Self-Study Plan for Electrical Engineering

Why Now?

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have been a fascination of mine for years, and with recent breakthroughs in non-invasive neural decoding, miniaturized implants, and AI-driven signal processing, 2025 feels like the right time to get serious. Last summer, I decided to stop passively reading about BCIs and start actively preparing to contribute to the field.

So far, I’ve deep-dived into foundational neuroscience through Fundamental Neuroscience, The Hippocampus, and various review papers. That gave me enough grounding to parse contemporary journal articles, which I now regularly read to stay current with the research.

Where I’m lacking is on the engineering side. I earned an applied math degree and then spent 13 years in industry—first as a quant at a hedge fund, then as a software developer and eventually a technical lead. In that time, I never touched electrical engineering, embedded systems, or hardware design. And now I want to fill that gap.

This personal curriculum is my roadmap for doing exactly that.

The 2025 Approach

Over the next 12–24 months, I’m taking a hybrid approach:

1. Self-study through textbooks based on a modern Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) curriculum—loosely inspired by the University of Waterloo’s 2025 undergraduate track.

2. Hands-on projects that reinforce theory with real-world experimentation.

3. Community learning, ideally via a small, focused study group of people interested in BCIs, neurotech, or hardware for healthtech. If that sounds like you, please reach out—collaboration will make this more effective and more fun.

Key Concerns

1. Missing Unknowns

I’m sure there are blind spots I’m not even aware of—especially in areas like biocompatibility, implantable power systems, or advanced signal acquisition. If you work on ultra-low-power, implantable medical devices, I’d love to talk.

2. Transitioning to Application

Once I’ve built this foundation, what’s next? I don’t yet have a concrete path into BCI work—whether academic, startup, or industry—but I'm hoping the network I build along the way helps guide that step.

📘 Phase 1: Core Hardware Foundations (2025)

🔧 Projects

• Breadboard a digital clock (or a neuromorphic variant?)

• Explore simple signal amplification from a bioelectric source (e.g. EMG)

📚 Study Plan

• Electricity & Magnetism
  Textbook: Electricity and Magnetism by Purcell

• Digital Circuits & Systems
  Textbook: Digital Design and Computer Architecture – Harris & Harris 

• Linear Circuits
  Textbook: The Art of Electronics – Horowitz & Hill 

• Electronic Circuits
  Textbooks:

  • Microelectronic Circuits – Sedra & Smith

  • Microelectronics – B. Razavi 

• Materials Chemistry for Engineers
  Textbook: Chemistry: Molecular Nature of Matter and Change – Silberberg

• Signals & Systems
  Textbook options:

  • Signals and Systems – Oppenheim & Willsky

  • Linear Systems and Signals – B.P. Lathi

✅ Already Covered

• Math fundamentals (calculus, linear algebra, probability, transforms)

• Software development & system design (>10 years of experience)

⚙️ Phase 2: Intermediate Systems & Applications

🔧 Projects

• Build a basic analog/digital radio

• FPGA-based signal processing prototype

• Real-time embedded system for biosignal acquisition (e.g. heart rate monitor)

📚 Study Plan

• Embedded Microprocessor Systems
  Textbook: TBD

• Digital Hardware Systems
  Textbook: TBD

• Communication Systems I
  Textbook: Intro to Analog & Digital Communications – Haykin & Moher

• Control Systems
  Textbooks:

  • Feedback Control of Dynamic Systems – Franklin et al.

  • Feedback Systems – Åström & Murray

• Information Theory
  Refresher only

• Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
  Textbook: Foundations of Signal Processing – Vetterli et al.

• Electronic Devices
  Textbook: Semiconductor Physics and Devices – Neamen

• Microwave & RF Circuits
  Textbook: Fundamentals of Microwave and RF Design – Michael Steer

🚀 Phase 3: Advanced Topics & Electives

💬 Checkpoint

Before diving into this phase, I’ll be actively seeking advice from people working in neural interfaces and medical-grade electronics to validate whether I’m missing any vital topics or practical know-how.

🔧 Projects

• TBD (likely something in closed-loop neural stimulation or wireless data transfer from an implant)

📚 Study Plan

• Communication Systems II
  Textbook: Communication Systems – John Proakis

• Wireless Communications
  Textbook: Wireless Communications and Networking – Mark & Zhuang

• Micro/Nano Fabrication
  Textbook: Micro and Nano Fabrication Technology – Yan

• Integrated Analog Electronics
  Textbook: Analog CMOS Integrated Circuits – Razavi

• Integrated Digital Electronics
  Textbook: Digital Integrated Circuits – Rabaey et al.

• Radio Wave Systems
  Textbook: TBD

• Digital Control Systems
  Textbook: TBD

• RF Integrated Devices and Circuits
  Textbook: TBD

• Geometrical & Physical Optics
  Textbook: TBD

Final Thoughts

This is a living plan, subject to iteration as I learn more and talk to people in the field. If you're also exploring BCIs or neurotech in 2025—whether as a hobbyist, researcher, or entrepreneur—I’d genuinely love to hear from you. Let's build something together.