Neuroscientist

Study the human nervous system, with a focus on understanding how our brains work.

About the job

What it's like

Neuroscientists study the inner workings of our nervous system. That includes the mysteries of the brain. Our brains are incredibly complex, with around 86 billion neurons – so there is plenty to study! Your research can make a big difference, it may even lead to the next big breakthrough in treating brain disease or mental illness.

The main focus of your role will likely be research. Carrying out experiments, collecting data and publishing findings. But there are many specialisms within the career you could focus on.

You might study the effects of a new Alzheimer's drug going through trials. You could investigate core functions of the brain, such as how memories are formed. Or you might focus on how the nervous system develops over time, with age or due to medical conditions.

What you do each day could look very different depending on where you work. A career as a neuroscientist can take you into a broad range of industries. For example, you could work for a university, drug company or in government agencies.

Cutting-edge technology will help you see what's going on inside someone’s head. Whether you're using scanners, sensors or computer modelling software, being tech-savvy will go a long way.

Your tasks might include:

carrying out experiments, collecting and analysing data and finding patterns and trends
preparing tissue and cell samples for analysis under a microscope
using chemical tests to highlight different parts of the nervous system
using scanners to map brain activity
running statistical analyses to understand the cause and effect of your findings
discussing your findings with colleagues, writing papers and publishing your research

Explore more information about this job

Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:

The British Neuroscience Association – discover the largest UK organisation dedicated to neuroscience
Neuronline – read blogs from neuroscience professionals working across a broad range of roles
Brain Facts – explore a 3D model of the human brain and learn more about neuroscience

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Getting in

Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.

Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:

Biology
Chemistry
Computing Science
Human Biology
Maths (Mathematics)
Physics
Foundation Apprenticeship: Scientific Technologies (Laboratory Skills)
Applications of Mathematics

You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.

You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.

Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.

You'll need a science degree and likely a PhD in Neuroscience for this career.

Check out some of the routes you can follow to work towards this.

University

You’ll need a degree or postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject, such as:

Neuroscience
Biochemistry
Biology
Biomedical sciences
Chemical engineering
Chemistry
Computer Science
Data Science
Pharmacology
Psychology
Radiography

Having a combination of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Neuroscience and another specialism is useful for this career.

College

Getting national, vocational or other qualifications at college, such as HNC or HND, could help you progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:

Applied Science
Computer Science
Data Science
Psychology
Radiography

If you're an adult looking to get back into education, consider the Scottish Widening Access Programme (SWAP). It offers routes to university by learning at college first.

If you don't have a degree and have been out of education for at least three years, you could be eligible. You can read more about eligibility on the SWAP website.

Use the My World of Work course search to find university and college opportunities.

Apprenticeships

Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in areas such as:

Life Sciences and Related Science Industries
Life Sciences and Related Science Industries Technical

Discover MAs on Apprenticeships.scot.

Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs) are designed for industry and you'll spend most of your time learning on the job but you'll also go to uni. You'll get a job, get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time.

You might want to consider a GA in Data Science.

Discover GAs on Apprenticeships.scot.

Getting work experience in a relevant role can help you. Search for opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
The British Neuroscience Association has details of organisations who offer summer placements for undergraduate students. These can help you build research experience and develop essential lab skills.

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