About
The Department of Neuroscience (IN) is part of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen and is physically located in the Panum Building and at the Maersk Tower in central Copenhagen.
Neuroscience is a major strategic focus area for the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen and as a consequence the Department of Neuroscience, which has its roots from the previous Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, was officially established 1st of September 2017. The purpose was to gather research groups committed to neuroscience with educational activities within neuroscience in one organizational unit.
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Head of Department |
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Head of Administration |
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Vice Head of Department for Teaching |
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Vice Head of Department for Research |
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Professor Jakob Balslev Sørensen |
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Associate Professor Birgitte Rahbek Kornum |
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Professor Jens Bo Nielsen |
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Head of Administration |
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Department secretary |
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Engineering |
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Finance officer |
HR officer |
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HR Partner |
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Project controller |
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Project controller |
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Project controller |
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Project controller |
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Project controller |
Vision
Our vision is to establish Department of Neuroscience as an internationally recognized epicenter for brain research and education to the future benefit of patients and society.
Mission
It is the mission of the department to perform top class basic and translational research to advance our understanding of brain functions as well as brain diseases and their treatment. We expect our bench-to-bedside strategy to reinforce collaborative efforts not only with clinicians but also with other scientific disciplines both nationally and internationally. We also take responsibility for educating the next generation of researchers and physicians within neuroscience to ensure optimal understanding and treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases.
Goals and actions
The department has set 4 overall strategic goals with action plans for 2018 – 2023.
GOAL A
To deliver top-class basic and translational research in neuroscience
- Active recruitment of talented group leaders
- Strengthen funding opportunities for IN researchers
- Provide space and infrastructure solutions for expansions of lab activities
GOAL B
To deliver state-of-the-art teaching and implement new educations in neuroscience
- Establish M.Sc. program in neuroscience
- Establish one-year master programs
- Ensure high quality neuroscience courses and PhD program
GOAL C
To become an attractive and visible collaboration partner and knowledge center for neuroscience with responsibility for sustainable development
- Enhance visibility to the surroundings
- Enhance collaboration and translational outlook
- More innovation initiatives
GOAL D
To stimulate an excellent and inclusive work environment with good communication and professional administrative and technical support
- Improve work environment
- Improve internal and external communication
The Department of Neuroscience consists of approximately 150 full and part-time employees and 100 associated researchers and students divided into 22 research groups and an administration. The organization is visualized in the chart below. The red boxes represent the current line management, while blue boxes represent councils and committees. The scientific groups are placed directly under the management structure with no additional subdivision or section structure; in the figure below, they are shown according to their physical location. The overall approach to governance at IN is based on a flat organizational structure with a high level of involvement from group leaders and staff. Collaboration committees and scientific/educational councils support an engaging and collaborative culture.
Facts about the department
- 150 scientific and administrative staff members are employed at the Department (2020). IN has a revenue of DKK 80 million (2017) of which the majority, 61%, is funding from private partners.
- The Department consists of 25 research groups (2020) working within different areas of neuroscience.
- The Department is responsible for teaching of medical students, odontology students, human biology students and molecular biomedicine students in the areas of neuroscience and pharmacology.
- The Department manages the University of Copenhagen PhD program in Neuroscience.