Programs of Study

NOTE: For more information, prospective students may wish to view the student handbook.

The graduate curriculum is tailored to meet each student's research interests and career goals. Every student is assigned an Advisory Committee which assists the student in designing her or his individual curriculum. The training program stresses hands-on experience in a wide variety of state-of-the art approaches and techniques. This experience is gained through a series of three rotations in different laboratories, to gain familiarity with various techniques and scientific environments. The rotations are arranged individually by the student in consultation with the faculty member and the student's Advisory Committee.

Rat brain infected with a recombinant virus expressing the reporter gene lac-Z

All students complete a one-semester course: "Introduction to Neuroscience" and a course in biostatistics. The Graduate Program offers a wide variety of advanced courses, covering all areas of modern neuroscience research. In consultation with the Advisory Committee, students select advanced courses appropriate to accomplishing their research and career goals.In addition, students are required to attend and participate in journal clubs and seminars. First-year students also attend Professor's Rounds in Neuroscience, an informal series of talks by faculty designed to introduce the faculty and their research interests. The Program offers a variety of activities designed to advance students' career development, including courses on writing grant applications and scientific papers, communication skills, and instruction on employment opportunities in academia, industry and science policy and administration.

Laboratory rotations and coursework are completed by the end of the second year in the program, at which point the student will have selected a faculty mentor and thesis laboratory. Successful completion of a qualifying exam at the end of the second year enables the student to advance to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. As a Ph.D. candidate, the student's primary focus is on research, with continued attendance at journal clubs and seminars.