
Bridging Disciplines, Building Careers: Systems Biology at Vilnius University
Bridging Disciplines, Building Careers: Systems Biology at Vilnius University Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible | Education Series What if one degree could open doors to careers in biotechnology, healthcare, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and beyond? In this episode of the Education Series of Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible , we explore the Systems Biology Master's Program at Vilnius University —an innovative, interdisciplinary program that bridges biology, medicine, mathematics, programming, and data science to prepare graduates for careers both within and beyond academia. With growing demand for professionals who can connect biological knowledge with computational and analytical skills, this program equips students to tackle real-world challenges in research, clinical settings, and industry. Taught entirely in English and welcoming students from around the world , it offers an international learning environment and opportunities to develop expertise in rapidly evolving fields. Join the program's founder and former director, Prof. Dr. Audronė Jakaitienė , current program director, Associate Professor Dr. Ingrida Domarkienė , and two program graduates, Dovilė Juozapaitė and Taisija Demčenko , as they share their experiences, insights, and career journeys—from clinical biobank leadership to machine learning, neural engineering, and brain-computer interface research. The conversation is hosted by Dr. Milena Korostenskaja , neuroscientist, neurocareer coach, and host of Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible . How could this program open the door to your future career? From this conversation, you will learn the following: Chapters 00:00:02 - Systems Biology Master's Program at Vilnius University 00:03:25 - Introducing Biostatistics and Dream Research 00:06:30 - Introducing Systems Biology at Vilnius University 00:09:14 - Bridging Biology and Data Science Skills 00:14:12 - Overcoming Fear of Programming and Data Analysis 00:18:34 - Math Is Everywhere: Breaking Down Subject Barriers 00:23:15 - Building Analytical Thinking Through Math and Methods 00:26:52 - Young Biotechnology Program Growing and Evolving 00:29:08 - Systems Biology Master's Program Structure 00:36:17 - Program Prerequisites and International Admissions 00:41:53 - International Program and Application Requirements 00:46:10 - Vilnius University: Innovation and Infrastructure 00:50:06 - Building Careers in Translational Medicine Research 00:53:33 - Career Evolution: From Systems Biology to Biobank Leadership 00:59:13 - From Machine Learning to Brain-Computer Interface Research 01:07:34 - Encouraging Crazy Ideas and Future Innovation 01:11:03 - Follow Your Passion and Prioritize Mental Health About the Podcast Guests Prof. Dr. Audronė Jakaitienė is a Professor of Biostatistics at Vilnius University, founder and former director of the Systems Biology Master's Program, and President of the Lithuanian Statistical Society. She leads interdisciplinary research connecting statistics, medicine, genetics, and neuroscience. Associate Professor Dr. Ingrida Domarkienė is the current director of the Systems Biology Master's Program at Vilnius University, a geneticist, and a senior researcher at the Center for Human Bioarchaeology and Paleogenetics. Her work bridges genetics, biomedical sciences, and interdisciplinary education. Dovilė Juozapaitė is a Systems Biology graduate and Head of the Biobank at Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos. With experience in biotechnology industry research and development, she now leads clinical biobanking activities that connect healthcare professionals, researchers, and biomedical innovation. Taisija Demčenko is a Systems Biology graduate, bioengineer, machine learning engineer, and neuroscience researcher. She teaches programming and biological data analysis at Lithuanian universities and develops the ReDream project, exploring brain-computer interfaces and machine learning for dream research. She is also affiliated with the Sleep and Memory Lab at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour in the Netherlands. Dr. Milena Korostenskaja , host of Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible , is a neuroscientist, educator, and neurocareer coach specializing in brain-computer interfaces, functional brain mapping, and neurotechnology. She is the Founder and Director of the Institute of Neuroapproaches, which helps professionals build successful careers in neuroscience and neurotechnology. About the Program The Systems Biology Master's Program at Vilnius University is an international, interdisciplinary graduate program developed through collaboration between the Faculty of Medicine, Life Sciences Center, and Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics. Established in 2017, the program combines biological and medical sciences with mathematics, statistics, bioinformatics, programming, and computational modeling. Students gain practical experience with tools such as Python and R, machine learning, and biological data analysis while exploring applications in genomics, neurobiology, biotechnology, and healthcare. Taught in English and welcoming applicants from diverse academic backgrounds and countries , the program prepares graduates for careers in academic research, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, clinical research, healthcare institutions, and emerging fields such as neural engineering and neurotechnology. Its emphasis on interdisciplinary problem-solving equips graduates with valuable skills for addressing the growing demand for professionals who can transform complex biological and medical data into meaningful scientific and practical solutions. You can find the Systems Biology Master's Program at Vilnius University on the official university website: https://www.vu.lt/en/studies/master-studies/systems-biology About the Podcast Host The Neurocareers podcast is brought to you by The Institute of Neuroapproaches ( https://www.neuroapproaches.org/ ) and its founder, Milena Korostenskaja, Ph.D. (Dr. K), a career coach for people in neuroscience and neurotechnologies. As a professional coach with a background in neurotech and Brain-Computer Interfaces, Dr. K understands the unique challenges and opportunities job applicants face in this field and can provide personalized coaching and support to help you succeed. Here's what you'll get with one-on-one coaching sessions from Dr. K: Identification and pursuit of career goals Guidance on job search strategies, resume, and cover letter development Neurotech / neuroscience job interview preparation and practice Networking strategies to connect with professionals in the field of neuroscience and neurotechnologies Ongoing support and guidance to help you stay on track and achieve your goals You can always schedule a neurocareer consultation/coaching session with Dr. K at https://neuroapproaches.as.me/neurocareer-consultation Subscribe to our Neurocareers Newsletter to stay on top of all our cool neurocareers news and updates at https://www.neuroapproaches.org/neurocareers-news












