Cognitive Systems and Processes (int.PhD) Program at a Glance

The transdisciplinary graduate program "Cognitive Systems and Processes", short COSYP, is linked to the Research Center with the same name at Jacobs University. It has the main aim to study the generic processes in cognition as basis for artificial systems.

This aim is linked to two core scientific endeavors, namely

the transdisciplinary understanding of cognition
– as one of the most fundamental basic research questions
– which can only be tackled in a collaborative effort of researchers working in different disciplines

and the quest for building artificial intelligent systems
– to constructively understand principles of natural systems
– and to enable novel applications, namely machines operating on complex missions in challenging environments without permanent human supervision

The COSYP graduate program is strongly transdisciplinary and it offers a researchoriented education by faculty from

Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, especially robotics, automation, and machine learning
Psychology, especially cognitive and social psychology
Neuroscience, especially computational neuroscience and neurobiology

The COSYP graduate program offers three different tracks, namely an integrated PhD, a research-only PhD, and a Master track. Hence both, students
with a Master or a Bachelor degree may apply. Students who have a MSc engage in 3 years of regular PhD studies. Students with a BSc first need to go through a qualification phase for 3 semesters where they take a set of courses - which is chosen together with their supervisors
according to the student’s interests and research plans. A Master degree can be obtained in the 4th semester after the qualification phase.

The following faculty members from Jacobs University are involved in the program:

Andreas Birk (Robotics)
Mathias Bode (Signal Processing)
Adele Diederich (Cognitive Psychology, Mathematical Psychology)
Ben Godde (Systemic Neuroscience)
Claus Hilgetag (Computational Systems Neuroscience)
Herbert Jaeger (Machine Learning)
Arvid Kappas (Emotions Research)
Andreas Nüchter (Automation)
Bettina Olk (Cognitive Psychology, Neuropsychology)
Peter Schupp (Theoretical and Mathematical Physics)
Claudia Voelcker-Rehage (Human Movement Science)

The target audience of the COSYP Graduate Program are

students who have completed their BSc in Computer Science, Psychology, Neuroscience, or related areas and who want to
– acquire knowledge in COSYP areas that are outside their original field of study,
– deepen their knowledge in their main field of previous studies, and
– engage in interdisciplinary research leading to a PhD

graduate students who have completed their Master’s degree and would like to continue their graduate education in an interdisciplinary research environment.

The goal of the 1.5 years of the qualification phase for Integrated Graduate students starting with a BSc degree is to qualify them to carry out independent research. The students who have successfully completed the qualification phase, respectively who enter with a MSc degree are expected to do research. Consequently, the qualification phase 3 offers a structured educational program, whereas the final PhD phase can be seen as a stage on which the student defines, and executes, his/her own research in a professional collaboration with a chosen supervisor, respectively several supervisors to foster the interdisciplinary collaborations within COSYP.