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Presentation of ED NSCo

The Neurosciences and Cognition Doctoral School (ED NSCo) is one of only two doctoral schools in France dedicated solely to studying the brain and its functions.

It gathers together those members of Lyon’s scientific community who specialize in the neurosciences, with a particular focus on integrative and cognitive neurosciences.

Its objective is to offer PhD students top-quality training through research projects and to assist them in preparing their professional careers.

Backed by the activities of research teams (most of which are accredited by the CNRS and INSERM), the Neurosciences and Cognition Doctoral School offers a particularly rich, research-friendly environment ideal for neuroscientific research.

The scientific approach of the doctoral school is focused mainly on understanding normal, as well as abnormal brain function. Deregulation may result from lesions (e.g. stroke, accidents…), neurological disorders (e.g. epilepsy, chronic pain....), neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. Parkinson's disease) or psychiatric disorders (e.g. schizophrenia).

ED NSCo is one of the 17 doctoral schools affiliated to the Université de Lyon. It also benefits from the scientific resources and networks of its two partner universities, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and Université Lumière Lyon 2 as well as its partnership with the CORTEX LabEx (Laboratory of Excellence). This network allows the school to ensure the training of its PhD students in the very best conditions.

ED NSCo is also part of the Network of European Neuroscience Schools (NENS) within the framework of the European Federation of Neuroscience Societies (FENS).

In October 2017 the ED NESCo published its School Regulations & Procedures. This contains a wealth of information regarding preparing and defending a thesis, cross-discipline training, the PhD supervisory committee etc. Consult it now!

The scientific policy of ED NSCo

Thanks to the work carried out by its 24 research teams, the Neurosciences and Cognition Doctoral School actively contributes to advancing neuroscience research. Its cellular, integrative and cognitive approach allows for new synergies in the studying of normal brain function, as well as disorders. The study of these cognitive and neuronal disorders is mainly focused on:

• Deregulations resulting from cerebral lesions (stroke, accidents...)
• Neuronal dysfunctions (epilepsy, chronic pain...),
• Neurodegenerative disorders (Parkinson’s disease)
• Psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia...)

Each team is recognized by one or more supervisory institutions: CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research), INSERM (National Institute of Health and Medical Research), the Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and the Université Lumière Lyon 2.
Today, the Neurosciences and Cognition Doctoral School oversees a network of 25 research teams working in 7 different laboratories. These offer our PhD students a working environment favourable to the pursuit of their research.

The research teams of ED NSCo

Doctoral School Missions

The main missions of the NSCo Doctoral School are to offer PhD students doctoral training and an environment favourable to the successful pursuit of their research, and to help them define a solid professional project, throughout the preparation of their thesis.

To achieve this, ED NSCo :
  • Implements a student selection policy based upon explicit, clear criteria
  • Ensures the quality of the doctoral training and supervision provided by the research units and teams
  • Respects and faithfully implements the thesis charter. The charter ensures that PhD students are able to prepare and present their thses in the very best conditions
  • Organizes scientific and intellectual encounters and exchanges between PhD students
  • Through their affiliation with the Lyon universities, offers PhD students training and instruction that is useful for both their research project and their professional careers, as well as the training and education necessary for acquiring a broad-based scientific culture
  • Helps PhD students benefit from all the services offered by the university and monitors and supports their professional integration
  • Facilitates access to Europe and the rest of the word, in partnership with higer education institutions and research centers abroad, notably via the promotion of jointly supervised theses (co-supervised doctorates awarded by two separate institutions, including one foreign institution).