- #1
feuxfollets
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So I'm currently a freshman at UPenn. I came in wanting to major in physics & math and go on to grad school in particle physics. However I've been a bit disillusioned since, by how esoteric the math required for it was and by the fact that there are barely any positions in academia for it. And my physics lab TA just finished his PhD on something about Calabi-Yau manifolds and went off to work for an investment bank.
I've also been interested in computer science, specifically artificial intelligence, and this has led to my present interest in theoretical neuroscience. I have a few questions about this field and what would be the best preparation for it.
I've heard that a lot of condensed matter physicists go into this field. Are neurons actually modeled based on fundamental physics? Because the other thread on this forum, as well as the theoretical neuroscience course at my school (which has no physics prerequisites, just math) seem to suggest it's just mathematical/computer modeling of data.
Also I'm deciding which of math, computer science, and physics to double major in. My school has a dual degree program in computer and cognitive science, which is essentially a math and comp sci double major, that is supposed to prepare one for "the science of mental information," so would that be the way to go? I'd hate to give up on physics though, although I am taking an honors mechanics & em sequence this year along with a principles of modern physics, and I have enough room to take some quantum and stat mechanics senior year. Should I do that?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I've also been interested in computer science, specifically artificial intelligence, and this has led to my present interest in theoretical neuroscience. I have a few questions about this field and what would be the best preparation for it.
I've heard that a lot of condensed matter physicists go into this field. Are neurons actually modeled based on fundamental physics? Because the other thread on this forum, as well as the theoretical neuroscience course at my school (which has no physics prerequisites, just math) seem to suggest it's just mathematical/computer modeling of data.
Also I'm deciding which of math, computer science, and physics to double major in. My school has a dual degree program in computer and cognitive science, which is essentially a math and comp sci double major, that is supposed to prepare one for "the science of mental information," so would that be the way to go? I'd hate to give up on physics though, although I am taking an honors mechanics & em sequence this year along with a principles of modern physics, and I have enough room to take some quantum and stat mechanics senior year. Should I do that?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.