Behavioral Neuroscience
The behavioral neuroscience program seeks to trace the connections and uncover the nature of how these mysterious transmissions transform from thoughts into actions.
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Jenn Ingemi
Jenn Ingemi is an associate teaching professor and director or the behavioral neuroscience program. She is interested in understanding how the nervous system directs the flow of information necessary to orchestrate complex behaviors. Despite the current understanding that sensorimotor circuits function through the action of transmitters and modulators, we have a limited understanding of how […] -
Jamie Bunce
Clinical findings and imaging studies in patients suffering from anxiety disorders, including post traumatic stress disorder, indicate that symptoms may manifest due to disruptions in pathways connecting the prefrontal cortex and the medial temporal lobe. These disruptions affect an individual’s ability to accurately integrate context with emotionally salient memories. Dr. Jamie Bunce investigates these pathways […] -
Rebecca Shansky
Research in Dr. Shansky’s lab focuses on the neural connections between the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the amygdala, and sex differences in how this circuit processes fear and responds to stress. The mPFC and amygdala are frequently reported to be sites of dysfunction in stress-related mental illnesses like Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Post-Traumatic […] -
Heather Brenhouse
Heather Brenhouse is a professor and director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Psychology at Northeastern University. She received her BS in Psychobiology from Binghamton University, her MS in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience from Rutgers University, and her PhD in Experimental Psychology from Northeastern University. She did her postdoctoral work at Harvard Medical School, […] -
Richard Melloni Jr
For over 25 years Richard Melloni’s academic efforts had been split between teaching in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology and leading an actively-funded research program centered on two central themes that complemented one another by focusing on basic and clinical research on the behavioral neurobiology of aggression. Dr. Melloni’s basic science research focused on identifying and […]
Program Overview
The Behavioral Neuroscience (BNS) program combines multiple disciplines across the College of Science and beyond to understand how the behavior of humans and animals is controlled by physiological systems. The relationship between the brain’s activity and an organism’s behavior, both healthy and pathological, is examined at multiple levels of analysis, from how a nerve cell functions to how a facial expression conveys trust or fear.
Our students gain a strong foundation in biology, psychology, physical sciences, and mathematics and statistics, and can customize their education to meet their specific interests by selecting from an extensive set of advanced neuroscience electives which focus on diverse specializations and current topics in the field, including Brain, Behavior and Immunity, Multidisciplinary Approaches to Motor Control, and Neurobiology of Cognitive Decline.
Student Research Opportunities
Behavioral neuroscience research is interdisciplinary by nature, and there’s a broad array of laboratory research opportunities to explore here on campus, as well and nationally and internationally. Learn more about your research options for co-op, summer research, and more!
Behavioral Neuroscience Education
Undergraduate Majors
The behavioral neuroscience curriculum focuses on the biological bases underlying behavior under healthy and pathological states. The program combines the disciplines of biology and psychology with a strong background in basic physical sciences and mathematics to understand how the behavior of humans and animals is controlled by physiological systems.
Combined Majors
This combined major engages students in an interdisciplinary study across biology, psychology, Art + Design fundamentals, design core, and a strong foundation in the physiological brain mechanisms that give rise to behavioral functions with the practice of understanding humans, their surrounding contexts and systems, and designing alternative futures.
This combined major engages students in the interdisciplinary study across biology, psychology, and philosophy—providing rigorous training in both disciplines with a specific focus on understanding seminal questions concerning human nature and the mind.
This program underscores how research in neuroscience has become a computational field of study and is designed for students who are interested in applying mathematical and computational methodologies toward understanding human behavior, artificial intelligence, and the human-machine interface.
In this program, students have an opportunity to develop skills in large-scale data manipulation and storage, machine learning, data mining, and information visualization necessary to execute big brain-mapping initiatives including human neuroconnectivity maps.
In this combined major, students are introduced to the anatomical and functional specializations of the brain and neural mechanisms and have the opportunity to apply these concepts to the domains of speech, language, and hearing.
Undergraduate Minor
The behavioral neuroscience minor allows all students, including those majoring in biology and psychology, the opportunity to complement their major plans of study with an interdisciplinary minor in behavioral neuroscience.
Accelerated Programs
Our PlusOne programs allow students to pursue advanced degrees in a condensed period of time.
Bioinformatics, MS (PlusOne)
The MS in Bioinformatics program provides students with core knowledge in bioinformatics programming, integrating knowledge from the biological, computational, and mathematical disciplines.
Applied Behavioral Analysis, MS (PlusOne)
Cell and Gene Therapies, MS (PlusOne)
This innovative nonthesis MS degree program prepares students for the evolving field of cell and gene therapy medicine through a combination of expert-led interdisciplinary training in advanced therapies and in-demand skills development critical for career success.
Pre-Med and Pre-Health Track
Our PreMed and PreHealth Advising program offers personalized expertise to students pursuing health careers. This comprehensive program includes application guidance, workshops and presentations, course mapping and more.
Entrepreneurship
Our Science Connects to Innovation Program empowers undergraduate science students through education, resources, and networks to create entrepreneurial solutions—spanning cleaner energy, eco-friendly pesticides, potential anticancer compounds, sustainable foods, and high-tech assistive devices.
Experiential Learning
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Cooperative Education
With Northeastern situated in the heart of Boston, there is no shortage of co-op opportunities in the fields of biotechnology, biomedical, and healthcare. From penguin tanks at the New England Aquarium to infectious disease research at Massachusetts General Hospital, students have the chance to explore careers paths and gain experiences they never thought possible.
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Global Experiences
Northeastern’s Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Behavioral Neuroscience, and Biochemistry students have the opportunity to study at the University of Dundee, Scotland — the No. 1 rated Life Sciences university in the UK. This program also provides the opportunity to engage in hands-on research at one of the world’s emerging centers for biomedical research.
Ready to apply?
Student Stories
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Student Spotlight
Siima Kiriziya Machayo ‘26, BS Behavioral Neuroscience
What inspired you to pursue your current field of study/research? My inspiration for pursuing behavioral neuroscience is rooted in my fascination with how the brain influences every aspect of people’s lives and how this knowledge can be applied to improve human health. My middle name, my grandmother’s maiden name, is a meaningful way to honor […] -
Student Spotlight
Naomi Rajput ‘26, BS Behavioral Neuroscience
What inspired you to pursue your current field of study/research? My first co-op resulted in me pursuing my venture – Eden. Working as a front office administrator, I saw pain points on administrative workflows that affected physicians, admins, and patients alike. This resulted in me exploring current solutions in the space and after realizing that […] -
Student Spotlight
‘Growth is imbalance’: How Naomi Rajput is squeezing everything out of her Northeastern education
Naomi Rajput, a fourth year neuroscience student, juggles course work with research, multiple clubs, co-ops, and a social life stating that “I live by this quote: ‘Aggressive growth is a product of imbalance.'” -
Student Spotlight
How did this student summit Mount Everest? Navy training and mindfulness skills from Northeastern
Evan Kenney, behavioral neuroscience student, scaled Everest last May. The veteran and former hotshot fire-fighter, is a yoga instructor who spent a month yoga training in Rishikesh before spending 2 months training for his summit. -
Student Spotlight
Sophia Mastroianni ’25, Behavioral Neuroscience
Sophia Mastroianni ’25, behavioral neuroscience, shares her experience as a COS student. -
Student Spotlight
Naomi Rajput ’26, Behavioral Neuroscience
Naomi Rajput ’26, behavioral neuroscience, shares her experiences as a COS student. -
Student Spotlight
Gabrielle Kim-Levesque ’27, Behavioral Neuroscience
Gabrielle Kim-Levesque ’27, behavioral neuroscience, shares her experience as a COS student. -
Student Spotlight
Maria Restrepo ’26, Behavioral Neuroscience
Maria Restrepo ’26, behavioral neuroscience, shares her experience as a Latin COS student. -
Student Spotlight
Northeastern student takes a spin at ‘Wheel of Fortune’
Kate Stuntz, computer science and behavioral neuroscience major, competed in “Wheel of Fortune” and the episode airs on January 24th.
Upcoming events
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Jul 23College of Science
STEM Summer Camp In The UK | London International Youth Science Forum CIC
July 23, 2025, 10:00 am -
Jul 25
Behavioral Neuroscience in the News
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Student Spotlight
‘Growth is imbalance’: How Naomi Rajput is squeezing everything out of her Northeastern education
Naomi Rajput, a fourth year neuroscience student, juggles course work with research, multiple clubs, co-ops, and a social life stating that “I live by this quote: ‘Aggressive growth is a product of imbalance.'” -
Student Spotlight
How did this student summit Mount Everest? Navy training and mindfulness skills from Northeastern
Evan Kenney, behavioral neuroscience student, scaled Everest last May. The veteran and former hotshot fire-fighter, is a yoga instructor who spent a month yoga training in Rishikesh before spending 2 months training for his summit. -
Co-op
Co-ops help neuroscience student compare research and patient care as she aims to shape career studying brain disorders
Ariana Mechem, third year neuroscience major, used her two co-op opportunities to help her decide what career pathway to pursue after graduation. -
Alumni
This Northeastern grad went from neuroscience major to the head of her own cookie company
Maura Duggan, who graduated with a degree in neuroscience in 1998, has turned her street reliving hobby into a flourishing cookie business.