-on training, IT-NeuroPain prepares graduates to tackle complex research questions, contribute to translational neuroscience, and develop innovative approaches to understanding and treating pain, bridging molecular insights with clinical and societal perspectives.

NEW! Euro-Mediterranean master’s degree in Neuroscience and Biotechnology | EMN-Online

Taught in English

The EMN-Online Master, coordinated by the University of Bordeaux, is evolving into a joint online master program offered by the Universities of Bordeaux, Aix-Marseille, Nice, and Strasbourg. Upon completion of the two-year program, students receive a degree jointly awarded by all four institutions.

The program is delivered entirely online, except for laboratory internships, and is taught in English. It combines online courses, pre-recorded lectures, and interactive workshops, providing advanced knowledge in neuroscience and hands-on experience with cutting-edge methodologies. EMN-Online emphasizes autonomy, problem-solving skills, and practical application of concepts.

The program welcomes graduates in biology, medicine, or biotechnology, particularly early-career professionals seeking to deepen their expertise in neuroscience. It offers flexible, high-quality training that bridges theoretical knowledge with practical skills, preparing students for research or professional careers in neuroscience and related biotechnology fields.

Information for Strasbourg: Hervé Cadiou

Neuropsychologie cognitive clinique | NCC

Taught in French, with options available in English

The neuropsychologist primarily evaluates the cognitive abilities of patients with brain injuries, identifying preserved functions, deficits, and, when appropriate, designing neuropsychological rehabilitation programs that leverage the patient’s remaining capacities. Their work spans neurological conditions (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis), psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, autism), and acquired brain injuries from strokes or trauma, across both children and adults.

The Clinical Cognitive Neuropsychology track focuses on describing cognitive systems, their mechanisms, and the brain structures supporting them. Based on a cognitive approach, the program emphasizes analyzing cognitive deficits to understand normal function and studying healthy subjects to complement clinical assessments. Neuropsychological testing is combined with functional neuroimaging techniques, such as fMRI.

The program provides dual training: 

• Clinical: mastering neuropsychological assessment, theoretical knowledge, and rehabilitation planning for patients with brain lesions.
• Research: developing skills to contribute to neuropsychological research and integrate into research teams, bridging clinical practice and scientific inquiry.

NeuroStra leverages local research strengths to offer specialized teaching units integrated into its six Master’s programs.

Time in Perception and Action 
Optional, taught in English for NCI, NCO, DMN, ITNP, NCC
TPA1 explores the biological mechanisms of time processing across multiple scales, from milliseconds to years. The first chapter addresses biological rhythms, internal clocks, their genes, and the health impacts of their disruption. The second chapter examines how the human brain perceives time, making temporal predictions to integrate sensory information, whether unimodal or multimodal. The third chapter details the neural foundations of time processing, including cellular mechanisms, short-term plasticity, brain oscillations, and engrams, all essential for temporal adaptation and memory.
TPA2 delves deeper into time processing in neuroscience through a series of lectures delivered by national and international researchers. Each session includes a theoretical component based on scientific literature. The lectures cover various topics, such as neuronal dynamics, synaptic timing, adaptation to extreme environments, brain oscillations, temporal prediction, neuroeconomics, brain modeling, sleep, and neuromodulators. The list of speakers and topics evolves each year to incorporate emerging issues, particularly the impact of disrupted brain rhythms on health and society.

Neurodegenerative Diseases 
Optional, in English for NCI, NCO, DMN, ITNP, NCC
MND1 introduces the pathology, genetics, biochemistry, and cellular biology of major human neurodegenerative diseases studied in NeuroStra laboratories, including Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body disease, Parkinson’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington’s disease. This provides students with an understanding of the specific aspects that will be further developed in the MND2 module. Emphasis is placed on the various cellular and molecular pathophysiological mechanisms and pathways involved in neurodegenerative diseases that are common to most of these conditions.
MND2 explores, through specific and targeted examples, the use of multiple experimental approaches to understand the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and to design therapeutic strategies. Various levels of study—including genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors—investigated in the research laboratories of ITI NeuroStra will be presented.

Nociception and Pain | Euridol
Courses related to this topic are specifically offered by the Euridol Graduate School of Research (EUR), one of the pillars of NeuroStra. Several optional modules are available in English within the NCI, NCO, DMN, and NCC programs. The ITNP program is specifically designed around training in pain neuroscience, with a multidisciplinary approach. Detailed information on Euridol courses can be found on the Faculty of Life Sciences website and on the Euridol website.

Neuroepigenetics
In English for NCI, DMN, and ITNP 
EpiG provides a foundation in chromatin biology concepts and associated methodologies, particularly functional genomics (omics) approaches used to study epigenetic and transcriptional regulation across the genome (e.g., RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq, EM-seq, WGBS, etc.). The course also seeks to demonstrate to students, through discussion of scientific articles and practical sessions, how these approaches can be applied in neuroscience to understand key physiological functions (memory, reward, nociception) and neurological and psychiatric disorders (Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, substance use-related disorders, etc.).

Introduction to Computational Neuroscience
In English for NCI and NC 
NeuroComp presents the basic concepts while connecting them to key mathematical notions, such as differential equations and linear algebra. It uses common neural simulators with Python interfaces as visual and practical tools, including an introduction to scientific programming. The course focuses on two main areas: modeling a single neuron (both reduced and detailed models) and modeling a neural network. Each section incorporates tools for statistical and spectral analysis of neural activity. The course concludes with an advanced module on measurements and statistical tests applied to neuroscience.

NeuroStra supports and encourages the integration of neuroscience with other disciplines in both research and training. This is exemplified by:

The creation of the Interdisciplinary Training in Neuroscience & Pain (ITNP) in 2024: A new master’s track developed by Euridol and supported by NeuroStra, focused on pain. ITNP welcomes students from non-biology backgrounds. The multidisciplinary curriculum, taught in English, provides essential foundations in neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, cellular and molecular neurobiology, neurophysiology, chemistry, social sciences, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience—skills crucial for any pain specialist.

The creation of the “What’s in the Box” teaching unit in 2021: This course combines theoretical instruction in philosophy of science and epistemology with hands-on collaborative exercises. Students from different disciplines work together to infer the contents of a sealed box without opening it, fostering a unique understanding of scientific thinking, methodology, and the interplay between theory, experimentation, and interpretation.