Bismillah…
In the previous post, I shared how I got curious on this field and what it took me to come to this big question: How does the brain work?
Not just biologically, but computationally. Can we learn from it? or more importantly talk to it and ask it to do things?
I know I am not going to figure that out in a quick evening project. It’s going to take years or even my entire lifetime. InShaAllah I’ll enjoy this journey. So, I thought instead of wandering around chasing random stuff on the internet, why not put together a clear path I can follow?
Here’s how I plan to approach this journey, in Sha Allah, from now until, hopefully, a PhD in neuroengineering.
What do I already have?
Well, I was a generalist trying to find my expertise. So, I am proud to say I know a lot of things, I have a lot skills, at least at the surface level.
Here are some:
- A degree in Electrical and Electronic engineering with a Second Class Lower
- Hands-on experience in hardware design, software development, etc
- Years of freelancing and building real-world software and hardware projects.
- Deep exposure to ASIC design and verification with High tech tools by Synopsys
- More importantly, a never-ending self-learning habit. Never hesitated to earn a skill whenever a project requires it.
- A mindset that thinks the bigger picture connecting dots.
- Will add to this list whenever I think of something good about me.
What’s the destination though?
Okay, I hear it. What’s the end? What am I aiming for?
Well, the ultimate target would be to do something to answer my question. But I need a short (well… at least in the next main) goal.
I am aiming for a PhD in neuroengineering or something closely related — something that lives at the intersection of neuroscience, electrical engineering, and computer science.
But this should never be about chasing a degree just to get a title. My intentions should be pure. It shouldn’t be about worldly benefits, rather it should be about something for the sake of Allah.
I’ll try to keep it with one sub question:
How can we understand and work with the brain to heal the body?
I don’t know everything. I know the first step is to star learning deliberately, exploring methodically, and contributing meaningfully.
My Plan — The Roadmap
Here’s how I’m breaking it down:
1. Learn the Basics
I’ll build a strong foundation in neuroscience, physiology, signal processing, and brain-computer interfaces—starting from scratch, but thinking like an engineer.
This will go under the Basics category of my blog.
2. Read Research Papers
I’ll explore scientific papers, review what I learn, and break them down in a way that makes sense to me—and hopefully to others too.
These will be posted under Brain Notes.
3. Build Projects
I’ll work on small experiments and tools—signal analysis, brainwave capture, maybe even brain-machine interfaces (BMIs).
These go under the Builds category.
4. Explore Wild Ideas
I want to go beyond textbooks. This means asking strange questions, connecting dots between different fields, and thinking freely about what’s possible.
That’s what Explore is for.
Why Blog About It?
I’m doing this publicly for a few reasons:
- Writing helps me think better
- Maybe someone out there is on a similar path
- Maybe this inspires someone younger to take a similar journey
- And maybe, just maybe, it opens up conversations that lead to unexpected collaborations
Let’s Begin
This isn’t a sprint. It’s not even a marathon. It’s a lifelong expedition.
But now I have a compass. And this blog is going to be my travel log.
Let’s see where this takes us.