• Brain-inspired AI
• Brain-computer interfaces
• Visual-prosthesis
• AI-based drug discovery
• Alzheimer’s

Ever since I was a little girl, I've been captivated by the human brain and its intricate workings. Initially, my dream was to pursue a career in medicine as a neurosurgeon. But, one transformative summer at a coding camp completely changed my perspective. That coding camp ignited a newfound passion within me for the world of computer science. I fell head over heels in love with coding and its endless possibilities. It led me to consider pursuing computer science as my main field of study when I came to KAIST. However, despite my focus on computer science, my fascination with the brain persisted. There was a flicker of light within me that refused to fade away. When I first heard about the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at KAIST, it felt like a revelation. It was the perfect convergence of my long-standing fascination with the brain and my newfound passion for computer science. As a result, I've made the decision to double major in Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Computer Science. This choice allows me to combine my interests from both a computational and biological standpoint. I aim to bridge the gap between computer science and neuroscience, applying computational approaches to gain deeper insights into the complexities of cognition. By exploring the neural mechanisms underlying decision-making processes, memory and learning, and the ethical implications of emerging neuro-technologies, I hope to make significant contributions to our understanding of the human mind.

• Brain–computer interface
• Metaverse

San had a fundamental question about the brain's thinking system about how the brain handles the five senses of sight, smell, touch, etc. He wants to study how to force the brain to evoke certain images. The technology he wants to realize with this research is the realization of final metaverse that manipulating one's avatar in virtual reality with just thinking.

• neurology and psychiatry

I’m Song Hui, class 22 who entered the department of brain cognitive science in 2023. I thought it was a good opportunity to explore and learn deeply about the brain structure and cognitive process that I was interested in, so I went to the department of Brain Cognitive Science. As I liked life science, I learned about brain diseases in high school life science class and became interested in brain function itself by looking up related papers. For me, I felt the Department of Brain Cognitive Science very interesting to learn neurobiology, theoretical neuroscience, cognitive science, neurology and psychiatry at once. Also, it was interesting to open various subjects to become a great convergence talent.

• Brain science
• Biochemistry
• Dreaming and Challenging
• Neurological medicine

Seohyeon is interested in both brain science and biochemistry. She was very interested in the human brain that she first encountered through books in science high school, and she would like to know about various biochemical mechanisms that occur in the brain. After studying hard and challenging various experiences in the Department of Brain Cognitive Science, she wants to become a brain scientist who studies how to help the cause and treatment of brain diseases in the future.

• Brain Cognitive science
• Memory
• Dementia
• Medicine

Yongmun graduated from the Incheon Academy of Science and Arts (IASA) and became interested in the field of life science, so he went to KAIST to deeply explore related fields and conduct in-depth research. He entered the Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences because he wanted to dig deeper into the field of brain science, which he was interested in, and he also wanted to challenge the new department. He especially would like to study deeply into the memory field in brain science.

• brain-inspired AI
• neuro science
• cognitive science
• psychology

Yumi came to the Department of Brain Cognitive Science because she was attracted to the brain that makes humans human. Her goal is to study various fields related to the brain, such as psychology, philosophy, and neuroscience, in the Department of Brain Cognitive Science, and then incorporate them into the field of artificial intelligence to study brain-inspired AI. Her ultimate dream is to fully understand how the brain works.

• Cognitive Computing
• Cognitive Science
• Ethical AI

Jeongbin is interested in the mechanism of human brain, so that he can combine this to AI research. Through this, he aims to make more human-like AI. He also wants to study the ethics of AI and contribute to the harmonious coexistence of human and artificial intelligence.

• Brain-Computer interface
• Brain engineering sensors
• Biotechnology of Degenerative brain diseases

In his bachelor's degree in this department, JunYeop seeks to understand the working principles of the human brain and neurons and to explore its engineering/medical applications. His ultimate goal is to pursue multiple electrical and electronic majors and then incorporate device and sensor technologies into the human brain to develop treatments for degenerative brain diseases or create a new technology business with BCI.

• unconsciousness
• neuromorphic computing

I am an undergraduate student who is interested in cognitive theory through unconsciousness and neuromorphic computing. Through entering the Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, I will experience and learn various fields of Brain Science and Cognitive Science.

• Computational neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Emotional Neuroscience

I’m Taesik Myeong, majoring in Brain Cognitive Science and Computer Science. Similar in that the minimum units of information in neurons and computers are two: 0 and 1. However, unlike computers, the brain is capable of higher thinking, such as emotion, with numerous networks of neurons. It’s my ambition to figure out how to handle complex processes just by connecting neurons.

• neuropsychiatry
• mental disorder
• depression
• psychoanalysis

Park Sang-gyun is interested in neuropsychiatry and psychology.  Before and after COVID-19, the global demand for psychiatry increased and the market expanded, leading to the Department of Brain Cognitive Science. I have a very new dream of creating a diagnostic standard that contradicts the concept of reading the existing mental disease diagnostic criteria. Ultimately, I want to reveal the clear mechanisms of mental illness.

• brain disease
• sleeping
• drug

After graduating from Gyeonggi Science High School, I entered KAIST at 2022. I chose the department of brain cognitive science to study about the brain, and I want to study drugs for brain diseases or ways to use them in connection with chemistry that I am usually interested in.

• Mental Disorders
• Major Depressive Disorder
• Schizophrenia

As I was usually interested in war studies, I became interested in the brain and cognitive science after seeing soldiers suffering from mental disorders such as major depressive disorders and PTSD. I would like to build up various knowledge of the brain and cognition during undergraduate course. With that knowledge, I will study changes in neural circuits in the process of onset and recovery of mental disorders in people exposed to great stress. My goal is to propose a better treatment for mental disorders.

• metacognition
• habit-memory
• learning
• modeling-control
• oblivion
• creative thinking
• Computational neuroscience

Hello, this is Youngmin Park. As I went through my high school years, my interest in the brain naturally grew. In a life where I have to constantly study new content, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I knew and what I didn't know, and in some cases, the experience of better memory and learning was particularly impressive. While I was attending school, public attention was growing on deep learning and machine learning. I liked the research area’s motto that the disciplines insisted on, and I became interested in the flow of research history. Recently, I have been vaguely concerned about something that only humans can do, considering the scope of tasks that large language models can perform and the impact it has on not only me as an undergraduate student but also the world. Even though I am an undergraduate student, my current concerns may feel meaningless, and I want to find out as much as I can. I think people’s curiosity about the brain will remain until I die.

• Social Cognition
• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Psycholinguistics
• Neurophysiology

As a kid, Brey has always been fascinated by how humans function and how different components work together to achieve those functions. In high school, he took his first neuroscience class which made him immensely curious about how humans think and how those thoughts subsequently produce behavior. Now an undergraduate student, he came to the Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences hoping to answer one question: why does one make irrational decisions knowing that it is irrational? His key research interests lie in social cognition, behavioral neuroscience, and psycholinguistics. While uncertain of his future, he strives every day to one-day bridge science to the masses.

• Cognitive neuroscience
• Brain-Computer interface
• Artificial neural network
• Visual perception
• Decision neuroscience
• Consciousness

Brain science was attractive in that it is a study that understands the brain with the brain. I have been curious about how to accurately measure the colors that people perceive since I did not even know that the discipline called brain science exists. I want to study with an interest in senses and cognition, especially visual cognition. I want to study it not limited to the subject of senses, but furthermore to measure consciousness. Finally, I want to know what interactions nerve substances use to make high-level crystals called consciousness. I want to be a leader in neuroscience research that examines human 'consciousness' and how humans make decisions and infer them.

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Alzheimer's
• Neuroscience

When I was in high school, I became interested in the brain while participating in the Korean Brain Camp and R&E related to amyloid beta, and I went to the Department of Brain Cognitive Science to learn more about the brain. In the future, I want to learn about complex human emotions and brain diseases. I want to explore the degree of brain damage and its connection to crime. Moreover, I want to become a brain scientist who prepares for the future society by doing brain nerve research according to the cycle of human life.

• psychology
• cognitive science
• neurology
• brain science
• brain disease
• dream

The Department of Brain and Cognitive Science is a new department, but I joined because I thought it would be interesting to study brain science, which has infinite possibilities. I want to learn various fields of brain science, and I am especially interested in various brain diseases and dreams. I want to use brain science to develop the world in a beneficial direction.

• Brain Engineering
• Brain-Computer Engineering (BCI)
• VR

My dream is to develop virtual reality (VR) where unconscious or mobility-impaired people can freely communicate with family and friends. The most interesting research fields are brain-computer interface (BCI) and virtual reality (VR), and I want to learn various things about brain engineering, psychology, and computer science in the undergraduate course.

• Neuromorphic circuits
• Biological neural networks
• Neurosimulation
• Neurocircuit

DaeHyeok is interested in neuromorphic engineering with understanding of neural circuits. Especially, he intends to enable calculations that is difficult for earlier ICs, through neuromorphic circuits consist of diverse devices. As of now, he is studying neuroscience to accomplish above goal.

• cognitiveneuroscience
• behavioralscience
• psychiatry
• humaninterface

Each human being has a unique and individual consciousness. I came to the Department of Brain and Cognitive Science because I was interested in the questions of how consciousness arises and how consciousness can be defined. By analyzing various social phenomena in our society and sometimes incomprehensible human behavior from a more scientific perspective, I want to approach to the answer of the question of what human intelligence is. I would also like to conduct research in psychiatry or brain engineering to conduct meaningful research that can help many people who are currently experiencing inconveniences. The ultimate goal is answering to the question : What are the inherent characteristics of human intelligence that differentiate it from others? In that process, based on my overall understanding and study of the brain, I hope to produce research results of engineering and medical fields that can help many people.

• theoretical/computational/mathematical neuroscience
• neuroepistemology
• moral/cognitive enhancement
• consciousness
• psychedelics

I have an intense interest in addressing (or dissolving) fundamental problems in philosophy regarding epistemology and ethics through research in neuroscience. To this end I seek to investigate how the brain represents and processes reality. It is my deepest passion to elucidate—in the words of the pioneering neurophilosopher Patricia Churchland—“how (and what) meat knows”. I aim to approach the question using rigorous mathematical and computational methods coupled with experimentation and critical philosophical reflection. I joined BCS with the intent of cultivating strong foundations in these skills. I am also keen to explore applications that an understanding of consciousness and cognition would have on artificial intelligence, moral/cognitive enhancement, psychiatry, and psychedelic neuroscience among other related fields.

• brain-machine interface

Hello, I'm Lee Sugil. I went to KAIST because I wanted to study brain, and currently majoring in brain cognitive science! A lot of things are new and inexperienced, but I'll be pioneering my own path with my friends who chose this major, and one day I'll be the most prominent brain scientist in KAIST!

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Brain-inspired AI

Having asked the question, ‘What makes humans special?’, Sihyun came to think that the answer might lie in the complex networking of numerous neurons. Therefore, her fundamental goal as an undergraduate at KAIST is to conduct a comprehensive exploration of the human brain. Furthermore, she wants to understand the nervous system at the cellular level and incorporate it into physics and computer science. She aims to contribute to improving the quality of human life in terms of medical and engineering aspects through neurology and brain-inspired AI research based on neuroscience.

• AI algorithm
• Neurogenesis
• qualia

I want to learn various fields of brain and cognitive science and analyze consciousness and experience. The purpose is to use this on studying artificial intelligence that can grow on its own.

• neuropsychiatry
• cognitive science
• neurobiology

Lee Jung-min is interested in the brain and mind, and the relationship between the two. In this regard, there are many interesting fields in brain cognitive science, so student Lee Jung-min's goal is to conduct in-depth research or start-up with what he has experienced and learned in the undergraduate course.

• BrainDisease
• NerveScience
• Nerveimmunity

The human brain and neurons which are composed of complex structures led me to come to the Department of Brain Cognitive Science. My goal is to study various neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and ultimately to develop treatments for mental illness.

• cognitive science
• pedagogy
• brain education
• cognitive psychology
• developmental psychology
• neuroscience

Ji-In is an undergraduated student with a keen interest in education tied to cognitive development of human. Crossing the boundaries of humanities and neuroscience, Ji-In aims to conduct research on education from a comprehensive perspective. With her previous exploration in psychology, pedagogy, and ethics in high school, she plans to integrate neuro- and cognitive science into the study of brain-education. She aspires to conduct diverse research in neuroscience with a goal of establishing private institutes or platforms related to educational engineering for children, or special education.

• Brain-Engineering
• Brain-inspired AI
• Brain Nerves
• Brain-Computer Interface

Jiho Lee has a profound interest in Brain engineering, sparked by the discovery of technology that connects the brain and computer through Neuralink. Intrigued by the fascinating similarities between the neural processes of the brain and the functioning of computers, Jiho decided to pursue a deeper understanding. This interest led Jiho to enroll in the field of Brain Cognitive Science, where the goal is to gain an in-depth understanding of the interactions between the brain and computer. Through the exploration of the similarities between the brain and computer, Jiho developed a keen interest in the field of Brain-Inspired AI. Specifically, Jiho is eager to immerse oneself in developing AI that can interpret and analyze the complex and concrete human thought processes. Additionally, Jiho aspires to contribute to the advancement of technology capable of understanding not only simple neural stimuli but also the more intricate aspects of human thinking and emotions.

• braincomputerinterface
• AI
• Business

Hello, I came to the Department of Brain Cognitive Science because I thought it was the department with the most attention and vision as the brain-computer interface developed along with the development of AI. There is no clear field I want to study yet, but I want to further study computer science to develop the brain-computer interface, and I want to create an environment where humans can realize it just by thinking about it like Elon Musk's Neuralink.I want to study brain science in graduate school, and my dream is to become an intern and start my own business. To this end, I will take department classes hard, and now before I enter my major, I am expanding my knowledge by reading books related to brain science.

• psychology
• brain
• perception
• cognitive
• cell

We are trying to study the cellular involvement of the brain in various activities such as our body's behavior, memory, and metabolism.

• neurodegenerative disease
• neuroplasticity
• Brain-inspired AI

Jimin is interested in neuroscience, specifically focusing on characteristics such as memory, emotion, interaction, and neuroplasticity. While studying neuroscience, she became intrigued by neurodegenerative diseases that loss of various brain functions. Currently, her interest lies in neural plasticity, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, she aims to conduct research in neuroscience, exploring treatments for neurodegenerative diseases based on neuroplasticity. Furthermore, her goal is to study Brain-inspired AI, which mimics brain characteristics.

• NervePsychology
• BrainDisease
• Behavior
• ForensicScience

Since high school, Seoyoon Jung has developed an interest in the brain by taking psychology courses. While studying the effects of drugs on the brain, she gained interest in brain diseases such as depression, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's, and realized that brain science is her aptitude. She is hoping to study in the field of criminology that applies brain science such as lie detector technology.

• Brain-artificial device interface
• Mutual control technology

After reading Descares’ book “Discours de la méthode”, questions about human consciousness arose, and became interested in brain science in that it is the most obscure of the existing scientific fields. From the time I became interested in brain science until now, I have been using the brain-machine interface as my research field, and I want t study not only this but also philosophical analysis of brain science in my undergraduate course.

• Wetware computer
• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Brain Stimulation
• Sleep

Ian entered the Department of Brain Cognitive Science with intellectual curiosity and pride in pioneering a new path. He aims to explore the possibilities of neuroscience throughout various areas such as bio-computing, neurodegenerative diseases, brain stimulation, and sleep. His goal is to become a researcher and entrepreneur who not only conducts research but also proves its worth in the market, as well as an innovator.

• AI
• Cognitive Science
• Qualia
• Consciousness
• Visual System

In this department, I would like to broaden my view for convergent research between the brain and computer. I am especially interested in abstract and subjective phenomena such as consciousness, mind, and senses. I aim to develop UI created through visual signal manipulation, develop new senses, and research on artificial intelligence based on cognitive science.

• Cognitive Science
• Neurodegenerative Disease
• Mental Science
• Psychiatry
• Brain engineering

My curiosity on humans was the driving factor for entering the Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences. While understanding how humans think and act, I gained interest in the psychiatrical aspect. In the future, I aspire to be a researcher on neural network, psychiatry, and neurological disorders by integrating brain science and engineering based on the undergraduate program.