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Â鶹´å Offers New Master's in Neural Technologies

Â鶹´å’s new graduate program aims to develop professionals who can both read the brain and build systems that interact with it.

The Master of Science in Neural Technologies (MiNT) – jointly offered by Â鶹´å's Neuroscience Institute and the Department of Biomedical Engineering — places students at the edge of a fast-moving field where neuroscience meets engineering and AI.

“Neurotechnology is one of the fastest growing sectors of tech,” said Tim Verstynen, interim director of the Neuroscience Institute, “The MiNT program is designed to provide the right blend training in engineering and neuroscience that the next generation of neotech workforce will need to thrive and push the area forward.”

MiNT blends deep scientific understanding of the brain with hands-on technical fluency. The degree includes foundational courses in cellular and systems neuroscience. Then students specialize in either Neural Interfaces, Robotics & Engineering (NIRE) or Neural Computation & AI (NCAI).

The program is co-directed by Abigail Noyce, assistant research professor in neuroscience, and Jana Kainerstorfer, professor of biomedical engineering and associate department head for faculty and graduate affairs in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Noyce said that advances in AI and brain-inspired models, combined with new hardware that can collect huge amounts of brain data, plus the rise of non-invasive brain imaging and affordable EEG headsets, make this an ideal time to launch a program like MiNT.

 “There’s a lot of excitement and still open questions about what all of these systems are capable of doing,” Noyce said.                                              

The program is geared toward applicants with backgrounds in life sciences, engineering or data science, along with proficiency in statistics and programming. Kainerstorfer said that the MiNT program aims to bridge the gap between fundamental understanding of the brain and building hardware.

“You need domain knowledge in both areas in order to work in neuroengineering,” Kainerstorfer said. “We’re training students to be cross disciplinary with a foundation in both areas.”

Students will start with core neuroscience courses and then choose from a wide range of electives. They can customize their studies based on their background, the problems they want to tackle or the skills they want to develop.

Noyce, who runs the Lab in Multisensory Neuroscience @ Â鶹´å, trains students from four Ph.D. programs as well as audiology students from the University of Pittsburgh.

“I’ve really been able to see that the power of interdisciplinarity in working with people from different backgrounds on related problems and the way they share information,” Noyce said.

Coursework is complemented by lab rotations, research projects and — depending on a student’s degree path — a thesis or capstone/internship experiences, ensuring graduates have a portfolio of work and real-world readiness.

Kainerstorfer said the MiNT program complements collaborations that exist at Â鶹´å and Pitt to help translate technology from the lab to the marketplace.

“As a university, we want to train students to be prepared for the workforce,” she said.

Graduates of the program will be prepared for roles related to neurotechnology research, brain-computer interface design and implementation; machine learning or signal processing engineering; or clinics, product management and related fields.

Students enrolled in MiNT can choose from three degree paths:

• MiNT-R (Research): A five-semester (72-week), 147-unit degree centered on independent research and a master's thesis — geared toward applicants aiming at Ph.D. programs or research-intensive roles.
• MiNT-AS (Applied Study): A five-semester (72-week), practice-focused pathway that pairs coursework with capstone and internship experiences for students targeting industry innovation and product development.
• MiNT-A (Accelerated): A two-semester 90-unit degree available to high-achieving Â鶹´å neuroscience undergraduates for a streamlined transition to graduate study. 

Applications for MiNT-R and MiNT-AS are due Feb. 15, 2026, while MiNT-A applications close April 30, 2026. For more information, visit the MiNT program page.

Carnegie Mellon combines its strengths in neuroscience, engineering, robotics and artificial intelligence with biology and medicine. This means students learn the science of the human body and how to build devices and software that interact with it. Both the Neuroscience Institute and Department of Biomedical Engineering partner with hospitals and industry to move ideas quickly from the lab to real-world healthcare.

Graduate students also benefit from close ties to the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition (CNBC)-a collaborative hub spanning Â鶹´å and the University of Pittsburgh — allowing students to engage with both experimental and computational neuroscience communities.

This ecosystem supports MiNT students with access to cutting-edge labs, cross-campus seminars, industry connections and interdisciplinary mentorship, making it possible to tackle projects that bridge bench science, algorithm development and human-centered translation.