In the first week of September 2024, our Bioelectronic Materials and Devices group at CEITEC organized the first-ever Neural Engineering Summer School (NESS). Our goal was to introduce the fascinating field of neural engineering to a group of highly motivated undergraduate students—giving them a comprehensive yet hands-on introduction to the field and perhaps even inspiring them to pursue careers in neural engineering.
A Select Group of Future Neural Engineers
We received an overwhelming number of applications, but to ensure a truly practical and hands-on experience, we had to limit participation to just 15 students. At that time, we had a small number of instructors and limited lab space, so we focused on providing the best possible learning experience within these constraints. Additionally, since it was our first edition, we decided to keep it local—accepting only Czech-speaking students and running the program in Czech.
A Week of Learning and Experimentation
The summer school kicked off with a theoretical introduction, giving students a big-picture overview of neural engineering through a series of lectures covering key principles and emerging technologies. The day concluded with a lab tour of CEITEC, followed by an informal BBQ, where students and instructors could get to know each other in a relaxed setting.
From Tuesday to Thursday, students participated in three hands-on workshops, rotating in small groups to ensure maximum engagement:
- Microfabrication Workshop: Students got a firsthand look at the fabrication techniques used in the semiconductor industry—the same methods used for making computer chips—but in this case, applied to creating implantable neural stimulators.
- Electrophysiology Workshop: This session explored how electrical signals travel through peripheral nerves and how electrical stimulation can influence nerve signal transmission. Students experimented with these effects on both human and insect models.
- Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Workshop: Students built and tested their own EMG amplifier, using it to detect electrical signals from their forearm muscles. These signals were then used to control a robotic arm, demonstrating real-time brain-machine interfacing in action!
Each day, students rotated through these workshops in groups of five, ensuring everyone had the chance to experience each area.
Group Projects & Final Presentations
On the final day, students worked on group projects, applying what they had learned to identify a real-world problem that could be solved using neural engineering. They then presented their ideas to a panel of instructors, who selected the best project for an award. The summer school wrapped up with a celebratory BBQ, marking the end of an inspiring and eventful week.
Looking Ahead: NESS 2025 and Beyond
As organizers, we were thrilled by the enthusiasm and engagement of the students. Their feedback was overwhelmingly positive, which confirmed one thing: NESS had to become an annual event!
For NESS 2025, we’re making big improvements based on our experience and student feedback:
- Expanding capacity – More instructors, more lab space, and more workshops!
- New collaboration – Partnering with the Applied Neuroscience group to introduce more neuroscience-focused topics.
- Going international – Opening NESS to students from around the world, with the entire program now held in English.
- More hands-on learning – Instead of group projects, we’re adding even more practical workshops!
We can’t wait to welcome a new group of students in 2025 and take NESS to the next level. Stay tuned for more updates, and we hope to see you there!
