Brain and Behaviour Research Badge Program
Want to do research on the brain?
Are you fascinated by the brain and curious about why people think, feel, and behave the way they do? The Brain and Behaviour Research Badge Program is designed for students and scholars from any background who want to explore neuroscience and behaviour—no experience required.
Whether you're preparing for grad school, brushing up for your field of study exam, working in a lab, or simply curious about the brain and how we study it, this program is your launchpad. You’ll gain a foundational overview of how the brain works, how to study it, and how to interpret research findings—knowledge that translates directly to lab-based research.
Offered by the HBI REALISE Program within the UCalgary Badge credential framework, this program offers three badges exploring the fundamentals of neuroscience, research methods, and statistics. Together, they provide a strong foundation for research in brain and behaviour. Each badge is a digital micro-credential that formally recognizes your learning in a specific area.
Program Overview
Each badge in the Brain and Behaviour Research Badge Program focuses on a key area of knowledge and skill development, delivered through 6–8 asynchronous, self-paced modules. Each module includes a 40–50 minute video, readings, a quiz, and a discussion activity. The total time commitment is approximately 10–15 hours per badge.
Neuroscience is at the heart of everything we do. The brain is the most complex organ in the human body, and understanding how it works is key to understanding behaviour, cognition, and neurological health. This badge introduces participants to the foundational principles of neuroscience, including neural communication, brain structures, and neuroplasticity. Through an exploration of neuroanatomy, neurotransmission, and neurophysiology, participants gain a well-rounded understanding of how the brain governs sensory processing, movement, and higher cognitive functions.
The Fundamentals of Brain and Behaviour Badge includes six asynchronous modules on D2L, which can be completed at your own pace.
How do we study the human brain and behaviour? This badge introduces participants to the core methods used in neuroscience research, from experimental design to brain imaging. Participants will explore a range of techniques, including neuroimaging, electrophysiology, genetic manipulation, and tissue analysis, along with behavioural and observational approaches. They’ll also be introduced to the growing field of computational neuroscience and use data science tools to analyze brain research findings.
The Research Methods for Brain and Behaviour Badge consists of seven asynchronous modules on D2L to be completed at your own pace. It is recommended that the Fundamentals of Neuroscience Badge be completed first.
Numbers tell powerful stories! This badge demystifies statistics by showing how data is used to understand human behaviour, predict outcomes, and make discoveries about the brain. It provides a high-level overview of techniques ranging from descriptive statistics to multivariate analysis, aiming to build foundational skills for interpreting data. Participants will explore study design, data collection, and basic statistical analysis. Special emphasis is placed on the unique aspects of working with neuroimaging data, psychological assessments, and behavioural experiments.
The Statistics in Brain and Behaviour Research Badge consists of eight asynchronous modules on D2L. It is recommended that the Fundamentals of Neuroscience Badge be completed first.
Meet the Program Creator
Dr. Anosha Kiran Ulfat is an educator and interdisciplinary scholar who developed the Brain and Behaviour Research Badge Program. With a strong commitment to accessible neuroscience education, she designed the program to help students and researchers from all backgrounds engage meaningfully with brain science, regardless of prior experience. Her teaching spans neuroanatomy, experimental design, data literacy, and research ethics.
Dr. Ulfat combines scientific rigor, creative pedagogy, and a talent for clear communication to make complex ideas approachable. Drawing on her research and teaching experience, she remains deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of brain and behaviour researchers.
"Understanding the brain should not be a privilege reserved for a few, it should be a gateway for anyone curious enough to ask why we think, feel, and behave the way we do. My goal is to open that gateway.”
– Dr. Anosha Kiran Ulfat
Brain and Behaviour Research Badge Program
Badges earned through this program are part of UCalgary’s digital credentialing initiative, supporting lifelong, skills-based learning beyond the classroom. They provide a visual record of achievement that can be added to your portfolio or online profiles. You can showcase these on your resumé or LinkedIn profile to stand out to employers or grad programs.
Visit UCalgary Badges to learn more about the credentialing framework. Click below to explore the Brain and Behaviour Research badges:
Register
Enroll anytime—registration is open on a rolling basis.
This program is open to UCalgary students and others in the UCalgary community. There is no cost to participate. Whether you’re preparing for grad school, working in a lab, or just curious about neuroscience, the badge program offers an accessible introduction to brain science and practical research skills.
Please complete the form below to express your interest. There’s no obligation to complete the course material. Once we receive your information, we’ll review your eligibility and respond as soon as possible.
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Frequently Asked Questions
This program is ideal for UCalgary students, scholars, lab staff, or researchers from any background who are curious about neuroscience. It’s especially useful for those preparing for graduate studies, in the early stages of grad school, working in a lab, or getting ready for a field of study exam. No prior experience is required—just an interest in how the brain works and a willingness to explore. A UCID is required for registration.
No – registration simply gives you access. There’s no obligation to complete the badges unless you choose to. To earn a badge, you’ll need to complete the required quizzes and discussion activities.
No – the program is fully self-paced. You can complete the badges on your own schedule.
Each badge consists of 6–8 modules. Each module features a 40–50 minute video, assigned readings, a short quiz, and a discussion activity. While timing may vary, the estimated total commitment per badge is 10–15 hours.
To earn a badge, you must:
- Engage with each weekly module in D2L (readings, videos, activities)
- Complete a short quiz after each module (minimum 50% to pass; unlimited attempts allowed)
- Participate in a discussion activity after each module
Yes – all badge content is delivered online through D2L and can be completed remotely.
No – badges are not part of your official UCalgary transcript. However, they are digital micro-credentials that you can view and share from badges.ucalgary.ca. You can showcase them on your resumé or LinkedIn.
No – this program is not for academic credit and does not count toward university coursework. However, each badge is a formal digital credential that recognizes your learning in a specific area of neuroscience and can enhance your academic or professional profile.
Still have questions?
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any other questions about the Brain and Behaviour Research Badge Program!